Review
Microbiology
Paulo Mendes Pecanha, Paula Massaroni Pecanha-Pietrobom, Tania Regina Grao-Velloso, Marcos Rosa Junior, Aloisio Falqueto, Sarah Santos Goncalves
Summary: Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis endemic to Latin America. The disease is usually acquired in rural areas but symptoms may occur years later. In Brazil, the incidence is rising in the north and decreasing in the south. Diagnostic methods are scarce, mainly relying on direct microscopic examination.
Article
Cell Biology
Ludmila Matos Baltazar, Gabriela Fior Ribeiro, Gustavo J. Freitas, Celso Martins Queiroz-Junior, Caio Tavares Fagundes, Carlos Chaves-Olortegui, Mauro Martins Teixeira, Daniele G. Souza
Summary: Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic disease endemic in Latin America, with most cases registered in Brazil. Research has been conducted to improve treatment effectiveness and protection against the disease, including the investigation of extracellular vesicles as potential antigen delivery vehicles.
Article
Microbiology
Caroline Maria Marcos, Haroldo Cesar de Oliveira, Patricia Akemi Assato, Lariane Teodoro de Oliveira, Nathalia Fregonezi, Kelvin Sousa dos Santos, Caroline Barcelos Costa-Orlandi, Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida, Maria Jose Soares Mendes-Giannini
Summary: This study explores signaling pathways implicated in fungal pathobiology and identifies the crucial role of the Drk1 protein in the morphological shift and virulence of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Peptides with affinity for PbDrk1 were found to inhibit the phase transition and adhesion of P. brasiliensis, and augment the effects of antifungal agents. The peptides also showed enhanced larval survival rates in a Galleria mellonella model. Further investigation of PbDrk1 may improve our understanding of P. brasiliensis and lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Review
Microbiology
Gernot Wagner, Deddo Moertl, Anna Glechner, Verena Mayr, Irma Klerings, Casey Zachariah, Miriam Van den Nest, Gerald Gartlehner, Birgit Willinger
Summary: Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycosis endemic to Central and South America, with cases imported to Europe through migration and travel. A systematic review identified 83 cases of paracoccidioidomycosis diagnosed in 11 European countries, highlighting challenges in diagnosing the disease in individuals returning or immigrating from endemic areas, given the varied age of patients and time of symptom onset.
Article
Immunology
Kaila Petronila Medina-Alarcon, Iara Pengo Tobias da Silva, Giovana Garcia Ferin, Marcelo A. Pereira-da-Silva, Caroline Maria Marcos, Mariana Bastos dos Santos, Luis Octavio Regasini, Marlus Chorilli, Maria Jose S. Mendes-Giannini, Fernando Rogerio Pavan, Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida
Summary: Co-infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a public health problem in Latin America, with the lack of adequate diagnosis leading to severe outcomes. The study showed the formation of mixed biofilms of these microorganisms and the potential effectiveness of a new treatment method.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Mycology
Anderson Messias Rodrigues, Ferry Hagen, Rosana Puccia, Rosane Christine Hahn, Zoilo Pires de Camargo
Summary: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a group of diseases caused by Paracoccidioides species. The genus has expanded to include seven species. Classic PCM affects the human lungs and may lead to systemic granulomatous disease, while PCM loboi and PCM ceti are observed as subcutaneous mycoses in humans and dolphins. Recognizing species boundaries in Paracoccidioides is crucial for understanding its ecology, evolution, clinical features, and strategies to mitigate PCM.
Article
Microbiology
Luciana Bonome Zeminian de Oliveira, Amanda Manoel Della Coletta, Taiane Priscila Gardizani, Hans Garcia Garces, Eduardo Bagagli, Luciana Trilles, Ligia Vizeu Barrozo, Silvio de Alencar Marques, Julio De Faveri, Luciane Alarcao Dias-Melicio
Summary: Paracoccidioidomycosis is the most prevalent systemic mycosis in Latin America. Recent studies have identified three cryptic species in addition to Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Through analysis of biopsy samples from patients, it has been found that P. brasiliensis is the predominant species in the Sao Paulo State region.
Article
Immunology
Aparecido Ferreira de Souza, Laurine Lacerda Pigosso, Lana O'Hara Souza Silva, Italo Dany Cavalcante Galo, Juliano Domiraci Paccez, Kleber Santiago Freitas e Silva, Milton Adriano Pelli de Oliveira, Maristela Pereira, Celia Maria de Almeida Soares
Summary: In this study, the exoproteome of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb18) under iron deprivation conditions was analyzed using nanoUPLC-MSE. One hundred forty-one proteins were identified, out of which 64 were predicted to be secreted. The regulation of several virulence factors was also identified, and Cyb5 was highlighted as a secreted molecule potentially involved in iron homeostasis in P. brasiliensis.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Andreia Ferreira Nery, Zoilo Pires de Camargo, Anderson Messias Rodrigues, Tiago Ferreira Portela, Hugo Dias Hoffmann-Santos, Breno Goncalves Pinheiro, Ana Paula Possa, Leticia Rossetto da Silva Cavalcante, Ferry Hagen, Rosane Christine Hahn
Summary: This study investigated the clinical and laboratory data of 44 paracoccidioidomycosis patients caused by Paracoccidioides lutzii. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was found to complement the criteria for disease severity, and applying the low-cost NLR test can greatly increase diagnostic sensitivity and contribute to better disease control. Treatment prescribed did not follow recommendations in some severe cases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Mycology
Giannina Ricci, Emeline Boni Campanini, Angela Satie Nishikaku, Rosana Puccia, Mariangela Marques, Ralf Bialek, Anderson Messias Rodrigues, Wagner Luiz Batista
Summary: This study identified six phylogenetic lineages belonging to the P. brasiliensis complex, with two lineages not grouping with any of the four recognized species and a coinfection involving two lineages. Additionally, the study found five parsimony-informative sites with potential non-synonymous substitutions that could lead to changes in the protein.
Article
Immunology
Juliana S. de Curcio, Lucas Nojosa Oliveira, Mariana P. Batista, Evandro Novaes, Celia Maria de Almeida Soares
Summary: Research shows that under iron deprivation conditions, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis produces a variety of microRNAs, which may regulate metabolic pathways related to iron deficiency.
MICROBES AND INFECTION
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Paula Massaroni Pecanha-Pietrobom, Andres Tirado-Sanchez, Sarah Santos Goncalves, Alexandro Bonifaz, Arnaldo Lopes Colombo
Summary: Coccidioidomycosis (CM) and paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) are highly endemic systemic fungal infections in Latin America and have been recently included on the World Health Organization (WHO) Fungal Priority Pathogens List. This paper critically analyzes the strategies for diagnosis and clinical management of CM and PCM. Recognizing their epidemiological aspects and clinical manifestations is crucial for clinicians to include them in the differential diagnosis of lung diseases and prevent delayed diagnosis.
Article
Plant Sciences
Lauana Aparecida Santos, Pedro Luiz Rosalen, Nayara Andrade Dias, Julianne Caravita Grisolia, Bruno Jose Nascimento Gomes, Lucas Blosfeld-Lopes, Masaharu Ikegaki, Severino Matias de Alencar, Eva Burger
Summary: Brazilian Red propolis shows direct antifungal activity against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, activates neutrophils, prevents fungal dissemination, and controls excessive inflammation.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Adriane Lenhard-Vidal, Raquel Bender, Joao Paulo Assolini, Ana Elisa Mayumi Maruo, Luiz Tiago Vieira, Ellen Cristina Pereira, Mario Augusto Ono, Ayako Sano, Eiko Nakagawa Itano
Summary: This study aimed to assess the infection rate of paracoccidioidomycosis in an inland municipality of southern Brazil, revealing the epidemiological profile of the disease in the region, as well as the potential of CFA-ELISA for serological screening in epidemiological surveys.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Stephan Alberto Machado de Oliveira, Janayna Nunes Reis, Elisa Catao, Andre Correa Amaral, Ana Camila Oliveira Souza, Alice Melo Ribeiro, Lucia Helena Faccioli, Fabiana Pirani Carneiro, Clara Luna Freitas Marina, Pedro Henrique Burgel, Larissa Fernandes, Aldo Henrique Tavares, Anamelia Lorenzetti Bocca
Summary: The results of the study indicate that CD18(low) mice infected with Pb18 survived with fewer granulomas, lower fungal burden, lower nitrate levels, and high IgG1 levels compared to WT mice. In addition, the in vitro macrophages from CD18(low) mice showed slower internalization of yeast cells and lower fungal burden, suggesting that beta 2 integrins play a crucial role in fungal survival within macrophages.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Diego H. Caceres, Alejandra Zuluaga, Karen Arango-Bustamante, Catalina de Bedout, Angela Maria Tobon, Angela Restrepo, Beatriz L. Gomez, Luz Elena Cano, Angel Gonzalez
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2015)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Cristina E. Canteros, Alejandro Velez H, Adriana I. Toranzo, Roberto Suarez-Alvarez, Angela Tobon O, Maria del Pilar Jimenez A, Angela Restrepo M
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Diego H. Caceres, Angela M. Tobon, Angela Ahlquist Cleveland, Christina M. Scheel, Dedsy Y. Berbesi, Jesus Ochoa, Angela Restrepo, Mary E. Brandt, Tom Chiller, Beatriz L. Gomez
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
(2016)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Luisa F. Lopez, Yorlady Valencia, Angela M. Tobon, Oscar Velasquez, Cristian D. Santa, Diego H. Caceres, Angela Restrepo, Luz E. Cano
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Luisa F. Lopez, Cesar O. Munoz, Diego H. Caceres, Angela M. Tobon, Vladimir Loparev, Oliver Clay, Tom Chiller, Anastasia Litvintseva, Lalitha Gade, Angel Gonzalez, Beatriz L. Gomez
Article
Dermatology
Diego H. Caceres, Beatriz L. Gomez, Angela M. Tobon, Tom M. Chiller, Mark D. Lindsley
Review
Mycology
Angela Maria Tobon, Beatriz L. Gomez
Summary: Histoplasmosis is a common fungal respiratory infection in endemic regions, with a wide range of clinical manifestations and forms. The disease severity is influenced by inhaled conidia, host immune response, and respiratory tract integrity. Proper diagnosis and timely treatment are crucial in managing the disease and reducing morbidity and mortality.
Article
Mycology
Diego H. Caceres, Beatriz L. Gomez, Angela M. Tobon, Tom M. Chiller, Mark D. Lindsley
Summary: The sandwich enzyme immunoassay developed by OIDx for Histoplasma urinary Ag showed high sensitivity, but had a high rate of false-positive results in non-histoplasmosis cases.
Article
Microbiology
Diego H. Caceres, Beatriz L. Gomez, Angela M. Tobon, Melissa Minderman, Nicole Bridges, Tom Chiller, Mark D. Lindsley
Summary: The study validated the MiraVista(R) Diagnostics urine antigen lateral flow assay for detecting Histoplasma capsulatum antigen and compared it against quantitative enzyme immunoassays. The MVD LFA showed high sensitivity and specificity, with a quick turnaround time for results and ease of use.
Review
Microbiology
Diego H. Caceres, Beatriz L. Gomez, Angela M. Tobon, Angela Restrepo, Tom Chiller, Mark D. Lindsley, Jacques F. Meis, Paul E. Verweij
Summary: Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by the fungi Histoplasma spp., with a wide range of clinical presentations. The disease has been reported in many regions worldwide, challenging the previous notion that it was restricted to the American continent. In Latin America, it poses a threat to individuals with advanced HIV disease, and early diagnosis is essential for improving outcomes.
Article
Microbiology
Luisa F. Lopez, Angela M. Tobon, Diego H. Caceres, Tom Chiller, Anastasia P. Litvintseva, Lalitha Gade, Angel Gonzalez, Beatriz L. Gomez
Summary: Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, and it has a significant impact on HIV/AIDS patients, especially in resource-limited countries. Current diagnostic tests have limitations, and there is a lack of commercially available molecular assays. This study evaluated the use of real-time PCR targeting protein-coding genes for detecting Histoplasma capsulatum in FFPE samples, and found that the 100-kDa and H antigen assays showed reliable results for diagnosing this mycosis.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lina Maria Rodriguez Molina, Angela Maria Tobon Orozco
CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS
(2018)
Article
Microbiology
Diego H. Caceres, Blanca E. Samayoa, Narda G. Medina, Angela M. Tobon, Brenda J. Guzman, Danicela Mercado, Angela Restrepo, Tom Chiller, Eduardo E. Arathoon, Beatriz L. Gomez
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Diego H. Caceres, Angela M. Tobon, Angela Restrepo, Tom Chiller, Beatriz L. Gomez
MEDICAL MYCOLOGY CASE REPORTS
(2018)
Article
Tropical Medicine
Federico Rodriguez-Vega, Miguel Botero, Jorge Alberto Cortes, Angela Tobon