Article
Immunology
John W. Baddley, Sharon C-A Chen, Carrie Huisingh, Kaitlin Benedict, Emilio E. DeBess, Eleni Galanis, Brendan R. Jackson, Laura MacDougall, Nicola Marsden-Haug, Hanna Oltean, John R. Perfect, Peter Phillips, Tania C. Sorrell, Peter G. Pappas
Summary: This study compared patients with cryptococcosis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, revealing differences in characteristics, clinical manifestations, and treatment outcomes between the two species.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Enoch Tay, Sharon C-A Chen, Wendy Green, Ronald Lopez, Catriona L. Halliday
Summary: This study developed a new real-time PCR assay that can diagnose cryptococcosis rapidly and accurately, and differentiate between the two major causative agents. The assay showed high sensitivity and specificity, and can be applied to diverse clinical specimens.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Anne Toivonen, Mari Eriksson, Nathalie Friberg, Timo Hautala, Sohvi Kaariainen, Jaana Leppaaho-Lakka, Janne Mikkola, Tuomas Nieminen, Jarmo Oksi, Juha H. Salonen, Pekka Suomalainen, Markku Vanttinen, Hanna Jarva, Annemarjut J. Jaaskelainen
Summary: The study investigated the clinical characteristics of cryptococcosis patients in Finland and found that invasive cryptococcal infection can occur in both HIV/AIDS patients or other immunocompromised individuals as well as immunocompetent individuals. The study also emphasized the importance of recognizing cryptococcosis in Finland, where it is extremely rare, as early diagnosis and antifungal therapy are crucial for prognosis.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Izabela de Mesquita Barcia Moreira, Ana Claudia Alves Cortez, Erica Simplicio de Souza, Silviane Bezerra Pinheiro, Juliana Gomes de Souza Oliveira, Aya Sadahiro, Katia Santana Cruz, Ani Beatriz Jackisch Matsuura, Marcia de Souza Carvalho Melhem, Hagen Frickmann, Joao Vicente Braga de Souza
Summary: The study investigated the level of heteroresistance to fluconazole in clinical and environmental Cryptococcus neoformans/Cryptococcus gattii isolates from Amazonas State, Brazil. The findings showed that clinical C. gattii isolates had higher MIC values compared to environmental C. gattii and C. neoformans isolates. All isolates exhibited heteroresistance to fluconazole, with a significant proportion showing high levels of heteroresistance and the ability to adapt to even higher fluconazole concentrations. Further research is needed to understand how these levels of heteroresistance affect cryptococcosis-related outcomes.
Review
Dermatology
Chidinma Lynda Akaihe, Emeka Innocent Nweze
Summary: Cryptococcosis is a serious fungal disease predominantly affecting individuals with weakened immune systems, potentially making West Africa a hotspot for the disease. Clinical symptoms include chest pain, headache, and nausea. Data on the prevalence of the disease in West Africa is limited, highlighting the need for further research in the region.
Review
Immunology
Herdson Renney de Sousa, Stefania de Frazao, Getulio Pereira de Oliveira Junior, Patricia Albuquerque, Andre Moraes Nicola
Summary: Cryptococcosis, caused by Cryptococcus spp, has a high mortality rate and lacks effective prevention and treatment methods. Understanding fungal virulence and host responses could lead to improved therapies. Studies using clinical isolates to correlate laboratory and patient data have provided valuable insights into the pathophysiology of cryptococcosis.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Briggith-Nathalia Serna-Espinosa, Diomedes Guzman-Sanabria, Maribel Forero-Castro, Patricia Escandon, Zilpa Adriana Sanchez-Quitian
Summary: The Cryptococcus genus consists of over 80 species, with C. neoformans and C. gattii being pathogenic to humans. They differ in geographic distribution and environmental niche, with C. neoformans found worldwide in bird droppings and C. gattii in tropical regions associated with Eucalyptus trees. In Colombia, environmental isolates of both species complexes are mainly recovered from pigeons' excrement and Eucalyptus trees, respectively, with higher positivity in high humidity and less sunny, cold or temperate regions.
Article
Microbiology
Silvia Katherine Carvajal, Javier Melendres, Patricia Escandon, Carolina Firacative
Summary: Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii are life-threatening fungal pathogens that cause cryptococcosis, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Resistance to azoles, commonly used to treat this infection, is a major concern. This study investigated the amino acid composition of ERG11 and its correlation with in vitro susceptibility to azoles in clinical isolates of C. neoformans and C. gattii. The results showed differential susceptibility to azoles between the two species, potentially linked to differences in ERG11 composition.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Magdalena Florek, Agnieszka Korzeniowska-Kowal, Anna Wzorek, Katarzyna Wlodarczyk, Maja Marynowska, Aleksandra Pogorzelska, Maria Brodala, Sebastian Ploch, Daniel Buczek, Katarzyna Balon, Urszula Nawrot
Summary: Fungi belonging to the Cryptococcus neoformans/C. gattii species complex are serious and potentially fatal pathogens that mainly inhabit trees. Global epidemiological surveys have been conducted, but data is lacking in certain regions like Central and Eastern Europe. This study in Poland detected CNGSC strains in 2.2% of tested trees, consisting exclusively of C. neoformans. No resistance to commonly used antimycotics was found, except for some strains showing non-wild type resistance to 5-fluorocytosine.
Article
Immunology
Chunxi Yang, Zeyuan Bian, Oliver Blechert, Fengyi Deng, Hui Chen, Yueting Li, Yunhong Yang, Min Chen, Ping Zhan
Summary: This study conducted in hospitals in Jiangxi Province, South Central China, recruited 230 clinically suspected cryptococcosis cases and found Cryptococcus neoformans to be the predominant species causing the disease in the region. A large proportion of strains were not sensitive to fluconazole, and a high percentage of HIV-related infections were reported, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring of species distribution and antifungal sensitivity in the investigation of this severe disease.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
David C. Molik, DeAndre Tomlinson, Shane Davitt, Eric L. Morgan, Matthew Sisk, Benjamin Roche, Natalie Meyers, Michael E. Pfrender
Summary: This study utilized Natural Language Processing to better understand the ecological niches of Cryptococcus neoformans. By analyzing metagenetic research articles through a topic modeling approach, a potential association between C. neoformans and soils associated with decomposing wood was identified. Through the use of machine learning and metagenetic data, the study highlights the importance of utilizing large-scale datasets to better understand environmental associations of rare pathogens.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Daniel B. Chastain, Amy Rao, Armaan Yaseyyedi, Andres F. Henao-Martinez, Thomas Borges, Carlos Franco-Paredes
Summary: This review aims to improve the recognition and management of patients with cerebral cryptococcomas. Based on the findings, management should include a minimum of 6 months of antifungal therapy, with considerations for concomitant corticosteroids and surgical intervention if necessary.
Article
Immunology
Eluzia C. Peres-Emidio, Gustavo J. C. Freitas, Marliete C. Costa, Ludmila Gouveia-Eufrasio, Livia M. V. Silva, Anderson P. N. Santos, Paulo H. F. Carmo, Camila B. Brito, Raquel D. N. Arifa, Rafael W. Bastos, Noelly Q. Ribeiro, Lorena V. N. Oliveira, Monique F. Silva, Tatiane A. Paixao, Alessandra M. Saliba, Caio T. Fagundes, Daniele G. Souza, Daniel A. Santos
Summary: This study investigated the interaction between Cryptococcus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa), and found that Pa inhibited the growth of Cryptococcus in vitro and enhanced the fungicidal activity of macrophages. In in vivo experiments, previous Pa infection reduced the severity and lethality of cryptococcosis, possibly by decreasing the fungal burden in the lungs and brain and inducing inflammation. The results suggest that Pa plays an important protective role in coinfections.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Pakornswit Sathongdejwisit, Kritsada Pruksaphon, Akarin Intaramat, Pisinee Aiumurai, Nitat Sookrung, Kavi Ratanabanangkoon, Joshua D. Nosanchuk, Sirida Youngchim
Summary: The study developed a novel lateral flow immunochromatographic strip test for detecting cryptococcal polysaccharide capsular antigens using a single specific monoclonal antibody, mAb 18B7, which showed high sensitivity and accuracy in diagnosing cryptococcal meningitis with cerebrospinal fluid samples. The mAb 18B7 ICT was also effective in serum samples, providing a reliable and cost-effective point-of-care immunodiagnostic test for cryptococcosis, especially in countries where commercial kits are not available or affordable.
Article
Immunology
Mareike Bernhard, Navaporn Worasilchai, Mourine Kangogo, Christine Bii, Wioleta J. Trzaska, Michael Weig, Uwe Gross, Ariya Chindamporn, Oliver Bader
Summary: This study re-evaluated sample pre-processing procedures for yeasts of the Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii species complexes and created a set of publicly available references for use with the MALDI Biotyper system. By assessing peak content using four different pre-processing protocols and creating 13 reference entries with standard formic acid extraction, correct classification of 93.5% of test isolates was achieved. The freely available database references can improve species-level identification of cryptococcal isolates.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jiaxin Tang, Jiamin Li, Jinqing Pan, Xiaoyuan Shen, Xiangsheng Ye, Jiamin Zhou, Ni Wang, Liang Xie, Beth Burgwyn Fuchs, Michail S. Lionakis, Eleftherios Mylonakis, Xiaojiang Tan
Summary: Recent studies have shown that the coexistence of fungi and bacteria in the airway can increase the risk of infection, contribute to the development of pneumonia, and worsen the severity of the disease. Interleukin 17A (IL-17A) plays a crucial role in host defense against bacterial and fungal infections. This study aimed to investigate the effects of IL-17A on rats infected with Acinetobacter baumannii after previous Candida albicans airway inoculation. The results showed that IL-17A had a protective effect on A. baumannii pneumonia associated with C. albicans in the airway.
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Luca Panconi, Maria Makarova, Eleanor R. Lambert, Robin C. May, Dylan M. Owen
Summary: Cell segmentation is a technique to identify cells and extract information from them, but manual segmentation is laborious and subjective. TOBLERONE, a topological image analysis tool, can accurately segment cells of arbitrary shapes and automate the data extraction process.
JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Theresa Wacker, Nicolas Helmstetter, Duncan Wilson, Matthew C. Fisher, David J. Studholme, Rhys A. Farrer
Summary: The origins and evolution of virulence in amphibian-infecting chytrids Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) are largely unknown. In this study, deep nanopore sequencing and comparative genomics were used to analyze the genomes of Bd and Bsal. The study discovered that Bsal has a repeat-rich genome and an expanded length compared to Bd, with specific virulence factors and genes related to pathogenicity enriched in repeat-rich regions. This study provides evidence of two-speed genome evolution in an animal pathogen, shedding light on the evolution of fungal pathogens driving global declines and extinctions of vertebrates.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Sosie Yorki, Terrance Shea, Christina A. Cuomo, Bruce J. Walker, Regina C. LaRocque, Abigail L. Manson, Ashlee M. Earl, Colin J. Worby
Summary: Recent advances in technology and computation have made metagenomic assembly a viable method for studying complex microbial communities. Previous benchmarking has shown that short-read (SR) assemblers are more accurate, long-read (LR) assemblers provide more contiguous sequences, and hybrid (HY) assemblers balance accuracy and length. However, there has been no specific assessment of these assemblers on low-abundance species, including clinically relevant organisms in the gut. Our study examined the performance of different assemblers on low-abundance species, specifically looking at the assembly of Escherichia coli contigs and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). We found that each assembler type has its own strengths and trade-offs, and the optimal approach depends on the specific goal of the study.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jigar Desai, Dhaneshwar Kumar, Tilo Freiwald, Daniel Chauss, Melissa D. Johnson, Michael S. Abers, Julie M. Steinbrink, John R. Perfect, Barbara Alexander, Vasiliki Matzaraki, Brendan D. Snarr, Marissa A. Zarakas, Vasileios Oikonomou, Lakmali M. Silva, Raju Shivarathri, Emily Beltran, Luciana Negro Demontel, Luopin Wang, Jean K. Lim, Dylan Launder, Heather R. Conti, Muthulekha Swamydas, Micah T. McClain, Niki M. Moutsopoulos, Majid Kazemian, Mihai G. Netea, Vinod Kumar, Jorg Kohl, Claudia Kemper, Behdad Afzali, Michail S. Lionakis
Summary: Systemic candidiasis, a common and high-mortality nosocomial fungal infection, can be a complication of anti-complement C5-targeted monoclonal antibody treatment, which highlights the important role of C5 in antifungal immunity. Transcription of complement system genes was found to be the top biological pathway induced in candidemic patients and predictive of candidemia. Mechanistically, C5a-C5aR1 promotes fungal clearance and host survival in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis by enhancing phagocyte effector function and ensuring survival in infected tissues. Local production of C5 by phagocytes provides a crucial substrate for antifungal protection.
Review
Microbiology
Diana M. Proctor, Rebecca A. Drummond, Michail S. Lionakis, Julia A. Segre
Summary: Candida auris and Candida albicans can colonize human skin and gastrointestinal tracts without symptoms but can also cause invasive fungal diseases. This article reviews the factors influencing the microbiome and explores the molecular mechanisms of C. albicans to switch between commensal and pathogenic lifestyles. The association between host physiology, immunity, antibiotic use, and progression from colonization to infection with C. auris is also discussed, along with hypotheses explaining the increased risk of invasive candidiasis with antibiotic treatment. The integration of genomics and immunology is highlighted as a future direction for advancing understanding of invasive candidiasis and human fungal disease.
CELL HOST & MICROBE
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Anuradha Chowdhary, Nitesh Gupta, Sebastian Wurster, Raj Kumar, Jason T. Mohabir, Shashidhar Tatavarthy, Vikas Mittal, Preeti Rani, Purabi Barman, Neelam Sachdeva, Ashutosh Singh, Brijesh Sharma, Ying Jiang, Christina A. Cuomo, Dimitrios P. Kontoyiannis
Summary: This study provides a multifaceted analysis of the major outbreak of COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) in the metropolitan New Delhi area. It identifies independent risk factors for CAM, including diabetes mellitus, active cancer, and severe COVID-19 infection. Environmental factors, such as increasing spore concentrations and temperature, are also associated with CAM incidence.
Article
Immunology
Thomas Clarke, Pan Du, Satyendra Kumar, Shinji L. Okitsu, Mark Schuette, Qi An, Jinyang Zhang, Evgeni Tzvetkov, Mark A. Jensen, Timothy B. Niewold, Elise M. N. Ferre, Julie Nardone, Michail S. Lionakis, Jaromir Vlach, Julie DeMartino, Andrew T. Bender
Summary: Autoimmune diseases can vary in the pattern and range of autoantibodies produced, and these differences may be caused by various breaks in tolerance. By comparing three different autoimmune diseases, APECED, SLE, and SjS, researchers gained insights into the triggers of autoimmunity. APECED was found to have a focused set of shared anti-cytokine antibodies, while SLE had broader autoantibody repertoires targeting mostly intracellular antigens. SjS patients showed few specific autoantibodies, with the highest reactivity against Ro-52 and La. These findings suggest different mechanisms driving autoimmunity in monogenic and polygenic disorders.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Xiao Li, Jose F. Munoz, Lalitha Gade, Silvia Argimon, Marie -Elisabeth Bougnoux, Jolene R. Bowers, Nancy A. Chow, Isabel Cuesta, Rhys A. Farrer, Corinne Maufrais, Juan Monroy-Nieto, Dibyabhaba Pradhan, Jessie Uehling, Duong Vu, Corin A. Yeats, David M. Aanensen, Christophe d'Enfert, David M. Engelthaler, David W. Eyre, Matthew C. Fisher, Ferry Hagen, Wieland Meyer, Gagandeep Singh, Ana Alastruey-Izquierdo, Anastasia P. Litvintseva, Christina A. Cuomo
Summary: Genomic analyses are widely used in the study of pathogenic fungi, but the lack of controls for variant prediction accuracy poses a challenge. This study compares 14 variant calling pipelines and evaluates their performance using Candida auris isolates. The study highlights the importance of site quality and variation in read trimming strategies, SNP calling methods and parameters, and downstream filtration criteria in determining the accuracy and consistency of variant calling pipelines.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Luiza Chaves de Miranda Leonhardt Losada, Ruan Campos Monteiro, Jamile Ambrosio de Carvalho, Ferry Hagen, Matthew C. Fisher, Bram Spruijtenburg, Jacques F. Meis, Theun de Groot, Sarah Santos Goncalves, Ricardo Negroni, Rui Kano, Alexandro Bonifaz, Zoilo Pires de Camargo, Anderson Messias Rodrigues
Summary: This study developed a panel of highly polymorphic SSR markers suitable for genotyping Sporothrix species. PCR amplification revealed 240 alleles in 180 Sporothrix isolates, supporting the effectiveness of SSR markers in uncovering cryptic genetic diversity. The analysis of SSR diversity provided insights into the origins and transmission dynamics of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Israel Kiiza Njovu, Pauline Petra Nalumaga, Lucas Ampaire, Edwin Nuwagira, James Mwesigye, Benson Musinguzi, Kennedy Kassaza, Kabanda Taseera, James Kiguli Mukasa, Joel Bazira, Jacob Stanley Iramiot, Andrew Baguma, Felix Bongomin, Richard Kwizera, Beatrice Achan, Michael J. Cox, Jason S. King, Robin May, Elizabeth R. Ballou, Herbert Itabangi
Summary: This study aims to investigate the metabolic and molecular ecological evolution of opportunistic pulmonary fungal coinfections among patients suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis. Establishing key fungal-bacterial cross-kingdom synergistic relationships is crucial for instituting fungal bacterial coinfecting etiology.
JMIR RESEARCH PROTOCOLS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Yuanyuan Gao, Yan Wang, Daniel Chauss, Alejandro V. Villarino, Verena M. Link, Hiroyuki Nagashima, Camille A. Spinner, Vishal N. Koparde, Nicolas Bouladoux, Michael S. Abers, Timothy J. Break, Laura B. Chopp, Jung-Hyun Park, Jinfang Zhu, David L. Wiest, Warren J. Leonard, Michail S. Lionakis, John J. O'Shea, Behdad Afzali, Yasmine Belkaid, Vanja Lazarevic
Summary: Lazarevic and colleagues demonstrate that the transcription factor EGR2 controls a pathogenic T(H)17 cell-specific transcriptional program in the CNS. EGR2 is elevated in myelin-reactive CD4(+) T cells from patients with multiple sclerosis and mice with autoimmune neuroinflammation. Mechanistically, EGR2 enhances T(H)17 cell differentiation and myeloid cell recruitment to the CNS by upregulating pathogenesis-associated genes and myelomonocytic chemokines.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chinaemerem U. Onyishi, Guillaume E. Desanti, Alex L. Wilkinson, Samuel Lara-Reyna, Eva-Maria Frickel, Gyorgy Fejer, Olivier D. Christophe, Clare E. Bryant, Subhankar Mukhopadhyay, Siamon Gordon, Robin C. May
Summary: Loss of TLR4 function enhances phagocytosis of non-opsonised C. neoformans by macrophages, and this is dampened by pre-treatment with oxidised-LDL. The scavenger receptor MSR1 is upregulated in Tlr4(-/-) macrophages and is shown to be a key non-opsonic receptor for C. neoformans.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Patrick D. Schloss, Christina A. Cuomo
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Caleigh Mandel-Brehm, Sara E. Vazquez, Christopher Liverman, Mickie Cheng, Zoe Quandt, Andrew F. Kung, Audrey Parent, Brenda Miao, Emmanuel Disse, Christine Cugnet-Anceau, Stephane Dalle, Elizaveta Orlova, Elena Frolova, Diana Alba, Aaron Michels, Bergithe E. Oftedal, Michail S. Lionakis, Eystein S. Husebye, Anil K. Agarwal, Xilong Li, Chengsong Zhu, Quan Li, Elif Oral, Rebecca Brown, Mark S. Anderson, Abhinmanyu Garg, Joseph L. DeRisi
Summary: This study identified autoantibodies to PLIN1 in a murine model of APS1 and in patients with acquired lipodystrophy, indicating that PLIN1 autoantibodies may be markers of acquired autoimmune lipodystrophies.
