Article
Microbiology
Jian Miao, Jessica Regan, Chun Cai, Glen E. Palmer, David L. Williams, Michael D. Kruppa, Brian M. Peters
Summary: This study characterizes the glycogen metabolism pathways in Candida albicans and shows that glycogen metabolism is important for the long-term survival and virulence of the fungus.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Vasiliki Soulountsi, Theodoros Schizodimos, Serafeim Chrysovalantis Kotoulas
Summary: In recent decades, invasive candidiasis (IC) has become a significant cause of morbidity, mortality, and economic burden in the intensive care unit (ICU). The epidemiology of IC remains a difficult and unsolved puzzle for the literature. IC burden estimation is challenging due to various definitions and limitations in case-finding methodologies. Candidemia and intra-abdominal candidiasis (IAC) are the predominant types of IC in the ICU, with an increasing incidence of candidemia, particularly in elderly or immunosuppressed patients, and a shift towards non-albicans species worldwide.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xianwei Yang, Menghan Wang, Ximeng Kang, Fei Mo, Peiru Si, Jia Ma, Peipei Zhang, Shaohua Zheng, Jiyu Li, Yang Wang, Qingqing Li, Jiye Zhang
Summary: Vulvar candidiasis (VVC) is a common and harmful infection in women caused by Candida species. This study focused on the potential of L-Se-methylselenocysteine (L-SeMC) and a mucoadhesive thermogel (NAC-HA thermogel) for the treatment of VVC. The L-SeMC@NAC-HA thermogel showed sustained release and prolonged retention time in vitro, as well as demonstrated good safety and significant anti-VVC effects in vivo. These findings suggest that this thermogel could be a promising therapy for the clinical treatment of VVC.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Xiaojuan Wang, Peng Liu, Yuanying Jiang, Bing Han, Lan Yan
Summary: Monoclonal antibodies targeting protein mannosyltransferase 4 of C. albicans have been found to be effective in alleviating symptoms and improving survival rate of candidiasis. These antibodies exert their immunotherapeutic effects through opsonophagocytosis and opsonic killing activity.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Lulu An, Jingwen Tan, Yuanyuan Wang, Siyu Liu, Yongyong Li, Lianjuan Yang
Summary: This study found that the combination therapy of deferoxamine and fluconazole has a synergistic antifungal effect against drug-resistant Candida albicans. The combination inhibits the growth and hyphal formation of the fungus, reduces infectivity and resistance, and affects signaling pathways. This may offer a novel approach for the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Hiroyuki Hato, Ken-ichiro Sakata, Jun Sato, Akira Hasebe, Yutaka Yamazaki, Yoshimasa Kitagawa
Summary: This study identifies denture use and immunosuppressive therapy as significant risk factors for oral candidiasis caused by co-infection of C. albicans and C. glabrata.
JOURNAL OF DENTAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mohsen Rashidi, Ali Bazi, Alireza Ahmadzadeh, Orazio Romeo, Ali Rezaei-Matehkolaei, Mahdi Abastabar, Iman Haghani, Sepideh Mirzaei
Summary: The present study investigated the growth inhibitory and apoptotic effects of umbelliprenin against Candida albicans in a BALB/c mice model of disseminated candidiasis. Umbelliprenin was able to eradicate fungal infection in BALB/c mice and promote antifungal effects, partly via inducing apoptosis and inhibiting the expression of enzymes and genes involved in antifungal resistance and adhesins encoding genes.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Norma Solis, Rohan S. Wakade, Virginia E. Glazier, Tomye L. Ollinger, Melanie Wellington, Aaron P. Mitchell, Scott G. Filler, Damian J. Krysan
Summary: Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is a common infection that can range from mild to severe, depending on the patient. The transcriptional regulation of C. albicans biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces involves six key factors, some of which play roles in OPC infectivity in a mouse model. The relationship between fungal burden, hyphae morphogenesis, and infectivity is of significant research interest.
Article
Microbiology
Norma V. Solis, Rohan S. Wakade, Virginia E. Glazier, Tomye L. Ollinger, Melanie Wellington, Aaron P. Mitchell, Scott G. Filler, Damian J. Krysan
Summary: Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is a common infection that can cause mild or severe disease depending on the patient. The transcriptional regulation of C. albicans biofilm formation on abiotic surfaces is also involved in OPC, but the network characteristics and functional connections during infection are distinct from those observed in vitro.
Article
Immunology
Watsamon Jantarabenjakul, Chatnapa Yodkitudomying, Ariya Chindamporn, Pintip Suchartlikitwong, Suvaporn Anugulruengkitt, Chitsanu Pancharoen, Thanyawee Puthanakit
Summary: Non-albicans Candida infections are prevalent in IC cases, with factors like shock, thrombocytopenia, and lack of antifungal treatment influencing mortality rates.
PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Junko Yano, David J. White, Anthony P. Sampson, Floyd L. Wormley, Paul L. Fidel
Summary: Despite some clinical evidence suggestive of off-target efficacy of leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) in recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), leukotrienes and associated signaling pathways appear to be dispensable in the immunopathogenesis of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) as shown in a mouse model study.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Xiaoqian Wang, Lihong Chen, Hongjie Ruan, Zhengai Xiong, Wenying Wang, Jin Qiu, Weihua Song, Chunlian Zhang, Fengxia Xue, Tianhua Qin, Bei Zhang, Ruifang An, Xiping Luo, Wei Wang, Songling Zhang, Yunlang Cai, Jiali Kang, Henan Deng, Shangrong Fan, Manhua Cui, Shijin Wang, Xiaowan Luo, Zhiying Su, Jing Shu, Quanren Wang, Fang Wang, Jianling Bai, Qinping Liao, Damian J. Krysan
Summary: Fluconazole remains the dominant treatment option for severe vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), but this study found that Oteseconazole demonstrated significant and clinically meaningful superiority in treating severe VVC with good tolerability.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ari Soares de Oliveira Neto, Israel Lucas Antunes Souza, Maria Eliza Samuel Amorim, Thalita de Freitas Souza, Vinicius Novaes Rocha, Rene Oliveira do Couto, Rodrigo Luiz Fabri, Marcelo Gonzaga de Freitas Araujo
Summary: This study demonstrated the antifungal activity of atorvastatin and its potential as a therapeutic agent for treating Candida albicans infections. Atorvastatin-containing oral and vaginal emulgels showed effective treatment outcomes for oral and vulvovaginal candidiasis in animal models, suggesting its promising application for drug repositioning in the treatment of opportunistic mycoses.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Zewei Chen, Tengshuo Luo, Fengke Huang, Fuzhen Yang, Wenting Luo, Guanfeng Chen, Mengfei Cao, Fengyun Wang, Jun Zhang
Summary: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an infectious disease caused by Candida species, and drug resistance is a growing problem. Chinese botanical medicine, such as Kangbainian lotion (KBN), has advantages in treating drug-resistant VVC and can improve patients' treatment outcomes and comfort.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jingyun Zhang, Jingwen Peng, Dongmei Li, Huan Mei, Yu Yu, Xiaofang Li, Xiaodong She, Weida Liu
Summary: Vulvovaginal candidiasis is characterized by inflammatory responses in the vagina caused by Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida species. This study found that different Candida strains and species induce different host immune responses and epithelial damage. The EGFR-MAPK signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of vulvovaginal candidiasis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Prithviraj Bose, David McCue, Sebastian Wurster, Nathan P. Wiederhold, Marina Konopleva, Tapan M. Kadia, Gautam Borthakur, Farhad Ravandi, Lucia Masarova, Koichi Takahashi, Zeev Estrov, Musa Yilmaz, Naval Daver, Naveen Pemmaraju, Kiran Naqvi, Caitlin R. Rausch, Kayleigh R. Marx, Wei Qiao, Xuelin Huang, Carol A. Bivins, Sherry A. Pierce, Hagop M. Kantarjian, Dimitrios P. Kontoyiannis
Summary: In patients with newly diagnosed AML/MDS undergoing remission-induction chemotherapy, ISAV is a safe and effective alternative for antifungal prophylaxis, with excellent tolerability and minimal adverse effects such as mild to moderate elevation of liver function tests.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Nathan P. Wiederhold, Ilan S. Schwartz, Thomas F. Patterson, George R. Thompson
Summary: The study revealed a significant correlation between ITZ and OH-ITZ levels, with OH-ITZ levels generally higher than ITZ levels, but marked variability was observed throughout the range of ITZ concentrations.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Teclegiorgis Gebremariam, Sondus Alkhazraji, Abdullah Alqarihi, Nathan P. Wiederhold, Laura K. Najvar, Thomas E. Patterson, Scott G. Filler, Ashraf S. Ibrahim
Summary: Biomedical research shows some differences between male and female mice infected with invasive pulmonary mucormycosis, but these differences have no impact on the outcome of treatment or host immune response.
Article
Microbiology
Hamid Badali, Connie Canete-Gibas, Dora McCarthy, Hoja Patterson, Carmita Sanders, Marjorie P. David, James Mele, Hongxin Fan, Nathan P. Wiederhold
Summary: This study evaluated the epidemiology and susceptibility profiles of Mucorales isolates in the United States, finding Rhizopus as the predominant genus, the respiratory tract as the main source of isolates, and amphotericin B and posaconazole as the most active antifungal drugs, with isavuconazole showing the greatest variability.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Abigail R. Armwood, Connie F. Canete-Gibas, Jennifer A. Dill-Okubo, Nathan P. Wiederhold, Alvin C. Camus
Summary: A study on phaeohyphomycosis cases in a diverse range of aquarium-housed fish species found that the disease mostly affects bony fish, particularly marine species. The most common fungal genus identified was Exophiala, with two new species described for the first time in fish. Pathologically, lesions were most frequently observed in the skin/fin, skeletal muscle, and kidneys.
JOURNAL OF FISH DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Jonathan D. Dear, Krystle L. Reagan, Sean E. Hulsebosch, Chai-Fei Li, Matthew John Lodge Munro, Barbara A. Byrne, Verena K. Affolter, Nathan Wiederhold, Connie Canete-Gibas, Jane E. Sykes
Summary: This study describes the clinical features, radiographic findings, pathological characteristics, and outcomes of dogs with disseminated Rasamsonia species complex infections. The infection involves multiple systems such as the vertebral column, central nervous system, kidneys, spleen, lymph nodes, lungs, and heart. Molecular techniques are necessary for proper identification and treatment guidance.
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Sharon C-A Chen, John Perfect, Arnaldo L. Colombo, Oliver A. Cornely, Andreas H. Groll, Danila Seidel, Kerstin Albus, Joao Nobrega de Almedia, Guillermo Garcia-Effron, Nicole Gilroy, Cornelia Lass-Floerl, Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, Livio Pagano, Tamas Papp, Riina Rautemaa-Richardson, Jon Salmanton-Garcia, Andrej Spec, Joerg Steinmann, Sevtap Arikan-Akdagli, Dorothee E. Arenz, Rosanne Sprute, Luisa Duran-Graeff, Tomas Freiberger, Corrado Girmenia, Michelle Harris, Souha S. Kanj, Maryam Roudbary, Olivier Lortholary, Joseph Meletiadis, Esther Segal, Felipe Francisco Tuon, Nathan Wiederhold, Tihana Bicanic, Jagdish Chander, Yee-Chun Chen, Po-Ren Hsueh, Margaret Ip, Patricia Munoz, Isabel Spriet, Elvis Temfack, Luis Thompson, Anna Maria Tortorano, Aristea Velegraki, Nelesh P. Govender
Summary: This article discusses the increasing prevalence of rare yeast infections in immunocompromised or seriously ill patients, highlighting the importance of comprehensive multidisciplinary management. It also addresses the need for region-specific or updated management guidelines, while noting that expert opinions and in-vitro susceptibility results play a key role in treatment recommendations for these infections.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Mycology
Keenan Ryan, Connie Canete-Gibas, Carmita Sanders, Nestor Sosa, Nathan P. Wiederhold
Summary: This report presents the phenotypic characteristics of a novel fungal species isolated from a prosthetic hip infection, identified as a new thielavia-like species through DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The patient responded well to antifungal treatment and remained stable without complications.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Alberto E. Paniz-Mondolfi, Steven Agemy, Connie Canete-Gibas, Melissa R. Gitman, Codrin E. Iacob, Inna Necula, Ching-Yi Wang, Lourdes A. Delgado Noguera, Carmita Sanders, Nathan P. Wiederhold, Emilia M. Sordillo, Michael D. Nowak
Summary: Keratomycosis, caused by various fungi including Colletotrichum species, is a major cause of ophthalmic morbidity worldwide. The first reported case of C. chlorophyti infection in a post-corneal transplant patient indicates an increasing role for Colletotrichum species as emerging human pathogens, especially in transplant populations.
MEDICAL MYCOLOGY CASE REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Martin Hoenigl, Rosanne Sprute, Matthias Egger, Amir Arastehfar, Oliver A. Cornely, Robert Krause, Cornelia Lass-Florl, Juergen Prattes, Andrej Spec, George R. Thompson, Nathan Wiederhold, Jeffrey D. Jenks
Summary: The epidemiology of invasive fungal infections is changing due to increased usage of antifungal agents leading to resistance. Limited therapeutic options are further challenged by drug-drug interactions, toxicity, and administration constraints. Despite the lack of new antifungal drug classes in the past two decades, there are promising new classes in late-stage clinical development, offering hope for improved treatment options.
Article
Microbiology
Raquel Sabino, Nathan Wiederhold
Summary: The accurate identification of fungal pathogens is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of invasive fungal infections. Histopathology provides provisional identification but must be combined with laboratory results for improved accuracy.
Article
Microbiology
Laura S. Burrack, Robert T. Todd, Natthapon Soisangwan, Nathan P. Wiederhold, Anna Selmecki
Summary: Antifungal drug resistance and tolerance are a serious threat to global public health. This study investigated the evolution of drug resistance in Candida auris and found rapid acquisition of resistance mutations and the stability of resistance in the absence of drugs. The genetic background of clinical isolates was also found to affect the evolutionary potential and acquisition of resistance. These findings highlight the high stability and high rates of acquisition of antifungal resistance in C. auris, which can lead to the evolution of pan-resistant isolates in clinical settings.
Review
Microbiology
Nathan P. Wiederhold
Summary: Several new antifungals with novel pharmacodynamics/mechanisms of action are being developed, as well as modified agents within established classes. These drugs have the potential to combat fungal strains with reduced susceptibility or acquired resistance to current antifungals, and may improve clinical outcomes for patients with invasive fungal infections.
Article
Immunology
Alvaro C. Laga, Jessica W. Crothers, Connie F. Canete-Gibas, Nathan P. Wiederhold, Isaac H. Solomon
Summary: Two cases of Rigidoporus corticola infection in humans in the United States are reported, illustrating previously undescribed clinicopathologic manifestations of this filamentous basidiomycete in humans.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Mycology
Ernesto Rodriguez-Andrade, Jose F. Cano-Lira, Nathan Wiederhold, Alba Perez-Cantero, Josep Guarro, Alberto M. Stchigel
Summary: The study investigated clinical fungi of the order Onygenales from a reference laboratory in the USA, identifying new genera and species. Echinocandins demonstrated the highest in vitro antifungal activity against the fungi, followed by terbinafine and posaconazole.
