Photodynamic inactivation by hypericin-P123 on azole-resistant isolates of the Trichophyton rubrum complex as planktonic cells and biofilm.

Introduction: The Trichophyton rubrum complex comprises the majority of dermatophyte fungi (DM) responsible for chronic cases of onychomycosis, which is treated with oral or topical antifungals. However, owing to antifungal resistance, alternative therapies, such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), are needed. This study investigated the frequency of the T.

The impact of ORF19.36.1 in the pathobiology of Candida albicans.

Background: Our previous proteomics data obtained from Candida albicans recovered after serial passage in a murine model of systemic infection revealed that Orf19.36.1 expression correlates with the virulence of the fungus.

Successful treatment of experimental murine vulvovaginal candidiasis with gentian violet.

This study evaluated the antifungal efficacy of gentian violet (GV) in an experimental vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) model. susceptibility and cytotoxicity assays were performed to validate the antifungal potential and safety of GV. The antifungal efficacy was then evaluated through comparative analysis of the fungal burden following treatment with GV or nystatin, as well as assessment of the vaginal tissue by histology and electron microscopy.

Promising onychomycosis treatment with hypericin-mediated photodynamic therapy: Case reports.

Background: Onychomycosis (OM) is a common nail plate disorder caused by dermatophyte molds, yeasts, and non-dermatophyte molds, which use keratin in the nail plate as an energy source. OM is characterized by dyschromia, increased nail thickness, subungual hyperkeratosis, and onychodystrophy, and is typically treated with conventional antifungals despite frequent reports of toxicity, fungal resistance, and OM recurrence. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with hypericin (Hyp) as a photosensitizer (PS) stands out as a promising therapeutic modality.

Cell wall associated proteins involved in filamentation with impact on the virulence of Candida albicans.

Candida albicans is a commensal microorganism of the human microbiota that can be associated with superficial to disseminated infections. This species possesses several attributes that contribute to pathogenesis and virulence, such as the ability to transition from yeast to hyphae forms. During this transition, several changes occur in the fungal cell wall, which is the first point of contact between the pathogen and the host.

Serial systemic candidiasis alters Candida albicans macromorphology associated with enhancement of virulence attributes.

Candida albicans is one of the major pathogens found in superficial and invasive infections. This fungus expresses several virulence factors and fitness attributes that are essential to the pathogenesis. In our previous study using a murine model of serial systemic candidiasis, virulence of the recovered C.

PanB over-representation as part of pyrazinamide action: a proteomic insight.

Pyrazinamide (PZA) represents a milestone as a first-line antituberculosis drug due to its sterilizing activity against . The protein changes induced by subinhibitory PZA exposure of in acidic pH were evaluated by a proteomic approach. Among the 1059 proteins identified, the specific acidification in the culture medium induced the over-representation of MurF (Rv2157c), and its under-representation was induced by 12 h of PZA exposure.

New approach to the use of propolis against dermatomycosis.

In recent years, propolis extract (PE) has demonstrated antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of a bioadhesive thermoresponsive system containing 16% propolis (BTSP 16%) against , , and . We also evaluated PE alone against the same strains.

Efficacy of Ebselen Against Invasive Aspergillosis in a Murine Model.

Invasive aspergillosis is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality among invasive fungal infections. The search for new antifungal drugs becomes imperative when existing drugs are not able to efficiently treat these infections. Ebselen, is an organoselenium compound, already successfully approved in clinical trials as a repositioned drug for the treatment of bipolar disorder and prevention of noise-induced hearing loss.

Hypericin-P123-photodynamic therapy in an ex vivo model as an alternative treatment approach for onychomycosis caused by Fusarium spp.

BackgroundFusarium has been considered an opportunistic pathogen, causing several infections in humans, including onychomycosis. In addition, a high resistance to conventional antifungals has been linked to this genus. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), known as a non-invasive therapy, can be an alternative treatment for fungal infections, based on the excitation of a photosensitizing compound (PS) by a specific length of light, causing damage to the target.

Fungicidal Activity of a Safe 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Derivative Against .

is the most common species isolated from nosocomial bloodstream infections. Due to limited therapeutic arsenal and increase of drug resistance, there is an urgent need for new antifungals. Therefore, the antifungal activity against and in vivo toxicity of a 1,3,4-oxadiazole compound (LMM6) was evaluated.

A systematic review of photodynamic therapy as an antiviral treatment: Potential guidance for dealing with SARS-CoV-2.

Background: SARS-CoV-2, which causes the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), presents high rates of morbidity and mortality around the world. The search to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 is ongoing and urgent. This systematic review seeks to assess whether photodynamic therapy (PDT) could be effective in SARS-CoV-2 inactivation.

Different expression levels of and genes contribute to recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis by .

To study the behavior of in women with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), recurrent VVC (RVVC) and asymptomatic (AS), regarding adhesion on HeLa cells and their ability to express secreted aspartic proteinases () genes, agglutinin-like sequence () genes and . The adhesion of to HeLa cells was evaluated by colony-forming units, and the expressed genes were evaluated by qRT-PCR. AS and VVC isolates showed greater ability to adhere HeLa cells when compared with RVVC isolate.

Nanoencapsulated hypericin in P-123 associated with photodynamic therapy for the treatment of dermatophytosis.

The antifungal application of photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been widely explored. According to superficial nature of tinea capitis and the facility of application of light sources, the use of nanoencapsulated hypericin in P-123 associated with PDT (P123-Hy-PDT) has been a poweful tool to treat this pathology. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of P123-Hy-PDT against planktonic cells and in a murine model of dermatophytosis caused by Microsporum canis.

Preclinical approaches in vulvovaginal candidiasis treatment with mucoadhesive thermoresponsive systems containing propolis.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common vaginitis that affects women, especially in childbearing age, caused by Candida albicans in almost 80% of cases. Considering the limited drug arsenal available and the increasing fungal resistance profile, the search for new therapeutic sources with low toxicity and easy administration should be supported. Propolis has been used as a traditional medicine for multiple diseases, considering its particular composition and pharmaceutical properties that permits its wide applicability; it has also emerged as a potential antifungal agent.

Impact of serial systemic infection on virulence factors.

To evaluate changes in virulence and pathogenicity approaches from after successive passages in a murine model of systemic candidiasis. Phenotypic assays were performed using colonies recovered from animals infected serially, totalizing five passages. A progressive infection was observed along the passages, with increased fungal burden and the presence of greater inflammatory areas in the histopathological findings.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis in a murine model of diabetes emphasizing the invasive ability of etiological agents.

To compare the pathogenesis of vulvovaginal candidiasis by three species in diabetic mice. Estrogenized and diabetic mice were challenged with , and . Diabetic animals infected with and maintained the highest fungal burden, despite of high levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), respectively.

Insight about cell wall remodulation triggered by rifampicin in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Rifampicin plays an important role during the treatment of tuberculosis, which makes it to be recommended throughout the regimen. The molecular target for rifampicin activity and resistance is the bacterial RNA polymerase coded by rpoB. However, it has been observed that Mycobacterium tuberculosis could use different metabolic pathways contributing to drug activity/resistance.

Promising antifungal activity of new oxadiazole against Candida krusei.

Candida krusei is one of the most common agents of invasive candidiasis and candidemia worldwide, leading to high morbidity and mortality rates. This species has become a problem due to its intrinsic resistance and reduced susceptibility to azoles and polyenes. Moreover, the number of antifungal drugs available for candidiasis treatment is limited, demonstrating the urgent need for the discovery of novel alternative therapies.

Two New 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles With Effective Antifungal Activity Against .

infections have become a serious public health problem with high mortality rates, especially in immunocompromised patients, since is the major opportunistic pathogen responsible for systemic or invasive candidiasis. Commercially available antifungal agents are restricted and fungal resistance to such drugs has increased; therefore, the development of a more specific antifungal agent is necessary. Using assays for antifungal activity, here we report that two new compounds of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles class (LMM5 and LMM11), which were discovered by methodologies as possible thioredoxin reductase inhibitors, were effective against .

Serial Systemic Infection Highlighted by Proteomics.

is the major pathogen isolated from nosocomial bloodstream infections, leading to higher mortality rates. Thus, due to its clinical relevance, studies aiming to understand host-pathogen interactions in infection are necessary. Therefore, we performed proteomic analysis using a murine model of serial systemic infection by to evaluate possible changes in the protein profile of the pathogen over time.

Antifungal activity of two oxadiazole compounds for the paracoccidioidomycosis treatment.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a neglected disease present in Latin America with difficulty in treatment and occurrence of serious sequelae. Thus, the development of alternative therapies is imperative. In the current work, two oxadiazole compounds (LMM5 and LMM11) presented fungicidal activity against Paracoccidioides spp.

Copolymeric micelles as efficient inert nanocarrier for hypericin in the photodynamic inactivation of species.

To evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic inactivation (PDI) mediated by hypericin encapsulated in P-123 copolymeric micelles (P123-Hyp) alone and in combination with fluconazole (FLU) against planktonic cells and biofilm formation of species PDI was performed using P123-Hyp and an LED device with irradiance of 3.0 mW/cm . Most of isolates (70%) were completely inhibited with concentrations up to 2.

Propolis Is an Efficient Fungicide and Inhibitor of Biofilm Production by Vaginal Candida albicans.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is one of the most common genital infections in women. The therapeutic arsenal remains restricted, and some alternatives to VVC treatment are being studied. The present study evaluated the influence of a propolis extractive solution (PES) on biofilm production by Candida albicans isolated from patients with VVC.