Invasive Candidiasis: Update and Current Challenges in the Management of This Mycosis in South America.

Invasive candidiasis encompassing bloodstream infections and deep-seated candidiasis can become a persistent health problem. These infections are caused by species and have high morbidity and mortality rates. Species distribution, access to diagnosis, treatment and mortality are different around the world.

Modulates Murine and Human Beta Defensin-1 during Vaginitis.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) are two forms of a disease caused by spp. β-defensin (BD) is one of the most important families of antimicrobial peptides in the female genital tract and includes molecules that exert essential local functions as antimicrobial and PMN chemoattractant peptides. However, the information on their role during murine and human VVC and RVVC is limited.

[Invasive candidiasis: A view to central nervous system infection].

Candidemia is the most frequent invasive mycosis in hospitalized patients worldwide. Fungal infection in central nervous system is a life-threatening complication which aggravates patients' prognosis. This article summarizes relevant aspects on the clinical characteristics of this pathology, mechanisms of fungus invasion, local immune response to Candida albicans and the impact of genetic defects on innate immune receptors that increase susceptibility to the acquisition of this form of mycosis.

Frequency, virulence factors and antifungal susceptibility of Candida parapsilosis species complex isolated from patients with candidemia in the central region of Argentina.

Purpose: Our objectives were to report species distribution and survival of patients with candidemia in Argentina's central region and to establish the prevalence of C.parapsilosis sensu lato species, their virulence factors and their antifungal susceptibility profiles.

Methods: Yeasts isolated from bloodstream infections in Córdoba (Argentina) (n=35) were molecularly identified.

Contribution of TLR2 pathway in the pathogenesis of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Candida albicans is the prevalent etiological agent in acute vulvovaginal infection and the most severe chronic condition known as recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). A critical role of local innate immunity in defense and pathogenesis of vaginal infection by Candida is proposed. The fungal recognition by the innate immune receptor is an essential step for the induction of local responses including cytokines and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) production for host protection.

[Vulvovaginal candidiasis: An old disease with new challenges].

Vulvovaginal candidiasis is an old disease that, even in a modern world, continues to have a high incidence. Despite the therapeutic advances, treatments are not always effective, and our understanding of the pathogenesis of this fungal infection is still incomplete. A discussion is presented in this article on the most significant developments related to the fungal virulence factors, the role of the immunological mechanisms involved in the vaginal protection, and the genetic alterations that confer susceptibility to the recurrent form of this mycosis.

[Innate receptors and IL-17 in the immune response against human pathogenic fungi].

In recent years, the rise of human fungal infections has been associated to lack of early diagnosis, uneffective antifungal therapies and vaccines. Disturbance in immune homeostasis, which can be caused by medical interventions and immunosuppression nduced by disease, are well known as risk factors for these pathologies. Cells of the innate immune system are equipped with surface and cytoplasmic receptors for recognition of microorganisms called pattern recognition receptors (PRRs).

Candida albicans up-regulates the Fas-L expression in liver Natural Killer and Natural Killer T cells.

After Candida albicans arrival to the liver, the local production of proinflammatory cytokines and the expanded intrahepatic lymphocytes (IHL) can be either beneficial or detrimental to the host. Herein we explored the balance between protective inflammatory reaction and liver damage, focusing our study on the contribution of TNF-α and Fas-Fas-L pathways in the hepatocellular apoptosis associated to C. albicans infection.

Evaluation of Syngonanthus nitens (Bong.) Ruhl. extract as antifungal and in treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro anticandidal activity of a methanolic extract of Syngonanthus nitens scapes against different Candida species and clinical isolates from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and its effect in vivo in the treatment of vaginal infection. Chemical characterization of the extract was performed by HPLC-UV analyses and showed the presence of flavones derivatives. The extract was effective against several Candida strains from our collection and species recovered from VVC patients, and was able to inhibit the yeast-hyphal transition.

Abrogation of spontaneous liver tolerance during immune response to Candida albicans: contribution of NKT and hepatic mononuclear cells.

Hepatic mononuclear cells (HMC) are a heterogeneous population with innate immune properties involved in the response to several pathogens. Herein, during the primary infection with Candida albicans, we observed dynamic changes in CD3+, NK+ and NKT+ intrahepatic lymphoid subsets and a significant increase in the absolute number of antigen-presenting cells (APC). The liver tolerogenic microenvironment sustained by higher levels of IL-10, transforming growth factor-β and IL-4 was severely modified upon the robust IFN-γ production after the fungal colonization.

The murine PKR tumor suppressor gene is rearranged in a lymphocytic leukemia.

The double-stranded RNA-dependent kinase, PKR, is encoded by an interferon inducible gene and is largely responsible for the anti-viral effects of this cytokine. Recent studies have shown that PKR may also play a role in the regulation of normal cellular growth. Although numerous examples of viral strategies for inactivation of PKR exist, there is no evidence of PKR inactivation in tumors.

TIK, a novel serine/threonine kinase, is recognized by antibodies directed against phosphotyrosine.

We have isolated cDNAs encoding kinases from a murine pre-B cell line by screening a lambda gt11 cDNA expression library with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies. One cDNA was identified to encode the previously isolated tyrosine kinase c-lyn. Among the remaining clones, we have characterized a cDNA encoding a novel kinase which we have designated TIK.

STY, a tyrosine-phosphorylating enzyme with sequence homology to serine/threonine kinases.

We have cloned a novel kinase (STY) from an embryonal carcinoma cell line. Sequence analysis of the STY cDNA reveals that it shares sequence homology with serine/threonine-type kinases and yet the bacterial expression product of the STY cDNA appears to have serine-, threonine-, and tyrosine-phosphorylating activities. The predicted STY protein is highly basic and contains a putative nuclear localization signal.