Exophiala species in household environments and their antifungal resistance profile.

The black fungus Exophiala causes a wide range of infections from superficial to subcutaneous, but also invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised patients as well as healthy individuals. In addition, Exophiala, is a common colonizer of the air ways of patients with cystic fibrosis. However, the source of infection and mode of transmission is still unclear.

Preventive treatment patterns in the adult migraine population: an observational UK study over 7 years.

Background: Calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies (CGRP mAbs) are recommended by the United Kingdom National Institute of Health and Care Excellence for the prevention of migraine as treatment beyond third line. We report migraine prevalence and preventive treatment patterns in the adult United Kingdom primary care population over a 7.5-year period, focusing on patients ceasing ≥ 3 oral preventive medication classes.

Screening Candida auris through a multiplex stepwise PCR algorithm directly from clinical samples of patients suspected of otomycosis in south of Iran; Detection of five cases.

Background: Otomycosis is an infection of the external auditory canal caused by molds and yeasts with descending frequency. Laboratory diagnosis is usually confirmed by microscopy and culture. However, they are not specific enough to reliably differentiate the causative agents, especially for rare pathogens such as Candida auris.

Fungal Tracheobronchitis in Lung Transplant Recipients: Incidence and Utility of Diagnostic Markers.

Fungal tracheobronchitis caused by Aspergillus and Candida spp. is a recognized complication after lung transplantation, but knowledge of the incidence of Candida tracheobronchitis is lacking. The diagnosis relies on fungal cultures in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), but cultures have low specificity.

Turning food waste to antibacterial and biocompatible fungal chitin/chitosan monofilaments.

Here, cell wall of a zygomycete fungus, Rhizopus delemar, grown on bread waste was wet spun into monofilaments. Using the whole cell wall material omits the common chitosan isolation and purification steps and leads to higher material utilization. The fungal cell wall contained 36.

Bacterial and viral coinfection in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients: the prevalence and possible role in disease progression.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive interstitial pneumonia of unknown aetiology with a mean survival rate of less than 3 years. No previous studies have been performed on the role of co-infection (viral and bacterial infection) in the pathogenesis and progression of IPF. In this study, we investigated the role of viral/bacterial infection and coinfection and their possible association with pathogenesis and progression of IPF.

Mass Spectrometry Proteotyping-Based Detection and Identification of , , and in Blood.

Bloodstream infections (BSIs), the presence of microorganisms in blood, are potentially serious conditions that can quickly develop into sepsis and life-threatening situations. When assessing proper treatment, rapid diagnosis is the key; besides clinical judgement performed by attending physicians, supporting microbiological tests typically are performed, often requiring microbial isolation and culturing steps, which increases the time required for confirming positive cases of BSI. The additional waiting time forces physicians to prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics and empirically based treatments, before determining the precise cause of the disease.

Candida species as commensal gut colonizers: A study of 133 longitudinally followed Swedish infants.

The gut microbiota harbor a wide range of bacterial species, but also yeasts may be part of this ecosystem. Infants who are being treated in intensive care units are often colonized by Candida species. However, little is known regarding commensal yeast colonization of healthy infants and young children.

Estimated burden of fungal infections in Sweden.

The aim of this study was to estimate the annual burden of fungal infections in Sweden using data mainly from 2016. Data on specific populations were obtained from Swedish national data registries. Annual incidence and prevalence of fungal disease was calculated based on epidemiological studies.

Serum-based diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia by detection of Pneumocystis jirovecii DNA and 1,3-β-D-glucan in HIV-infected patients: a retrospective case control study.

Background: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is one of the most common HIV-related opportunistic infections. The diagnosis of PCP is based on analyses from respiratory tract specimens which may require the invasive procedure of a diagnostic bronchoscopy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic potential of Pneumocystis jirovecii PCR in serum combined with the 1,3-β-D-glucan (betaglucan) test for the diagnosis of PCP in HIV-infected patients.

Species distribution and antifungal drug susceptibilities of yeasts isolated from the blood samples of patients with candidemia.

Candida albicans is the most frequently isolated fungal species in hospital settings worldwide. However, non-albicans Candida species with decreased susceptibility to antifungals have emerged as an important cause of fungemia. The aims of this study were to determine the species distribution of fungi isolated from the blood samples of patients at a Swedish University Hospital and to define the in vitro susceptibilities of these isolates to nine antifungal agents.

Epidemiology of fungaemia in Sweden: A nationwide retrospective observational survey.

Objectives: To identify the epidemiology and antifungal susceptibilities of Candida spp. among blood culture isolates to identify the epidemiology and antifungal susceptibilities of Candida spp. among blood culture isolates in Sweden.

Prospective evaluation of a combination of fungal biomarkers for the diagnosis of invasive fungal disease in high-risk haematology patients.

We prospectively evaluated a combination of fungal biomarkers in adult haematology patients with focus on their clinical utility at different time points during the course of infection. In total, 135 patients were monitored once to twice weekly for serum (1-3)-ß-d-glucan (BG), galactomannan (GM), bis-methyl-gliotoxin and urinary d-arabinitol/l-arabinitol ratio. In all, 13 cases with proven or probable invasive fungal disease (IFD) were identified.

Focus on the Role of D-serine and D-amino Acid Oxidase in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Motor Neuron Disease (ALS).

We have investigated a pathogenic mutation in D-amino acid oxidase (DAO), DAO, associated with familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) that impairs D-serine metabolism and causes protein aggregation, autophagy and cell death in motor neuron cell lines. These features are consistent with the pathogenic processes occurring in ALS but most importantly, we have demonstrated that activation of the formation of ubiquitinated protein inclusions, increased autophagosome production and apoptotic cell death caused by the mutation in cell lines are attenuated by 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid (DCKA), a selective inhibitor of the glycine/D-serine binding site of the NMDA receptor. D-serine is an essential co-agonist at this glutamate receptor.

Direct detection of Exophiala and Scedosporium species in sputa of patients with cystic fibrosis.

Detection of species of Exophiala and Scedosporium in the respiratory tracts of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients remains controversial because of highly variable results. The results of our study suggested a significantly higher prevalence and more complex colonization than previously estimated. Approximately 17% (27/162) of clinical sputum samples were found to be positive for Exophiala dermatitidis and 30% (49/162) were positive for Scedosporium apiospermum / S.

Characterisation of the pathogenic effects of the in vivo expression of an ALS-linked mutation in D-amino acid oxidase: Phenotype and loss of spinal cord motor neurons.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common adult-onset neuromuscular disorder characterised by selective loss of motor neurons leading to fatal paralysis. Current therapeutic approaches are limited in their effectiveness. Substantial advances in understanding ALS disease mechanisms has come from the identification of pathogenic mutations in dominantly inherited familial ALS (FALS).

Organization of Patient Management and Fungal Epidemiology in Cystic Fibrosis.

The achievement of a better life for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is mainly caused by a better management and infection control over the last three decades. Herein, we want to summarize the cornerstones for an effective management of CF patients and to give an overview of the knowledge about the fungal epidemiology in this clinical context in Europe. Data from a retrospective analysis encompassing 66,616 samples from 3235 CF patients followed-up in 9 CF centers from different European countries are shown.

Short Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides Display Superior Antifungal Activities toward Candidiasis and Onychomycosis in Comparison with Terbinafine and Amorolfine.

Novel antifungals are in high demand due to the challenges associated with resistant, persistent, and systemic fungal infections. Synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides are emerging as a promising class of compounds for antifungal treatment. In the current study, five synthetic cationic antimicrobial tripeptides were evaluated as antifungal therapeutics against 24 pathogenic strains of fungi.

Xenotropic Murine Leukemia Virus-Related Virus and RNase L R462Q Variants in Iranian Patients With Sporadic Prostate Cancer.

Background: Although several studies have confirmed the association of xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) and prostate cancer, this association is still controversial, as most studies did not detect XMRV in prostate tissue samples. Furthermore, some genetic and epidemiological studies have highlighted a role for RNase L polymorphisms, particularly R462Q, in the progression of prostate cancer.

Objectives: The focus of this study was on the association of XMRV and RNase L R462Q variants with the risk of prostate cancer in Iranian patients.

High Recovery Rate of Non-albicans Candida Species Isolated From Burn Patients With Candidemia in Iran.

Background: Blood stream infections (BSIs) are major causes of morbidity and mortality in burn patients. Microorganisms responsible for BSI are generally bacteria; however, Candida spp. are the infection agents in as many as 8% of all cases.

IgG1 anti-cell wall and IgG2 anti-phosphopeptidomannan antibodies in the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis and heavy Candida colonization.

We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the usefulness of immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses against Candida cell wall fragments (CW) and phosphopeptidomannan (PPM) for the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis (IC). We analyzed 54 patients with IC (n = 19), Candida heavy colonization (HC; n = 16), and controls (no IC or HC, n = 19).In nonneutropenic patients (n = 47), the sensitivity and specificity values of IgG1 anti-CW and IgG2 anti-PPM in IC were 88%, 59%, and 88%, 94%, respectively.

Analyses of black fungi by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS): species-level identification of clinical isolates of Exophiala dermatitidis.

Conventional mycological identifications based on the recognition of morphological characteristics can be problematic. A relatively new methodology applicable for the identification of microorganisms is based on the exploitation of taxon- specific mass patterns recorded from abundant cell proteins directly from whole-cell preparations, using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). This study reports the application of MALDI-TOF MS for the differentiation and identifications of black yeasts, isolated from the respiratory tracts of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

How to interpret serum levels of beta-glucan for the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections in adult high-risk hematology patients: optimal cut-off levels and confounding factors.

Detection of the fungal cell wall component beta-glucan (BG) in serum is increasingly used to diagnose invasive fungal infections (IFI), but its optimal use in hematology patients with high risk of IFI is not well defined. We retrospectively analyzed the diagnostic accuracy, optimal cut-off level, and potential confounding factors of BG reactivity. The inclusion criteria were: adult patients with hematologic disease who were admitted to the hematology ward during the 2-year study period and who had two or more consecutive BG assays performed.

Development of IgG antibodies to Exophiala dermatitidis is associated with inflammatory responses in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Background: The clinical importance of airway colonisation by the fungus Exophiala dermatitidis in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is unclear. We have previously shown that E. dermatitidis frequently colonises the airways of patients with CF.