Label-Free Optical Transmission Tomography for Direct Mycological Examination and Monitoring of Intracellular Dynamics.

Live-cell imaging generally requires pretreatment with fluorophores to either monitor cellular functions or the dynamics of intracellular processes and structures. We have recently introduced full-field optical coherence tomography for the label-free live-cell imaging of fungi with potential clinical applications for the diagnosis of invasive fungal mold infections. While both the spatial resolution and technical set up of this technology are more likely designed for the histopathological analysis of tissue biopsies, there is to our knowledge no previous work reporting the use of a light interference-based optical technique for direct mycological examination and monitoring of intracellular processes.

Synthesis and characterization of new acid-functionalized porphyrins displaying antimicrobial activity against gram positive bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi with or without ultra-high irradiance.

The antimicrobial activity of new acid-functionalized porphyrins, with or without ultra-high irradiance, was investigated. Antibacterial efficacy was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-resistant or methicillin-sensitive strains) and antifungal efficacy was evaluated against the yeast Candida albicans and the filamentous fungi Aspergillus fumigatus. Overall, the porphyrins tested are more effective against S.

Risk of fungal exposure in the homes of patients with hematologic malignancies.

Background: Patients with hematological malignancies are at a high risk of developing invasive fungal infections (IFI) because they undergo several cycles of treatment leading to episodes of neutropenia. In addition, they alternate between hospital stays and periods spent at home. Thus, when an IFI is diagnosed during their hospital stays, it is highly challenging to identify the origin of the fungal contamination.

Dynamic full-field optical coherence tomography for live-cell imaging and growth-phase monitoring in .

Introduction: The diagnosis of cutaneous manifestations of deep mycoses relies on both histopathological and direct examinations. Yet, the current diagnostic criteria cannot prevent missed cases, including invasive aspergillosis, which requires the development of a novel diagnostic approach and imaging tools. We recently introduced the use of dynamic full-field optical coherence tomography (D-FF-OCT) in fungal diagnostics with a definition approaching that of conventional microscopy and the ability to return metabolic information regarding different fungal species.

Evaluation of carboxylic acid-derivatized corroles as novel gram-positive antibacterial agents under non-photodynamic inactivation conditions.

Herein, we report the synthesis and evaluation of carboxylic acid corroles bearing either one, two, three of four carboxylic groups as gram-positive antibacterial agents against two strains of S. aureus, one methicillin-sensible (MSSA) and the other methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Lead compounds 5 and 6 show low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.

Endotracheal tube biofilm in critically ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic : description of an underestimated microbiological compartment.

Biofilm (BF) growth is believed to play a major role in the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in the intensive care unit. Despite concerted efforts to understand the potential implication of endotracheal tube (ETT)-BF dispersal, clinically relevant data are lacking to better characterize the impact of its mesostructure and microbiological singularity on the occurrence of VAP. We conducted a multicenter, retrospective observational study during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, between March and May 2021.

Dynamic full-field optical coherence tomography as complementary tool in fungal diagnostics.

Histopathology and microscopic examination of infected tissue are the gold standards to prove the diagnosis of invasive fungal infection (IFI). Yet, they suffer from essential limitations that hamper rapid diagnosis and require the future development of new imaging tools dedicated to fungal diagnostics. To this end, the present work introduces the first use of dynamic full-field optical coherence tomography (D-FF-OCT) for the visualization of microscopic filamentous fungi.

Evaluation of the relevance of use of the BD-BACTEC®MycosisIC/F, BD-BACTEC®PlusAerobic/F, BD-BACTEC®Lytic/10 anaerobic/F and BD-BACTEC®PedsPlus/F culture bottle system for fungemia detection: A 4-year retrospective study at the Dijon university hospital, France.

Introduction: Fungemia is a severe invasive fungal infection that combines rapid progression and a high mortality rate. This type of infection is a vital emergency, and early diagnosis is crucial. Currently, only the BD-BACTEC® Automated Blood Culture System (Becton Dickinson, New Jersey, USA) has a medium specifically dedicated to the detection of fungal agents: the BD-BACTEC®MycosisIC/F bottle.

Antifungal Susceptibility of 182 Fusarium Species Isolates from 20 European Centers: Comparison between EUCAST and Gradient Concentration Strip Methods.

We determined the susceptibility of 182 Fusarium species isolates to five antifungal drugs (amphotericin B, voriconazole, posaconazole, isavuconazole, and terbinafine) by the EUCAST method. Based on the latest taxonomic insights, isolates collected from 20 European centers were distributed into seven complexes and 27 species. The susceptibility was variable, depending on the species.

Multicenter Evaluation of an ELISA for the Detection of spp. Antigen in Clinical Human Stool Samples.

Human cryptosporidiosis remains underdiagnosed, and rapid/accurate diagnosis is of clinical importance. Diagnosis of the oocyst in stool samples by conventional microscopy is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and requires skillful experience. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the usefulness of a coproantigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test in detecting spp.

Epidemiology of Cryptosporidiosis in France from 2017 to 2019.

Cryptosporidiosis is currently recognized worldwide as a leading cause of moderate to severe diarrhea. In Europe, large water- and foodborne outbreaks have been reported, highlighting the widespread distribution of the parasite and its important health impact. Surveillance networks have been progressively set up and the aim of this study was to present recent epidemiological data obtained in France from 2017 to 2019 by the National Reference Center-Expert Laboratory of cryptosporidiosis (Centre National de Référence-Laboratoire Expert cryptosporidioses CNR-LE).

Oestrus ovis external ophtalmomyiasis: a case report in Burgundy France.

Background: External ophtalmomyiasis (EOM) is a zoonosis related to the presence of Oestrus ovis larvae at the ocular level in small ruminants (i.e. ovine, caprine).

Human cryptosporidiosis in immunodeficient patients in France (2015-2017).

Cryptosporidiosis is a common disease in children and immunodeficient individuals. In 2006, a national network was set up on the surveillance of human cryptosporidiosis in France. Since January 2015, the 41 tertiary care hospitals and the 3 private laboratories of the French National Network on the surveillance of human cryptosporidiosis have been able to declare confirmed cases of cryptosporidiosis online.

Is It Time to Include CT "Reverse Halo Sign" and qPCR Targeting Mucorales in Serum to EORTC-MSG Criteria for the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Mucormycosis in Leukemia Patients?

In 23 leukemia patients with proven (n = 17) or possible (n = 6) pulmonary mucormycosis (PM), the presence of reversed halo sign on computed tomography was strongly associated with the positivity of quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays targeting Mucorales in the serum, confirming the value of these two tools for the diagnosis of PM in this setting.

A Clonal Lineage of Fusarium oxysporum Circulates in the Tap Water of Different French Hospitals.

Unlabelled: Fusarium oxysporum is typically a soilborne fungus but can also be found in aquatic environments. In hospitals, water distribution systems may be reservoirs for the fungi responsible for nosocomial infections. F.

Candida albicans is able to use M cells as a portal of entry across the intestinal barrier in vitro.

Candida albicans is the most frequent yeast responsible for systemic infections in humans. These infections mainly originate from the gastrointestinal tract where C. albicans can invade the gut epithelial barrier to gain access to the bloodstream.

Adaptation of Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium dimerum to the specific aquatic environment provided by the water systems of hospitals.

Members of the Fusarium group were recently detected in water distribution systems of several hospitals in the world. An epidemiological investigation was conducted over 2 years in hospital buildings in Dijon and Nancy (France) and in non-hospital buildings in Dijon. The fungi were detected only within the water distribution systems of the hospital buildings and also, but at very low concentrations, in the urban water network of Nancy.

Fungaemia caused by Fusarium proliferatum in a patient without definite immunodeficiency.

Recent literature has shown the growing importance of opportunistic fungal infections due to Fusarium spp. However, disseminated fusariosis remains rare in patients without neutropenia. We report a case of fungaemia in a 78-year-old French woman without definite immunodeficiency.

Rbt1 protein domains analysis in Candida albicans brings insights into hyphal surface modifications and Rbt1 potential role during adhesion and biofilm formation.

Cell wall proteins are central to the virulence of Candida albicans. Hwp1, Hwp2 and Rbt1 form a family of hypha-associated cell surface proteins. Hwp1 and Hwp2 have been involved in adhesion and other virulence traits but Rbt1 is still poorly characterized.

Fusarium species recovered from the water distribution system of a French university hospital.

Dijon Hospital is a French tertiary care institution undergoing major renovation, and different microbiological controls revealed the presence of Fusarium spp. in the water distribution system. Because some Fusarium spp.

Airborne Aspergillus contamination during hospital construction works: efficacy of protective measures.

Background: The Dijon University Hospital in Dijon, France is involved in a large construction program with heavy truck traffic and a very dusty environment. This study aimed to assess the impact of outdoor hospital construction work on Aspergillus air contamination in the immediate environment of patients at high risk for aspergillosis in the presence of protective measures.

Methods: Prospective air and surface sampling (n=1301) was performed in 3 hospital units over a 30-month period.

Profiles and seasonal distribution of airborne fungi in indoor and outdoor environments at a French hospital.

A one-year prospective survey of fungal air contamination was conducted in outdoor air and inside two haematological units of a French hospital. Air was sampled with a portable Air System Impactor. During this period of survey, the mean viable fungal load was 122.

A prospective survey of air and surface fungal contamination in a medical mycology laboratory at a tertiary care university hospital.

Background: Invasive filamentous fungi infections resulting from inhalation of mold conidia pose a major threat in immunocompromised patients. The diagnosis is based on direct smears, cultural symptoms, and culturing fungi. Airborne conidia present in the laboratory environment may cause contamination of cultures, resulting in false-positive diagnosis.