Mycobiome analyses of critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) is a life-threatening complication in patients with severe COVID-19. Previously, acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with COVID-19 has been associated with lung fungal dysbiosis, evidenced by reduced microbial diversity and colonization. Increased fungal burden in the lungs of critically ill COVID-19 patients is linked to prolonged mechanical ventilation and increased mortality.

Distinct Cohorts of Transcription Factors Are Required for Epithelial Damage Occurring Contact- or Soluble Effector-Mediated Mechanisms.

Damage to the lung epithelium is a unifying feature of disease caused by the saprophytic fungus . However, the mechanistic basis and the regulatory control of such damage is poorly characterized. Previous studies have identified mediated pathogenesis as occurring at early (≤ 16 hours) or late (>16 hours) phases of the fungal interaction with epithelial cells, and respectively involve direct contact with the host cell or the action of soluble factors produced by mature fungal hyphae.