Healthcare-associated fungal infections and emerging pathogens during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Historically, fungi were mainly identified as plant and insect pathogens since they grow at 28°C. At the same time, bacteria are known to be the most common human pathogens as they are compatible with the host body temperature of 37°C. Because of immunocompromised hosts, cancer therapy, and malnutrition, fungi are rapidly gaining attention as human pathogens.

Rhizospheric spp. Exhibit Miticidal Efficacy against (Acari: Tetranychidae) of Tea.

(Acari: Tetranychidae), popularly known as red spider mite (RSM) is one of the major pests of commercial tea ( (L.) O. Kuntze) plantation world over.

Isolation and Characterization of Chitosans from Different Fungi with Special Emphasis on Zygomycetous Dimorphic Fungus : Evaluation of Its Chitosan Nanoparticles for the Inhibition of Human Pathogenic Fungi.

The cell wall chitosan was extracted from fungi belonging to different taxonomic classes, namely, (Zygomycetes, dimorphic), , , , and (Ascomycetes, yeasts), and and (Basidiomycetes). The maximum yield of chitosan was 60.89 ± 2.

New 1,2,3-Triazole-Appended Bis-pyrazoles: Synthesis, Bioevaluation, and Molecular Docking.

The present work describes design of a small library of new 1,2,3-triazole-appended bis-pyrazoles by using a molecular hybridization approach, and the synthesized hybrids were evaluated for their antifungal activity against different fungal strains, namely, , , , , , and . All the compounds exhibited broad-spectrum activity against the tested fungal strains with excellent minimum inhibitory concentration values. The molecular docking study against sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) could provide valuable insights into the binding modes and affinity of these compounds.

NADP-dependent glutamate dehydrogenases in a dimorphic zygomycete Benjaminiella poitrasii: Purification, characterization and their evaluation as an antifungal drug target.

Background: It has been reported that the genes coding for NADP-dependent glutamate dehydrogenases (NADP-GDHs) showed a cause-effect relationship with Yeast-Hypha (YH) reversible transition in a zygomycete Benjaminiella poitrasii. As YH transition is significant in human pathogenic fungi for their survival and proliferation in the host, the NADP-GDHs can be explored as antifungal drug targets.

Methods: The yeast-form specific BpNADPGDH I and hyphal-form specific BpNADPGDH II of B.

Retrospective Study of Clinical and Epidemiological Parameters of Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Their Follow-Up.

Aim: To study clinical and epidemiological parameters of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and to follow them up for understanding the outcomes of the procedure.

Material And Methods: This is a retrospective data analysis of 862 patients who underwent PCI from January 2016 to November 2017.

Results: Out of 862 patients, 611 (70.

Molecular studies of NAD- and NADP-glutamate dehydrogenases decipher the conundrum of yeast-hypha dimorphism in zygomycete Benjaminiella poitrasii.

Benjaminiella poitrasii, a zygomycete, shows glucose- and temperature-dependent yeast (Y)-hypha (H) dimorphic transition. Earlier, we reported the biochemical correlation of relative proportion of NAD- and NADP-glutamate dehydrogenases (GDHs) with Y-H transition. Further, we observed the presence of one NAD-GDH and two form-specific NADP-GDH isoenzymes in B.

The puzzle of highly virulent Metarhizium anisopliae strains from Annona squamosa fields against Helicoverpa armigera.

In our search for indigenous virulent strains of the entomopathogenic fungi, we observed that Metarhizium isolates from soils associated with Annona squamosa (custard apple) have higher virulence (>90% mortality of Helicoverpa armigera larvae at 1/10 spore concentration) than strains isolated from Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) fields. Proteomic analysis revealed two insecticidal cyclopeptides of A. squamosa origin in the M.

Catheter Assisted Management of Massive Pulmonary Embolism.

Pulmonary thromboembolism is common and missed by clinicians. We report a case of massive pulmonary embolism which was life threatening treated by the catheter assisted technique. Anticoagulation is the mainstay of therapy for most patients, with thrombolytic therapy reserved for some patients.

Calcium on Mitral Valve: Decipher Aetiopathogenesis.

We hereby describe an unusual case of a 17-year-old female with severe mitral regurgitation secondary to heavily calcified immobile valve leaflets. Along with the mitral valve, corneas were also calcified, due to congenital systemic metabolic disorder, distal renal tubular acidosis. Histopathology proved that there was no intrinsic pathology of the mitral valve.

Development of Metarhizium anisopliae as a Mycoinsecticide: From Isolation to Field Performance.

A major concern when developing commercial mycoinsecticides is the kill speed compared to that of chemical insecticides. Therefore, isolation and screening for the selection of a fast-acting, highly virulent entomopathogenic fungus are important steps. Entomopathogenic fungi, such as Metarhizium, Beauveria, and Nomurea, which act by contact, are better suited than Bacillus thuringiensis or nucleopolyhedrosis virus (NPV), which must be ingested by the insect pest.

Selection of reference genes for quantitative real-time RT-PCR assays in different morphological forms of dimorphic zygomycetous fungus Benjaminiella poitrasii.

Benjaminiella poitrasii, a dimorphic non-pathogenic zygomycetous fungus, exhibits a morphological yeast (Y) to hypha (H) reversible transition in the vegetative phase, sporangiospores (S) in the asexual phase and zygospores (Z) in the sexual phase. To study the gene expression across these diverse morphological forms, suitable reference genes are required. In the present study, 13 genes viz.

Asymptomatic Presentation of Large Cardiac Ball.

A 45 years female presented with short duration of dry cough and atypical chest pain. Chest X ray showed cardiomegaly with a bulge at the right heart border and curvilinear calcification in left upper abdomen. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a cystic lesion in the right ventricle free wall causing compression of right atrial and ventricular cavity.

Facile and Solvent-free Domino Synthesis of New Quinolidinyl-2,4- thiazolidinones: Antifungal Activity and Molecular Docking.

Objective: We have synthesized new quinolidinyl-thiazolidinones via Knoevenagel condensation- alkylation reaction, catalyzed by [Et3NH][HSO4]. The present approach offers several advantages such as higher yields, eco-friendly reaction condition and economic availability of the catalyst.

Method: The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antifungal activity against six fungal strains.

Silicon Incorporated Morpholine Antifungals: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation.

Known morpholine class antifungals (fenpropimorph, fenpropidin, and amorolfine) were synthetically modified through silicon incorporation to have 15 sila-analogues. Twelve sila-analogues exhibited potent antifungal activity against different human fungal pathogens such as Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus niger. Sila-analogue 24 (fenpropimorph analogue) was the best in our hands, which showed superior fungicidal potential than fenpropidin, fenpropimorph, and amorolfine.

Clerodane type diterpene as a novel antifungal agent from Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula.

Bioactivity-guided chemical examination of methanolic extract of leaves of Polyalthia longifolia var. pendula led to the isolation of the active constituent, a diterpene 1 which was identified as 16α-hydroxycleroda-3,13(14)Z-dien-15,16-olide on the basis of its spectral data. Among the tested strains, diterpene 1 was found to exhibit antifungal activities having MIC90 values of 50.

Antifungal dimeric chalcone derivative kamalachalcone E from Mallotus philippinensis.

From the red coloured extract (Kamala) prepared through acetone extraction of the fresh whole uncrushed fruits of Mallotus philippinensis, one new dimeric chalcone (1) along with three known compounds 1-(5,7-dihydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-8-yl)-3-phenyl-2-propen-1-one (2), rottlerin (3) and 4'-hydroxyrottlerin (4) were isolated. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR analyses that included HSQC, HMBC, COSY and ROESY experiments along with the literature comparison. Compounds 1-4 were evaluated for antifungal activity against different human pathogenic yeasts and filamentous fungi.

Mechanism of action of novel synthetic dodecapeptides against Candida albicans.

Background: Three de novo designed low molecular weight cationic peptides (IJ2, IJ3 and IJ4) containing an unnatural amino acid α,β-didehydrophenylalanine (∆Phe) exhibited potent antifungal activity against fluconazole (FLC) sensitive and resistant clinical isolates of Candida albicans as well as non-albicans and other yeast and filamentous pathogenic fungi. In the present study, their synthesis, susceptibility of different fungi and the mechanism of anti-candidal action have been elucidated.

Methods: The antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) were synthesized by solid-phase method and checked for antifungal activity against different yeasts and fungi by broth microdilution method.

Chitin synthase inhibitors as antifungal agents.

Increased risk of fungal diseases in immunocompromised patients, emerging fungal pathogens, limited repertoire of antifungal drugs and resistance development against the drugs demands for development of new and effective antifungal agents. With greater knowledge of fungal metabolism efforts are being made to inhibit specific enzymes involved in different biochemical pathways for the development of antifungal drugs. Chitin synthase is one such promising target as it is absent in plants and mammals.

Perspectives for nano-biotechnology enabled protection and nutrition of plants.

Indiscriminate use of pesticides and fertilizers causes environmental pollution, emergence of agricultural pests and pathogens, and loss of biodiversity. Nanotechnology, by virtue of nanomaterial related properties, has potential agro-biotechnological applications for alleviation of these problems. The literature pertaining to the role of nanotechnology in plant and soil systems demonstrates that nanomaterials may assist in a) the controlled release of agrochemicals for nutrition and protection against pests and pathogens, b) delivery of genetic material, c) sensitive detection of plant disease and pollutants and d) protection and formation of soil structure.

Antifungal activity of novel synthetic peptides by accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disruption of cell wall against Candida albicans.

In the present work, we investigated the antifungal activity of two de novo designed, antimicrobial peptides VS2 and VS3, incorporating unnatural amino acid α,β-dehydrophenylalanine (ΔPhe). We observed that the low-hemolytic peptides could irreversibly inhibit the growth of various Candida species and multidrug resistance strains at MIC(80) values ranging from 15.62 μM to 250 μM.

Stereoselective synthesis and antimicrobial activity of steroidal C-20 tertiary alcohols with thiazole/pyridine side chain.

Stereoselective synthesis of novel steroidal C-20 tertiary alcohols with thiazole and pyridine side chain using Grignard reaction of steroidal ketones and thiazole/pyridine magnesium bromide have been realized. These molecules were evaluated in vitro for their antifungal and antibacterial activities. Most of the compounds exhibited significant antifungal and antibacterial activity against all the tested strains.

Natural yeast flora of different varieties of grapes used for wine making in India.

The natural Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces yeast flora present on the grape berries significantly affect wine production. Six grape varieties, Bangalore blue, Zinfandel, Cabernet, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz are being used in India for wine making. The yeast diversity was studied on the basis of morphological, colony, physiological characteristics and 5.