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Gupta AK, Mann A, Polla Ravi S, Wang T. An update on antifungal resistance in dermatophytosis. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2024:1-9. [PMID: 38623728 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2024.2343079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The reports of resistance to antifungal agents used for treating onychomycosis and other superficial fungal infections are increasing. This rise in antifungal resistance poses a public health challenge that requires attention. AREAS COVERED This review explores the prevalence of dermatophytes and the current relationship between dermatophyte species, their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for terbinafine (an allylamine) and itraconazole (an azole), and various mutations prevalent in these species. The most frequently isolated dermatophyte associated with resistance in patients with onychomycosis and dermatophytosis was T. mentagrophytes. However, T. indotineae emerged as the most prevalent isolate with mutations in the SQLE gene, exhibiting the highest MIC of 8 µg/ml for terbinafine and MICs of 8 µg/ml and ≥ 32 µg/ml for itraconazole.Overall, the most prevalent SQLE mutations were Phe397Leu, Leu393Phe, Ala448Thr, Phe397Leu/Ala448Thr, and Lys276Asn/Leu415Phe (relatively recent). EXPERT OPINION Managing dermatophyte infections requires a personalized approach. A detailed history should be obtained including details of travel, home and occupational exposure, and clinical examination of the skin, nails and other body systems. Relevant testing includes mycological examination (traditional and molecular). Additional testing, where available, includes MIC evaluation and detection of SQLE mutations. In case of suspected terbinafine resistance, itraconazole or voriconazole (less commonly) should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya K Gupta
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Mediprobe Research Inc, London, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Tong Wang
- Mediprobe Research Inc, London, Ontario, Canada
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Siopi M, Pachoulis I, Leventaki S, Spruijtenburg B, Meis JF, Pournaras S, Vrioni G, Tsakris A, Meletiadis J. Evaluation of the Vitek 2 system for antifungal susceptibility testing of Candida auris using a representative international panel of clinical isolates: overestimation of amphotericin B resistance and underestimation of fluconazole resistance. J Clin Microbiol 2024; 62:e0152823. [PMID: 38501836 PMCID: PMC11005389 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01528-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the Vitek 2 system is broadly used for antifungal susceptibility testing of Candida spp., its performance against Candida auris has been assessed using limited number of isolates recovered from restricted geographic areas. We therefore compared Vitek 2 system with the reference Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) broth microdilution method using an international collection of 100 C. auris isolates belonging to different clades. The agreement ±1 twofold dilution between the two methods and the categorical agreement (CA) based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) tentative resistance breakpoints and Vitek 2-specific wild-type upper limit values (WT-ULVs) were determined. The CLSI-Vitek 2 agreement was poor for 5-flucytosine (0%), fluconazole (16%), and amphotericin B (29%), and moderate for voriconazole (61%), micafungin (67%), and caspofungin (81%). Significant interpretation errors were recorded using the CDC breakpoints for amphotericin B (31% CA, 69% major errors; MaEs) and fluconazole (69% CA, 31% very major errors; VmEs), but not for echinocandins (99% CA, 1% MaEs for both micafungin and caspofungin) for which the Vitek 2 allowed correct categorization of echinocandin-resistant FKS1 mutant isolates. Discrepancies were reduced when the Vitek 2 WT-ULV of 16 mg/L for amphotericin B (98% CA, 2% MaEs) and of 4 mg/L for fluconazole (96% CA, 1% MaEs, 3% VmEs) were used. In conclusion, the Vitek 2 system performed well for echinocandin susceptibility testing of C .auris. Resistance to fluconazole was underestimated whereas resistance to amphotericin B was overestimated using the CDC breakpoints of ≥32 and ≥2 mg/L, respectively. Vitek 2 minimun inhibitory concentrations (MICs) >4 mg/L indicated resistance to fluconazole and Vitek 2 MICs ≤16 mg/L indicated non-resistance to amphotericin B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Siopi
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, “Attikon” University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Pachoulis
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, “Attikon” University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - Sevasti Leventaki
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, “Attikon” University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - Bram Spruijtenburg
- Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital (CWZ)/Dicoon, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Radboudumc-CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jacques F. Meis
- Radboudumc-CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Institute of Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Spyros Pournaras
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, “Attikon” University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia Vrioni
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Tsakris
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Joseph Meletiadis
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, “Attikon” University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Kühbacher A, Birch M, Oliver JD, Gsaller F. Anti- Aspergillus activities of olorofim at sub-MIC levels during early-stage growth. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0330423. [PMID: 38315027 PMCID: PMC10913454 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03304-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Olorofim, the first member of the novel class of antifungal drugs, the orotomides, shows promising anti-Aspergillus activity and is currently in phase III clinical development. Using high-throughput microscopy, we monitored olorofim's antifungal potential at sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) levels with a focus on early-stage growth. Unlike voriconazole, olorofim showed significant growth inhibitory activities against three main pathogenic Aspergillus species, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus niger, at concentrations >100,000-fold below its MIC. IMPORTANCE Among antifungal compounds in clinical development for systemic disease, the orotomide olorofim is one of only two that target a completely new mechanism of action. Olorofim is highly potent against pathogenic Aspergillus species including cryptic species that frequently show increased resistance to current agents. In this study, our primary focus was on evaluating in detail the inhibitory activity of voriconazole and olorofim against different pathogenic Aspergillus species employing high-throughput microscopy. Compared to standardized, less-sensitive visual assessment-based methods, microscopy-assisted growth monitoring allowed us to detect sub-MIC drug concentration ranges with significant inhibitory activity at early-stage growth. This revealed that olorofim exerts growth inhibition at concentrations that are several magnitudes below those of voriconazole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Kühbacher
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | | | - Fabio Gsaller
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Shen T, Liu P, Chen D, Liu D, Fang J, Wang Q, Xu Y, Tan C, Wang C. Novel automated antifungal susceptibility testing system for yeasts based on dual-detection algorithm of turbidimetry and colorimetry. J Med Microbiol 2024; 73. [PMID: 38440953 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction. The increasing prevalence and growing resistance of fungi present a significant peril to public health. There are only four classes of antifungal medicines available today, and few candidates are in clinical trials.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Rapid and sensitive diagnostic techniques are lacking for most fungal pathogens, and those that do exist are expensive or hard to obtain.Aim. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a novel automated antifungal susceptibility testing system, Fungus AST, in comparison to the broth microdilution method (BMD) recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).Methodology. A total of 101 clinical Candida spp. isolates were collected from the Zengcheng Branch of Nanfang Hospital and subjected to antifungal susceptibility testing. Antifungal susceptibility was assessed using the Fungus AST method and the BMD.Results. In this study, we introduce a novel automated antifungal susceptibility testing system, Fungus AST, which detects the turbidity and/or colour intensity of microdilution wells using a four-wavelength detection technology in real time and is designed to match the growth characteristics of strains over time. Based on our analysis, all reportable ranges of Fungus AST were suitable for clinical fungal isolates in PR China. Within ±twofold dilutions, reproducibility was 100 %. Considering the BMD as a referenced method, ten antifungal agents (anidulafungin, caspofungin, micafungin, fluconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin B, 5-flucytosine and nystatin) showed an essential agreement of >95 %. The category agreement of five antifungal agents (anidulafungin, caspofungin, micafungin, fluconazole and voriconazole) was excellent at >90 %. One Candida albicans isolate and voriconazole showed a major error (ME) (1.7 %), and no other ME or very ME agents were found.Conclusion. Given the above, it can be argued that the utilization of Fungus AST is a discretionary automated approach. More improvements are needed in Fungus AST compared to the BMD system for a wider range of clinical isolates, including different types of fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Shen
- Medicine Laboratory, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, PR China
| | - Piao Liu
- Medicine Laboratory, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, PR China
| | - Dongmiao Chen
- Medicine Laboratory, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, PR China
| | - Duoduo Liu
- Medicine Laboratory, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, PR China
| | - Juan Fang
- Autobio Diagnostics Co., Ltd, Zhengzhou, 450016, PR China
| | - Qian Wang
- Autobio Diagnostics Co., Ltd, Zhengzhou, 450016, PR China
| | - Yinjuan Xu
- Medicine Laboratory, Zengcheng Branch, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 511340, PR China
| | - Chunjuan Tan
- Medicine Laboratory, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, PR China
| | - Congrong Wang
- Medicine Laboratory, Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, PR China
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Aldejohann AM, Menner C, Thielemann N, Martin R, Walther G, Kurzai O. In vitro activity of ibrexafungerp against clinically relevant echinocandin-resistant Candida strains. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0132423. [PMID: 38206004 PMCID: PMC10848775 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01324-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Invasive candidiasis is a major hospital-acquired infection. Usually, echinocandins are considered first-line treatment. However, resistant phenotypes have emerged. Ibrexafungerp (IBX) is a new antifungal substance with potent anti-Candida activity. We challenged IBX with a library of 192 pheno-/genotypically echinocandin-resistant Candida isolates, focusing on the substance susceptibility, its activity on certain FKS hotspot (HS) mutated strains, and applying WTULs (wild-type upper limits). Therefore, a 9-year-old strain and patient data collection provided by the German National Reference Center for Invasive Fungal Infections were analyzed. Species identification was confirmed through ITS-sequencing. Molecular susceptibility testing was performed by sequencing HS of the FKS gene. Anidulafungin (AND) and IBX EUCAST-broth-microdilution was conducted. The four most common echinocandin-resistance mediating mutations were found in Candida glabrata [112/192 isolates; F659-(43×) and S663-(48×)] and Candida albicans [63/192 isolates; F641-(15×) and S645-(39×)]. Mutations at the HS-start sequence were associated with higher IBX MIC-values (F659 and F641 (MIC 50/90 mg/L: >4/>4 and 2/4 mg/L) in comparison to AND (F659 and F641 (MIC 50/90: 1/4 and 0.25/1 mg/L). MIC-values in HS-center mutations were almost equal [MIC50/90 in S663: 2/4 (AND and IBX); in S645: 0.5/1 (AND) and 0.25/1 (IBX) mg/L]. In total, 61 vs 78 of 192 echinocandin-resistant isolates may be classified as IBX wild type by applying WTULs, whereas the most prominent effect was seen in C. albicans [48% (30/63) vs 70% (44/63)]. IBX shows in vitro activity against echinocandin-resistant Candida and thus is an addition to the antifungal armory. However, our data suggest that this effect is more pronounced in C. albicans and strains harboring mutations, affecting the HS-center.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carolina Menner
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nadja Thielemann
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ronny Martin
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Grit Walther
- National Reference Center for Invasive Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Oliver Kurzai
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- National Reference Center for Invasive Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
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Karakoyun AS, Spruijtenburg B, Unal N, Meijer EFJ, Sucu M, Hilmioğlu-Polat S, Meis JF, de Groot T, Ilkit M. Molecular typing and antifungal susceptibility profile of Candida krusei bloodstream isolates from Türkiye. Med Mycol 2024; 62:myae005. [PMID: 38289726 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myae005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Candida krusei also known as Pichia kudriavzevii is a potentially multidrug-resistant yeast because it is intrinsically resistant to fluconazole and develops acquired resistance to echinocandins and polyenes. Here, we aim to provide a better understanding of the epidemiology and transmission modes of C. krusei infections by comparing invasive bloodstream (n = 35) and non-invasive vaginal (n = 20) C. krusei isolates. The genetic relatedness of the isolates was assessed using a newly described short tandem repeat (STR) analysis and their sensitivity to eight antifungal compounds was evaluated by antifungal susceptibility testing using the CLSI microbroth dilution method. All C. krusei isolates revealed unique STR genotypes, indicating the absence of clonal transmission in the study group. Furthermore, no drug-resistant or non-wild-type isolates were identified. Our findings demonstrated high resolution of STR genotyping for the detection and simultaneous genetic analysis of multiple C. krusei strains in clinical samples and excellent in vitro activity of common antifungal agents against invasive strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayşe Sultan Karakoyun
- Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Çukurova University, Adana, Türkiye
| | - Bram Spruijtenburg
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital (CWZ)/Dicoon, SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboudumc-CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nevzat Unal
- Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Çukurova University, Adana, Türkiye
- University of Health Sciences, Adana City Training and Research Hospital, Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Adana, Türkiye
| | - Eelco F J Meijer
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital (CWZ)/Dicoon, SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboudumc-CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mete Sucu
- Division of Perinatology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Çukurova University, Adana, Türkiye
| | - Süleyha Hilmioğlu-Polat
- Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Türkiye
| | - Jacques F Meis
- Radboudumc-CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Institute of Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne, Germany
| | - Theun de Groot
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital (CWZ)/Dicoon, SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboudumc-CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Macit Ilkit
- Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Çukurova University, Adana, Türkiye
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McTaggart LR, Eshaghi A, Hota S, Poutanen SM, Johnstone J, De Luca DG, Bharat A, Patel SN, Kus JV. First Canadian report of transmission of fluconazole-resistant Candida parapsilosis within two hospital networks confirmed by genomic analysis. J Clin Microbiol 2024; 62:e0116123. [PMID: 38112529 PMCID: PMC10793253 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01161-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida parapsilosis is a common cause of non-albicans candidemia. It can be transmitted in healthcare settings resulting in serious healthcare-associated infections and can develop drug resistance to commonly used antifungal agents. Following a significant increase in the percentage of fluconazole (FLU)-nonsusceptible isolates from sterile site specimens of patients in two Ontario acute care hospital networks, we used whole genome sequence (WGS) analysis to retrospectively investigate the genetic relatedness of isolates and to assess potential in-hospital spread. Phylogenomic analysis was conducted on all 19 FLU-resistant and seven susceptible-dose dependent (SDD) isolates from the two hospital networks, as well as 13 FLU susceptible C. parapsilosis isolates from the same facilities and 20 isolates from patients not related to the investigation. Twenty-five of 26 FLU-nonsusceptible isolates (resistant or SDD) and two susceptible isolates from the two hospital networks formed a phylogenomic cluster that was highly similar genetically and distinct from other isolates. The results suggest the presence of a persistent strain of FLU-nonsusceptible C. parapsilosis causing infections over a 5.5-year period. Results from WGS were largely comparable to microsatellite typing. Twenty-seven of 28 cluster isolates had a K143R substitution in lanosterol 14-α-demethylase (ERG11) associated with azole resistance. As the first report of a healthcare-associated outbreak of FLU-nonsusceptible C. parapsilosis in Canada, this study underscores the importance of monitoring local antimicrobial resistance trends and demonstrates the value of WGS analysis to detect and characterize clusters and outbreaks. Timely access to genomic epidemiological information can inform targeted infection control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Susy Hota
- Infection Prevention and Control Department, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Susan M. Poutanen
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Microbiology, University Health Network/Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennie Johnstone
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Infection Prevention and Control Department, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Domenica G. De Luca
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Amrita Bharat
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Samir N. Patel
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julianne V. Kus
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Yu J, Liu X, Guo D, Yang W, Chen X, Zou G, Wang T, Pang S, Zhang G, Dong J, Xu Y, Zhao Y. Antifungal susceptibility profile and local epidemiological cut-off values of Yarrowia ( Candida) lipolytica: an emergent and rare opportunistic yeast. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0320323. [PMID: 38084981 PMCID: PMC10783140 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03203-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Yarrowia lipolytica, also known as Candida lipolytica, is an emerging opportunistic "rare pathogenic yeast". Due to the limited data on its antifungal susceptibility, the clinical treatments become challenging. Based on the China Hospital Invasive Fungal Surveillance Network (2009-2022), we conducted a comprehensive multi-method study on clinical isolates from various central hospitals. This study is currently the largest study carried out to assess the antifungal susceptibility of Y. lipolytica. It is also the first to establish local epidemiological cut-off values (L-ECOFFs), identify its ERG11 mutations, and assess the consistency between the three prevalent commercial antifungal susceptibility testing methods and the broth microdilution method. We recommend the Sensititre YeastOne as the best option for antifungal susceptibility testing for Y. lipolytica, followed by the ATB FUNGUS 3. Nevertheless, practitioners should use the MIC test strip with discretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhan Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xueqing Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yongzhou Central Hospital, Yongzhou, China
| | - Dawen Guo
- Department of Microbiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Wenhang Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Xinfei Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guiling Zou
- Department of Microbiology, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Tong Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Shichao Pang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Luohe Medical College, Luohe, China
| | - Ge Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jingjing Dong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yingchun Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - on behalf of the National China Hospital Invasive Fungal Surveillance Network (CHIF-NET)
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
- Graduate School, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yongzhou Central Hospital, Yongzhou, China
- Department of Microbiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Department of Microbiology, the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Luohe Medical College, Luohe, China
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Sasoni N, Caracciolo B, Cabeza MS, Gamarra S, Carnovale S, Garcia-Effron G. Antifungal susceptibility testing following the CLSI M27 document, along with the measurement of MFC/MIC ratio, could be the optimal approach to detect amphotericin B resistance in Clavispora (Candida) lusitaniae. Susceptibility patterns of contemporary isolates of this species. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0096823. [PMID: 38084953 PMCID: PMC10777849 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00968-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Antifungal susceptibility testing (AST) is crucial in clinical settings to guide appropriate therapy. Nevertheless, discrepancies between treatment response and some results still persist, particularly in detecting resistance to amphotericin B (AMB) in Clavispora (Candida) lusitaniae. This study aimed to assess the susceptibility patterns of 48 recent isolates of C. lusitaniae to 9 antifungal agents and explore the feasibility of using a CLSI reference-based method to identify AMB resistance. Microdilution techniques revealed a wide range of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for azole antifungals, while echinocandins and AMB exhibited a narrow range of MIC values, with all strains considered wild-type for the tested polyene and echinocandins. However, when agar diffusion (ellipsometry) was employed for AST, certain strains displayed colonies within the inhibition ellipse, indicating potential resistance. Interestingly, these strains did not respond to AMB treatment and were isolated during AMB treatment (breakthrough). Moreover, the evaluation of AMB minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) indicated that only the strains with colonies inside the ellipse had MFC/MIC ratios ≥ 4, suggesting reduced fungicidal activity. In conclusion, this study confirms the effectiveness of ellipsometry with RPMI-1640 2% glucose agar for detecting AMB resistance in C. lusitaniae. Additionally, the proposed approach of culturing "clear" wells in the microdilution method can aid in uncovering resistant strains. The findings highlight the importance of appropriate AST methods to guide effective treatment strategies for deep-seated candidiasis caused by C. lusitaniae. Further collaborative studies are warranted to validate these findings and improve the detection of AMB clinical resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Sasoni
- Laboratorio de Micología y Diagnóstico Molecular – Cátedra de Parasitología y Micología – Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas – Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Beatriz Caracciolo
- Servicio de Microbiología Laboratorio de Micología Hospital Juan P Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Matías S. Cabeza
- Laboratorio de Micología y Diagnóstico Molecular – Cátedra de Parasitología y Micología – Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas – Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Soledad Gamarra
- Laboratorio de Micología y Diagnóstico Molecular – Cátedra de Parasitología y Micología – Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas – Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Susana Carnovale
- Servicio de Microbiología Laboratorio de Micología Hospital Juan P Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guillermo Garcia-Effron
- Laboratorio de Micología y Diagnóstico Molecular – Cátedra de Parasitología y Micología – Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas – Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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10
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Ordaya EE, Abu Saleh OM, Vergidis P, Deml SM, Wengenack NL, Fida M. Temporal trends in antifungal susceptibility of Cryptococcus neoformans isolates from a reference laboratory in the United States, 2011-2021. Mycoses 2024; 67:e13691. [PMID: 38214377 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are no established clinical breakpoints for antifungal agents against Cryptococcus species; however, epidemiological cut-off values can help distinguish wild-type (WT) isolates without any acquired resistance from non-WT strains, which may harbour resistance mechanisms. PATIENTS/METHODS We describe the trends of antifungal MICs and percentages of WT C. neoformans species complex (CNSC) isolates processed in our reference laboratory from November 2011 to June 2021. There were only nine isolates in 2011, thus, we included them in the year 2012 for data analysis. Clinical data is also described when available. RESULTS We identified 632 CNSC, the majority collected from blood (n = 301), cerebrospinal fluid (n = 230), and respiratory (n = 71) sources. The overall percentage of WT isolates for amphotericin B (AMB), 5-flucytosine, and fluconazole was 77%, 98%, and 91%, respectively. We noticed a statistically significant change in the percentage of AMB WT isolates over the years, with 98% of isolates being WT in 2012 compared to 79% in 2021 (p < .01). A similar change was not observed for other antifungal agents. Clinical data was available for 36 patients, primarily non-HIV immunocompromised patients with disseminated cryptococcosis. There were no statistically significant differences in the clinical characteristics and outcomes between patients with WT (58.3%) versus non-WT (41.7%) isolates, but we noticed higher mortality in patients infected with an AMB non-WT CNSC isolate. CONCLUSIONS We observed an increase in the percentage of AMB non-WT CNSC isolates in the past decade. The clinical implications of this finding warrant further evaluation in larger studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloy E Ordaya
- Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases, and Occupational Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Omar M Abu Saleh
- Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases, and Occupational Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Paschalis Vergidis
- Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases, and Occupational Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sharon M Deml
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Nancy L Wengenack
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Madiha Fida
- Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases, and Occupational Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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11
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Nzimande SP, Govender NP, Maphanga TG. In vitro manogepix susceptibility testing of South African Emergomyces africanus, Emergomyces pasteurianus, and Blastomyces emzantsi clinical isolates. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0110423. [PMID: 37971237 PMCID: PMC10720492 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01104-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
We performed in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing of manogepix against the yeast phase of 78 Emergomyces africanus, 2 Emergomyces pasteurianus, and 5 Blastomyces emzantsi isolates using a reference broth microdilution method following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute recommendations. All three pathogens had low minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from <0.0005 to 0.008 mg/L. Manogepix should be investigated in animal models and potentially in future human clinical trials for endemic mycoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silondiwe P. Nzimande
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), a Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nelesh P. Govender
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), a Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
- School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Witwatersrand, South Africa
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Tsidiso G. Maphanga
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), a Division of the National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
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12
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Franconi I, Lupetti A. In Vitro Susceptibility Tests in the Context of Antifungal Resistance: Beyond Minimum Inhibitory Concentration in Candida spp. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1188. [PMID: 38132789 PMCID: PMC10744879 DOI: 10.3390/jof9121188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a matter of rising concern, especially in fungal diseases. Multiple reports all over the world are highlighting a worrisome increase in azole- and echinocandin-resistance among fungal pathogens, especially in Candida species, as reported in the recently published fungal pathogens priority list made by WHO. Despite continuous efforts and advances in infection control, development of new antifungal molecules, and research on molecular mechanisms of antifungal resistance made by the scientific community, trends in invasive fungal diseases and associated antifungal resistance are on the rise, hindering therapeutic options and clinical cures. In this context, in vitro susceptibility testing aimed at evaluating minimum inhibitory concentrations, is still a milestone in the management of fungal diseases. However, such testing is not the only type at a microbiologist's disposal. There are other adjunctive in vitro tests aimed at evaluating fungicidal activity of antifungal molecules and also exploring tolerance to antifungals. This plethora of in vitro tests are still left behind and performed only for research purposes, but their role in the context of invasive fungal diseases associated with antifungal resistance might add resourceful information to the clinical management of patients. The aim of this review was therefore to revise and explore all other in vitro tests that could be potentially implemented in current clinical practice in resistant and difficult-to-treat cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iacopo Franconi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- Mycology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonella Lupetti
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
- Mycology Unit, Pisa University Hospital, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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13
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McHale TC, Akampurira A, Gerlach ES, Mucunguzi A, Nicol MR, Williams DA, Nielsen K, Bicanic T, Fieberg A, Dai B, Meya DB, Boulware DR. 5-Flucytosine Longitudinal Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Cryptococcus neoformans: A Substudy of the EnACT Trial Testing Oral Amphotericin. Open Forum Infect Dis 2023; 10:ofad596. [PMID: 38143852 PMCID: PMC10745249 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The EnACT trial was a phase 2 randomized clinical trial conducted in Uganda, which evaluated a novel orally delivered lipid nanocrystal (LNC) amphotericin B in combination with flucytosine for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis. When flucytosine (5FC) is used as monotherapy in cryptococcosis, 5FC can induce resistant Cryptococcus mutants. Oral amphotericin B uses a novel drug delivery mechanism, and we assessed whether resistance to 5FC develops during oral LNC-amphotericin B therapy. Methods We enrolled Ugandans with HIV diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis and who were randomized to receive 5FC and either standard intravenous (IV) amphotericin B or oral LNC-amphotericin B. We used broth microdilution to measure the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the first and last cryptococcal isolates in each participant. Breakpoints are inferred from 5FC in Candida albicans. We measured cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) 5FC concentrations by liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. Results Cryptococcus 5FC MIC50 was 4 µg/mL, and MIC90 was 8 µg/mL. After 2 weeks of therapy, there was no evidence of 5FC resistance developing, defined as a >4-fold change in susceptibility in any Cryptococcus isolate tested. The median CSF 5FC concentration to MIC ratio (interquartile range) was 3.0 (1.7-5.5) µg/mL. There was no association between 5FC/MIC ratio and early fungicidal activity of the quantitative rate of CSF yeast clearance (R2 = 0.004; P = .63). Conclusions There is no evidence of baseline resistance to 5FC or incident resistance during combination therapy with oral or IV amphotericin B in Uganda. Oral amphotericin B can safely be used in combination with 5FC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C McHale
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Elliot S Gerlach
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Melanie R Nicol
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Darlisha A Williams
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kirsten Nielsen
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Tihana Bicanic
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, St Georges, University of London, London, UK
| | - Ann Fieberg
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Biyue Dai
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - David B Meya
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - David R Boulware
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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14
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Ghazanfari M, Abastabar M, Haghani I, Moazeni M, Hedayati S, Yaalimadad S, Nikoueian Shirvan B, Bongomin F, Hedayati MT. Azole-Containing Agar Plates and Antifungal Susceptibility Testing for the Detection of Azole-Resistant Aspergillus Species in Hospital Environmental Samples. Microb Drug Resist 2023; 29:561-567. [PMID: 37713303 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2023.0002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The indoor environment of hospitals should be considered as an important reservoir of azole resistant Aspergillus species. In this study, we evaluated azole-containing agar plates (ACAPs) and antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) for the detection of azole-resistant Aspergillus species in hospital environmental samples. Between September 2021 and January 2022, environmental samples (108 instruments and 12 air) were collected from different wards of 4 educational hospitals in Mazandaran province, Iran. All samples were cultured using ACAPs. Recovered Aspergillus isolates were molecularly identified at species level using partial DNA sequencing of beta-tubulin gene. AFST of Aspergillus species was performed using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M38-A3 guideline. Screening for cyp51A mutations was also done. Overall, 18 (15.0%) isolates of Aspergillus species were recovered from ACAPs, of which Aspergillus tubingensis (50%) and Aspergillus fumigatus (38.9%) were the commonest species. No isolate of Aspergillus species grew on posaconazole (PCZ)-containing agar plates. Among the 18 Aspergillus isolated species from ACAPs, 83.3% were related to samples from instruments. Of the nine isolates of A. tubingensis, 22.2% and 44.4% isolates showed minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 2 μg/mL against voriconazole (VCZ) and itraconazole, respectively; and 44.4% isolates showed MIC = 1 μg/mL against PCZ. Of the seven isolates of A. fumigatus, one (14.3%) was resistant to VCZ. This isolate showed F46Y, G54E, G138C, M172V, M220I, D255E, T289F, G432C, and G448S mutation in cyp51A. Our finding showed the emergence of high MICs in cryptic and non-fumigatus species of Aspergillus such as A. tubingensis and VCZ resistance in A. fumigatus in indoor environment of hospitals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Ghazanfari
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Medical Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mahdi Abastabar
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Medical Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Iman Haghani
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Maryam Moazeni
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Medical Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Shakiba Hedayati
- Student Research Committee Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Sanaz Yaalimadad
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Medical Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Bahador Nikoueian Shirvan
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Medical Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Felix Bongomin
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda
| | - Mohammad T Hedayati
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Department of Medical Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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15
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Bi W, Xu L, Zong L, Zhu Z, Xia X. Antifungal Susceptibility and Biological Characteristics of Fonsecaea monophora Causing Cerebral Phaeohyphomycosis in Jinhua, China. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:7187-7195. [PMID: 37965207 PMCID: PMC10642484 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s425961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The management of cerebral abscesses caused by dark-pigmented Fonsecaea monophora in healthy individuals continues to be challenging due to no consensus on the therapeutic regimen. Due to the absence of an accurate identification method, Fonsecaea species are often misidentified due to indistinct morphology features. Materials and Methods An F. monophora strain from an immunocompetent host with cerebral abscess was collected and identified by ITS rDNA molecular sequencing. The ITS sequences of the isolate were compared with that of the other ten Chinese F. monophora isolates obtained from GenBank for difference comparison and phylogenetic analysis. Fluorescence, Gram stains, and medan lactate were used to observe the colonial morphology. Antifungal susceptibility testing was implemented to demonstrate the antibiotic susceptibility profile. Galleria mellonella larvae were used as a model to study virulence of F. monophora. Medical records and clinical data of the patient were collected and analyzed. Results Antifungal susceptibility testing indicated that triazole antifungal drugs possess remarkable antifungal effect against F. monophora, and satisfactory antifungal effect of itraconazole was corresponding to the drug susceptibility results. Compared with the GM test, the serum G test was found to be more sensitive. The virulence and melanization in G. mellonella models for F. monophora were observed, and the death rates of infected larvae were positively related to injected concentrations of fungus. The phylogenetic tree was constructed from the ITS sequences of the clinical isolate along with ten Chinese F. monophora isolates, revealing that there is high relatedness in F. monophora strains collected from China. Conclusion F. monophora is an important neurotropic dematiaceous fungus and increasingly causing disease in immunocompetent individuals by means of noninvasive ways. Fungal culture, stainings, and molecular methods could be utilized to identify the etiologic agent. Triazole antifungal drugs can be applied as empiric therapeutic agents for phaeohyphomycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzi Bi
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Licheng Xu
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Laibin Zong
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhu
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoping Xia
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
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16
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Thu NTM, Borda H, Vitsupakorn S, Reddy KS, Kasmani N, Barwatt J, Schwartz IS, Giamberardino C, Perfect JR, Hoa NT, Le T. Development and validation of a colorimetric antifungal susceptibility testing method for the dimorphic fungus Talaromyces marneffei. Med Mycol 2023; 61:myad111. [PMID: 37994652 PMCID: PMC10681740 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myad111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Antifungal drug resistance is an emerging cause of treatment failure in invasive fungal infections, and antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) may inform treatment decisions. Currently, there are no established AFST guidelines for Talaromyces marneffei (Tm) or other dimorphic fungi. We developed a colorimetric AFST method using a fluorescent redox indicator alamarBlue, which changes from blue to pink in proportion to cellular metabolic activity. We determined the optimal time for alamarBlue addition to be 24 h post-inoculation and for MIC reading to be 72 h post-inoculation. Our method allows three ways to determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): visual inspection of color change, optical density, and fluorescence intensity. We validated the assay by determining the MICs for seven antifungals against 32 Tm clinical isolates and assessed the essential agreement (EA) and inter-rater reliability between our alamarBlue and the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) broth microdilution methods. The MIC ranges (from low to high) were: 0.008-0.025 μg/ml for itraconazole, 0.004-0.13 μg/ml for voriconazole, 0.03-0.13 μg/ml for posaconazole, 0.06-0.5 µg/ml for flucytosine, 0.5-1 µg/ml for amphotericin B, 0.5-4 µg/ml for caspofungin, and 0.5-16 µg/ml for fluconazole. The EAs were 100% between all three MIC readouts of the alamarBlue method, and 94%-100% between the alamarBlue and CLSI methods. Our alamarBlue method had substantially higher inter-rater agreement and offers a more reliable method that can be standardized across laboratories in both high- and low-resource settings compared to the established CLSI methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Thi Mai Thu
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Hannah Borda
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Shawin Vitsupakorn
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kaushik Sreerama Reddy
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Navsin Kasmani
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Joseph Barwatt
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ilan S Schwartz
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Charles Giamberardino
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John R Perfect
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ngo Thi Hoa
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Tropical Medicine Research Center for Talaromycosis, Biomedical Research Centre, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Thuy Le
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Tropical Medicine Research Center for Talaromycosis, Biomedical Research Centre, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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17
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Aboutalebian S, Nikmanesh B, Mohammadpour M, Charsizadeh A, Mirhendi H. Candida palmioleophila candidemia and bacterial co-infection in a 3-month-old infant with biliary atresia. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1277607. [PMID: 38029248 PMCID: PMC10652749 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1277607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Candidemia caused by rare and uncommon Candida species is becoming more prevalent in pediatric healthcare settings, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. One such species, Candida palmioleophila, is resistant to fluconazole but highly susceptible to echinocandins. Here, we report the first documented case of C. palmioleophila candidemia in Iran that occurred in a male infant with biliary atresia who had been hospitalized for 2 months. The patient's blood and urine cultures were positive for both yeast and bacterial species. Through DNA sequence analysis, the yeast isolate was identified as C. palmioleophila. In vitro antifungal susceptibility testing of the isolate against amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, isavuconazole, posaconazole, and nystatin revealed MIC values of 2, 16, 0.25, 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, and 4 μg/mL, respectively, and minimum effective concentration for caspofungin was 0.031 μg/mL. Despite receiving antibacterial and antifungal therapies, the patient unfortunately expired due to bradycardia and hypoxemia. Proper identification and epidemiological surveillance studies are needed to understand the exact prevalence of these emerging yeast pathogens. Previously reported cases of C. palmioleophila infection, primarily associated with bloodstream infections and catheter-related candidemia, were reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shima Aboutalebian
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Mycology Reference Laboratory, Research Core Facilities Laboratory, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Bahram Nikmanesh
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Medical Science, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
- Zoonoses Research Centre, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Mohammadpour
- Pediatric Intensive Children’s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arezoo Charsizadeh
- Immunology, Asthma, and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Mirhendi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Mycology Reference Laboratory, Research Core Facilities Laboratory, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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18
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Erami M, Aboutalebian S, Hashemi Hezaveh SJ, Matini AH, Momen-Heravi M, Ahsaniarani AH, Arani SS, Ganjizadeh M, Mirhendi H. Invasive Fusarium rhinosinusitis in COVID-19 patients: report of three cases with successful management. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1247491. [PMID: 37780844 PMCID: PMC10538539 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1247491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (IFRS) is a life-threatening infection that can occur in immunocompromised patients, including those with COVID-19. Although Mucorales and Aspergillus species are the most common causes of IFRS, infections caused by other fungi such as Fusarium are rare. In this report, we present three cases of proven rhinosinusitis fusariosis that occurred during or after COVID-19 infection. The diagnosis was confirmed through microscopy, pathology, and culture, and species identification of the isolates was performed by DNA sequencing the entire ITS1-5.8 rRNA-ITS2 region and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1α). Antifungal susceptibility testing was conducted according to CLSI guidelines. The causative agents were identified as Fusarium proliferatum, F. oxysporum + Aspergillus flavus, and F. solani/falciforme. Treatment involved the administration of antifungal medication and endoscopic sinus surgery to remove the affected mucosa, leading to the successful resolution of the infections. However, one patient experienced a recurrence of IFRS caused by A. flavus 15 months later. Early diagnosis and timely medical and surgical treatment are crucial in reducing mortality rates associated with invasive fusariosis. Additionally, the cautious use of corticosteroids in COVID-19 patients is highly recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahzad Erami
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Shima Aboutalebian
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Mycology Reference Laboratory, Research Core Facilities Laboratory, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Seyed Jamal Hashemi Hezaveh
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Hassan Matini
- Department of Pathology and Histology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Mansooreh Momen-Heravi
- Department of Infectious Disease, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Amir Hossein Ahsaniarani
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, School of Medicine, Matini Hospital, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Shirin Shafaee Arani
- Department of Pathology and Histology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Mohsen Ganjizadeh
- Infectious Diseases Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Hossein Mirhendi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
- Mycology Reference Laboratory, Research Core Facilities Laboratory, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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19
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Alkhalifa W, Alhawaj H, Alamri A, Alturki F, Alshahrani M, Alnimr A. Clinical and Microbiological Characteristics of Candidemia Cases in Saudi Arabia. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:4489-4503. [PMID: 37457797 PMCID: PMC10348370 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s411865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Candidemia and antifungal resistance are major healthcare challenges. The aim of this study is to describe the frequency of candidemia cases, distribution of Candida spp., and the associated risk factors for mortality in an academic institution in Saudi Arabia over an 18-month period. We also evaluated the susceptibility patterns of Candida blood isolates. Methods Candidemia cases were collected from King Fahad Hospital of the University over the period between July 1st, 2020 through December 31st, 2021. They were prospectively reviewed for the preceding risk factors and antifungal (AF) susceptibility, testing results to fluconazole (FL), voriconazole (VO), itraconazole (IT), posaconazole (PO), caspofungin (CASP), anidulafungin (AND), micafungin (MYC), flucytosine (FLC) and amphotericin B (AMPB) using a broth microdilution kit (Sensititre™ YeastOne). Results A total of 48 candidemia isolates were included that were isolated from 43 patients. The median age of cases was 62 ± 23.3 years (60.4% males and 83% ICU patients). Independent risk factors for mortality at 30 days in candidemia patients were age, COVID-19 co-infection, and use of tocilizumab. The most commonly isolated species were C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis (22.9% each) followed by C. albicans (18.75%). AF resistance for ≥1 antifungal was detected in 39.3% of 33 cases tested, with no cross-resistance identified. Resistance rates for each AF were as follows: FL (18%), VO (6%), IT (6%), PO (9%) and AMPB (3%). No resistance was seen for echinocandins apart from one C. krusei strain showing an intermediate result for CASP. Conclusion The study showed an overall high rate of non-albicans Candida, with the predominance of C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata, representing a therapeutic challenge. AF resistance rate was high which emphasizes the importance of continuing surveillance and providing accurate and reliable tools in the laboratories for rapid speciation and susceptibility testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wala Alkhalifa
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hassan Alhawaj
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aisha Alamri
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatimah Alturki
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Alshahrani
- Emergency and Critical Care Department, King Fahad Hospital of the University - Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amani Alnimr
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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20
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Gold JAW, Benedict K, Dulski TM, Lipner SR. Inadequate diagnostic testing and systemic antifungal prescribing for tinea capitis in an observational cohort study of 3.9 million children, United States. J Am Acad Dermatol 2023; 89:133-135. [PMID: 36806646 PMCID: PMC10679877 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A W Gold
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
| | - Kaitlin Benedict
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Theresa M Dulski
- Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Shari R Lipner
- Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
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21
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Rudramurthy SM, Singh S, Kanaujia R, Chaudhary H, Muthu V, Panda N, Pandey A, Thakur S, Kaur H, Ghosh A, Agarwal R, Chakrabarti A. Clinical and Mycologic Characteristics of Emerging Mucormycosis Agent Rhizopus homothallicus. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:1313-1322. [PMID: 37347535 PMCID: PMC10310386 DOI: 10.3201/eid2907.221491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
We retrospectively reviewed consecutive cases of mucormycosis reported from a tertiary-care center in India to determine the clinical and mycologic characteristics of emerging Rhizopus homothallicus fungus. The objectives were ascertaining the proportion of R. homothallicus infection and the 30-day mortality rate in rhino-orbital mucormycosis attributable to R. homothallicus compared with R. arrhizus. R. homothallicus accounted for 43 (6.8%) of the 631 cases of mucormycosis. R. homothallicus infection was independently associated with better survival (odds ratio [OR] 0.08 [95% CI 0.02-0.36]; p = 0.001) than for R. arrhizus infection (4/41 [9.8%] vs. 104/266 [39.1%]) after adjusting for age, intracranial involvement, and surgery. We also performed antifungal-susceptibility testing, which indicated a low range of MICs for R. homothallicus against the commonly used antifungals (amphotericin B [0.03-16], itraconazole [0.03-16], posaconazole [0.03-8], and isavuconazole [0.03-16]). 18S gene sequencing and amplified length polymorphism analysis revealed distinct clustering of R. homothallicus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rimjhim Kanaujia
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | | | - Valliappan Muthu
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Naresh Panda
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Abhishek Pandey
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Sheetal Thakur
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Harsimran Kaur
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Anup Ghosh
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Ritesh Agarwal
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
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Gyurtane Szabo N, Joste V, Houzé S, Dannaoui E, Bonnal C. Comparison of the Micronaut-AM System and the EUCAST Broth Microdilution Reference Method for MIC Determination of Four Antifungals against Aspergillus fumigatus. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:721. [PMID: 37504710 PMCID: PMC10381152 DOI: 10.3390/jof9070721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The Antifungal Susceptibility Testing method of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST-AFST) is a reference technique for the determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of antifungals for Aspergillus fumigatus. However, it is time-consuming and requires expertise. Micronaut-AM (M-AM) is a fast, simple, time-saving, and ready-to-use new colorimetric method using an indicator (resazurin) to facilitate the visual reading. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the performance of the M-AM system and compare it with the EUCAST broth microdilution reference method to determine the susceptibility of 77 A. fumigatus clinical strains to amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole. Overall, the essential agreements within ±2 dilutions were 100%, 62%, 58%, and 30% and the categorical agreements were 100%, 97%, 91%, and 87% for amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole, respectively. No categorical discrepancy was found for amphotericin B, but several categorical discordances were observed with azole antifungals. However, only 2 of the 16 azole-resistant strains confirmed by the cyp51A sequencing would have been misclassified by M-AM. The use of M-AM is probably suitable for the determination of the MICs of amphotericin B, but further evaluations are needed to confirm its usefulness for the determination of the MICs of azoles for A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolett Gyurtane Szabo
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, AP-HP, CHU Bichat-Claude-Bernard, 75018 Paris, France
| | - Valentin Joste
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, AP-HP, CHU Bichat-Claude-Bernard, 75018 Paris, France
- MERIT, IRD, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Houzé
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, AP-HP, CHU Bichat-Claude-Bernard, 75018 Paris, France
- MERIT, IRD, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Eric Dannaoui
- Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, 75015 Paris, France
- DYNAMYC 7380, Faculté de Santé, Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), 94010 Créteil, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Cité, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Christine Bonnal
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie, AP-HP, CHU Bichat-Claude-Bernard, 75018 Paris, France
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23
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Bidaud AL, Moreno-Sabater A, Normand AC, Cremer G, Foulet F, Brun S, Ayachi A, Imbert S, Chowdhary A, Dannaoui E. Evaluation of Gradient Concentration Strips for Detection of Terbinafine Resistance in Trichophyton spp. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0171622. [PMID: 37162356 PMCID: PMC10269145 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01716-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The number of dermatophytosis cases resistant to terbinafine is increasing all over the world. Therefore, there is a need for antifungal susceptibility testing of dermatophytes for better management of the patients. In the present study, we have evaluated a gradient test (GT) method for testing the susceptibility of dermatophytes to terbinafine. MIC values to terbinafine determined by the EUCAST reference technique and by gradient test were compared for 79 Trichophyton spp. isolates. Overall, MICs were lower with gradient test (MIC50 of 0.002 μg/mL) than with EUCAST (MIC50 of 0.016 μg/mL). Good categorical agreement (>90%) between the 2 techniques was obtained but the essential agreement was variable depending on the batch of gradient test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Laure Bidaud
- Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Alicia Moreno-Sabater
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, AP-HP, Paris, France
- Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, (CIMI-PARIS), Inserm U1135, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Cécile Normand
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital La Pitié-Salpêtrière, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | | | - Françoise Foulet
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, AP-HP, Créteil, France
- EA 7380 Dynamic, UPEC, EnvA, USC ANSES, Faculté de Santé, Créteil, France
| | - Sophie Brun
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital Avicenne, AP-HP, Bobigny, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Bobigny, France
| | - Aymen Ayachi
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Sébastien Imbert
- Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie, CHU Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Anuradha Chowdhary
- Medical Mycology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
- National Reference Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance in Fungal Pathogens, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Eric Dannaoui
- Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- EA 7380 Dynamic, UPEC, EnvA, USC ANSES, Faculté de Santé, Créteil, France
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Kordalewska M, Cancino-Prado G, Nobrega de Almeida Júnior J, Brasil Brandão I, Tigulini de Souza Peral R, Colombo AL, Perlin DS. Novel Non-Hot Spot Modification in Fks1 of Candida auris Confers Echinocandin Resistance. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0042323. [PMID: 37222585 PMCID: PMC10269051 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00423-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
We determined the echinocandin susceptibility and FKS1 genotypes of 13 clinical isolates of Candida auris that were recovered from 4 patients at a tertiary care center in Salvador, Brazil. Three isolates were categorized as echinocandin-resistant, and they harbored a novel FKS1 mutation that led to an amino acid change W691L located downstream from hot spot 1. When introduced to echinocandin-susceptible C. auris strains by CRISPR/Cas9, Fks1 W691L induced elevated MIC values to all echinocandins (anidulafungin, 16 to 32×; caspofungin, >64×; micafungin, >64×).
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Kordalewska
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
| | - Geselle Cancino-Prado
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
| | - João Nobrega de Almeida Júnior
- Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Arnaldo L. Colombo
- Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - David S. Perlin
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
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25
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Siopi M, Peroukidou I, Beredaki MI, Spruijtenburg B, de Groot T, Meis JF, Vrioni G, Tsakris A, Pournaras S, Meletiadis J. Overestimation of Amphotericin B Resistance in Candida auris with Sensititre YeastOne Antifungal Susceptibility Testing: a Need for Adjustment for Correct Interpretation. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0443122. [PMID: 37036351 PMCID: PMC10269614 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04431-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Significant variation in minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) has been reported for amphotericin B (AMB) and C. auris, depending on the antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) method. Although the Sensititre YeastOne (SYO) is widely used in routine laboratory testing, data regarding its performance for the AFST of C. auris are scarce. We tested AMB against 65 C. auris clinical isolates with the SYO and the reference methodology by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The essential agreement (EA, ±1 dilution) between the two methods and the categorical agreement (CA) based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s tentative breakpoint of MIC ≥ 2 mg/L were determined. The SYO wild type upper limit value (WT-UL) was determined using the ECOFFinder. The modal (range) CLSI growth inhibitory MIC was lower than the SYO colorimetric MIC [1(0.25-1) versus 2(1-8) mg/L, respectively]). The CLSI-colorimetric SYO EA was 29% and the CA was 11% (89% major errors; MaE). MaE were reduced when the SYO WT-UL of 8 mg/L was used (0% MaE). Alternatively, the use of SYO growth inhibition endpoints of MIC-1 (75% growth inhibition) or MIC-2 (50% growth inhibition) resulted in 88% CA with 12% MaE and 97% CA with 3% MaE, respectively. In conclusion, SYO overestimated AMB resistance in C. auris isolates when colorimetric MICs, as per SYO instructions and the CDC breakpoint of 2 mg/L, were used. This can be improved either by using the method-specific WT-UL MIC of 8 mg/L for colorimetric MICs or by determining growth inhibition MIC endpoints, regardless of the color. IMPORTANCE Candida auris is an emerging and frequently multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen that accounts for life-threatening invasive infections and nosocomial outbreaks worldwide. Reliable AF is important for the choice of the optimal treatment. Commercial methods are frequently used without prior vigorous assessment. Resistance to AMB was over-reported with the commercial colorimetric method Sensititre YeastOne (SYO). SYO produced MICs that were 1 to 2 twofold dilutions higher than those of the reference CLSI method, resulting in 89% MaE. MaE were reduced using a SYO-specific colorimetric wild type upper limit MIC value of 8 mg/L (0%) or a 50% growth inhibition endpoint (3%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Siopi
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, “Attikon” University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ilektra Peroukidou
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, “Attikon” University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria-Ioanna Beredaki
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, “Attikon” University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Bram Spruijtenburg
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Centre of Expertise in Mycology, Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Theun de Groot
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Centre of Expertise in Mycology, Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jacques F. Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Centre of Expertise in Mycology, Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Georgia Vrioni
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Tsakris
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Spyros Pournaras
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, “Attikon” University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Joseph Meletiadis
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, “Attikon” University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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26
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Spruijtenburg B, Rudramurthy SM, Meijer EFJ, van Haren MHI, Kaur H, Chakrabarti A, Meis JF, de Groot T. Application of Novel Short Tandem Repeat Typing for Wickerhamomyces anomalus Reveals Simultaneous Outbreaks within a Single Hospital. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1525. [PMID: 37375027 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Wickerhamomyces anomalus, previously known as Candida pelliculosa, occasionally causes candidemia in humans, primarily infecting neonates, and infants. The mortality rate of these invasive infections is high, and isolates with a reduced susceptibility to fluconazole have been reported. W. anomalus outbreaks are regularly reported in healthcare facilities, especially in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). In order to rapidly genotype isolates with a high-resolution, we developed and applied a short tandem repeat (STR) typing scheme for W. anomalus. Six STR markers were selected and amplified in two multiplex PCRs, M3 and M6, respectively. In total, 90 W. anomalus isolates were typed, leading to the identification of 38 different genotypes. Four large clusters were found, unveiling simultaneous outbreak events spread across multiple units within the same hospital. STR typing results of 11 isolates were compared to whole-genome sequencing (WGS) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) calling, and the identified genotypic relationships were highly concordant. We performed antifungal susceptibility testing of these isolates, and a reduced susceptibility to fluconazole was found for two (2.3%) isolates. ERG11 genes of these two isolates were examined using WGS data, which revealed a novel I469L substitution in one isolate. By constructing a homology model for W. anomalus ERG11p, the substitution was found in close proximity to the fluconazole binding site. In summary, we showed multiple W. anomalus outbreak events by applying a novel STR genotyping scheme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bram Spruijtenburg
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Centre of Expertise in Mycology, Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Shivaprakash M Rudramurthy
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Eelco F J Meijer
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Centre of Expertise in Mycology, Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Merlijn H I van Haren
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Harsimran Kaur
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Arunaloke Chakrabarti
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Jacques F Meis
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Centre of Expertise in Mycology, Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department I of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Theun de Groot
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Centre of Expertise in Mycology, Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Imbert S, Normand AC, Costa D, Gabriel F, Lachaud L, Schuttler C, Cassaing S, Mahinc C, Hasseine L, Demar M, Brun S, Bonnal C, Moreno-Sabater A, Becker P, Piarroux R, Fekkar A. Multicentric Analysis of the Species Distribution and Antifungal Susceptibility of Clinical Isolates from Aspergillus Section Circumdati. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0146222. [PMID: 36892306 PMCID: PMC10112188 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01462-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The clinical involvement and antifungal susceptibility of Aspergillus section Circumdati are poorly known. We analyzed 52 isolates, including 48 clinical isolates, belonging to 9 species inside the section Circumdati. The whole section exhibited, by the EUCAST reference method, a poor susceptibility to amphotericin B, but species/series-specific patterns were observed for azole drugs. This underlines the interest in getting an accurate identification inside the section Circumdati to guide the choice of antifungal treatment in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Imbert
- AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier La Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Paris, France
| | - A. C. Normand
- AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier La Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, Paris, France
| | - D. Costa
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rouen, Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, Rouen, France
| | - F. Gabriel
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, Bordeaux, France
| | - L. Lachaud
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier, Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, Montpellier, France
| | | | - S. Cassaing
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, Toulouse, France
| | - C. Mahinc
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Saint Etienne, Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, Saint Etienne, France
| | - L. Hasseine
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, Nice, France
| | - M. Demar
- Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, Département de Parasitologie Mycologie, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - S. Brun
- AP-HP, Hôpital Avicenne, Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, Bobigny, France
| | - C. Bonnal
- AP-HP, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, Paris, France
| | - A. Moreno-Sabater
- AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, Paris, France
| | - P. Becker
- Service of Mycology and Aerobiology, BCCM/IHEM Fungal Collection, Brussels, Belgium
| | - R. Piarroux
- AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier La Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, Paris, France
| | - A. Fekkar
- AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier La Pitié-Salpêtrière, Service de Parasitologie Mycologie, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Centre d’Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Paris, France
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Kano R, Watanabe M, Tsuchihashi H, Ogawa T, Ogawa Y, Komiyama E, Hirasawa Y, Hiruma M, Ikeda S. Antifungal Susceptibility Testing for Microsporum canis from Cats in Japan. Med Mycol J 2023; 64:19-22. [PMID: 36858629 DOI: 10.3314/mmj.22-00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Control of infection caused by Microsporum canis in pet animals are important for prevention of zoonosis. Treatments for animal dermatophytosis have generally consisted of itraconazole (ITZ) and terbinafine (TRF); however, a TRF-resistant M. canis strain from a case of feline dermatophytosis has been reported. In the present study, we examined the in vitro susceptibility of clinical isolates of M. canis to new antifungal drugs, such as ravuconazole (RVZ) and luliconazole (LCZ). The results indicated that RVZ and LCZ are more effective than ITZ and TRF. Therefore, oral administration of RVZ or topical application of LCZ may serve as new treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Kano
- Teikyo University Institute of Medical Mycology (TIMM)
| | - Mai Watanabe
- Department of Dermatology, Juntendo University School of Medicine
| | | | - Takasuke Ogawa
- Department of Dermatology, Juntendo University School of Medicine
| | - Yumi Ogawa
- Department of Dermatology, Juntendo University School of Medicine
| | - Etsuko Komiyama
- Department of Dermatology, Juntendo University School of Medicine
| | - Yusuke Hirasawa
- Department of Dermatology, Juntendo University School of Medicine
| | - Masataro Hiruma
- Department of Dermatology, Juntendo University School of Medicine
| | - Shigaku Ikeda
- Department of Dermatology, Juntendo University School of Medicine
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Markantonatou AM, Samaras K, Vyzantiadis TA. Dermatophytic Biofilms: Characteristics, Significance and Treatment Approaches. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9. [PMID: 36836342 DOI: 10.3390/jof9020228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbes are found in the environment, possibly more often as biofilms than in planktonic forms. Biofilm formation has been described for several important fungal species. The presence of a dermatophytoma in a dermatophytic nail infection was the basis for the proposal that dermatophytes form biofilms as well. This could explain treatment failure and recurrent dermatophytic infections. Several investigators have performed in vitro and ex vivo experiments to study the formation of biofilms by dermatophytes and their properties. The nature of the biofilm structure itself contributes to fungal protection mechanisms against many harmful external agents, including antifungals. Thus, a different approach should be carried out regarding susceptibility testing and treatment. Concerning susceptibility testing, methods to evaluate either the inhibition of biofilm formation, or the ability to eradicate it, have been introduced. As for treatment, in addition to classical antifungal agents, some natural formulations, such as plant extracts or biosurfactants, and alternative approaches, such as photodynamic therapy, have been proposed. Studies that connect the results of the in vitro and ex vivo experimentation with clinical outcomes are required in order to verify the efficacy of these approaches in clinical practice.
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Ramesh S, Madduri M, Rudramurthy SM, Roy U. Functional Characterization of a Bacillus-Derived Novel Broad-Spectrum Antifungal Lipopeptide Variant against Candida tropicalis and Candida auris and Unravelling Its Mode of Action. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0158322. [PMID: 36744953 PMCID: PMC10100908 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01583-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Limited treatment options, recalcitrance, and resistance to existing therapeutics encourage the discovery of novel antifungal leads for alternative therapeutics. Antifungal lipopeptides have emerged as potential candidates for developing new and alternative antifungal therapies. In our previous studies, we isolated and identified the lipopeptide variant AF4 and purified it to homogeneity via chromatography from the cell-free supernatant of Bacillus subtilis. AF4 was found to have broad-spectrum antifungal activity against more than 110 fungal isolates. In this study, we found that clinical isolates of Candida tropicalis and Candida auris exposed to AF4 exhibited low MICs of 4 to 8 mg/L. Time-kill assays indicated the in vitro pharmacodynamic potential of AF4. Biocompatibility assays demonstrated ~75% cell viability at 8 mg/L of AF4, indicating the lipopeptide's minimally cytotoxic nature. In lipopeptide-treated C. tropicalis and C. auris cells, scanning electron microscopy revealed damage to the cell surface, while confocal microscopy with acridine orange(AO)/propidium iodide (PI) and FUN-1 indicated permeabilization of the cell membrane, and DNA damage upon DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining. These observations were corroborated using flow cytometry (FC) in which propidium iodide, 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA), and rhodamine 123 (Rh123) staining of cells treated with AF4 revealed loss of membrane integrity, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial membrane dysfunction, respectively. Membrane perturbation was also observed in the 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) fluorescence study and the interaction with ergosterol was observed by an ergosterol binding assay. Decreased membrane dipole potential also indicated the probable binding of lipopeptide to the cell membrane. Collectively, these findings describe the mode of action of AF4 against fungal isolates by membrane disruption and ROS generation, demonstrating its antifungal potency. IMPORTANCE C. tropicalis is a major concern for candidiasis in India and C. auris has emerged as a resistant yeast causing difficult-to-treat infections. Currently, amphotericin B (AMB) and 5-flucytosine (5-FC) are the main therapeutics for systemic fungal infections; however, the nephrotoxicity of AMB and resistance to 5-FC is a serious concern. Antifungal lead molecules with low adverse effects are the need of the hour. In this study, we briefly describe the antifungal potential of the AF4 lipopeptide and its mode of action using microscopy, flow cytometry, and fluorescence-based assays. Our investigation reveals the basic mode of action of the investigated lipopeptide. This lipopeptide with broad-spectrum antifungal potency is apparently membrane-active, and there is a smaller chance that organisms exposed to such a compound will develop drug resistance. It could potentially act as a lead molecule for the development of an alternative antifungal agent to combat candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swetha Ramesh
- Department of Biological Sciences, BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Goa, India
| | - Madhuri Madduri
- Department of Biological Sciences, BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Goa, India
| | - Shivaprakash M. Rudramurthy
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
| | - Utpal Roy
- Department of Biological Sciences, BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Goa, India
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Aboutalebian S, Charsizadeh A, Eshaghi H, Nikmaesh B, Mirhendi H. A case of Candida metapsilosis conjunctivitis in a neonate admitted to the cardiac heart intensive care unit. Clin Case Rep 2023; 11:e6870. [PMID: 36703771 PMCID: PMC9869643 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.6870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Harmless commensal Candida species, especially uncommon and rare ones may rarely cause a serious infection. Candida metapsilosis is a recently described yeast that is phenotypically indistinguishable from Candida parapsilosis and molecular methods are essential for its identification. We report the first case of Candida conjunctivitis due to C. metapsilosis obtained from the eye discharge of a 40-day-old girl with congenital heart disease admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU). The yeast isolate was identified by sequencing the entire ITS1-5.8 rRNA-ITS2 region. Antifungal susceptibility testing performed according to the CLSI M27-A3 showed that the isolate was susceptible to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, clotrimazole, nystatin, terbinafine, 5-fluorocytosine, and caspofungin. Differentiation of the fungal new species allows us the accurate diagnosis and treatment, and a better understanding the microbial epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shima Aboutalebian
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of MedicineIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran,Mycology Reference Laboratory, Research Core Facilities LaboratoryIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran
| | - Arezoo Charsizadeh
- Immunology, Asthma, and Allergy Research InstituteTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Hamid Eshaghi
- Department of Infectious DiseaseTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Bahram Nikmaesh
- Department of Medical Laboratory ScienceSchool of Allied Medical Science, Tehran University of Medical ScienceTehranIran,Zoonoses Research CentreTehran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Hossein Mirhendi
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of MedicineIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran,Mycology Reference Laboratory, Research Core Facilities LaboratoryIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran
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Yu J, He C, Wang T, Zhang G, Li J, Zhang J, Kang W, Xu Y, Zhao Y. Rapid automated antifungal susceptibility testing system for yeasts based on growth characteristics. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1153544. [PMID: 37201120 PMCID: PMC10185846 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1153544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal pathogens are a major threat to public health, as they are becoming increasingly common and resistant to treatment, with only four classes of antifungal medicines currently available and few candidates in the clinical development pipeline. Most fungal pathogens lack rapid and sensitive diagnostic techniques, and those that exist are not widely available or affordable. In this study, we introduce a novel automated antifungal susceptibility testing system, Droplet 48, which detects the fluorescence of microdilution wells in real time and fits growth characteristics using fluorescence intensity over time. We concluded that all reportable ranges of Droplet 48 were appropriate for clinical fungal isolates in China. Reproducibility within ±2 two-fold dilutions was 100%. Considering the Sensititre YeastOne Colorimetric Broth method as a comparator method, eight antifungal agents (fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, caspofungin, micafungin, anidulafungin, amphotericin B, and 5-flucytosine) showed an essential agreement of >90%, except for posaconazole (86.62%). Category agreement of four antifungal agents (fluconazole, caspofungin, micafungin, and anidulafungin) was >90%, except for voriconazole (87.93% agreement). Two Candida albicans isolates and anidulafungin showed a major discrepancy (MD) (2.60%), and no other MD or very MD agents were found. Therefore, Droplet 48 can be considered as an optional method that is more automated and can obtain results and interpretations faster than previous methods. However, the optimization of the detection performance of posaconazole and voriconazole and promotion of Droplet 48 in clinical microbiology laboratories still require further research involving more clinical isolates in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhan Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Graduate School, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Chun He
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Ge Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Jingjia Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Kang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yingchun Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Ying Zhao, ; Yingchun Xu,
| | - Ying Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Ying Zhao, ; Yingchun Xu,
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Giordano ALPL, Pontes L, Beraquet CAG, Lyra L, Schreiber AZ. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometry azole susceptibility assessment in Candida and Aspergillus species. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2023; 118:e220213. [PMID: 36921145 PMCID: PMC10014031 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760220213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) allows rapid pathogen identification and potentially can be used for antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST). OBJECTIVES We evaluated the performance of the MALDI-TOF MS in assessing azole susceptibility, with reduced incubation time, by comparing the results with the reference method Broth Microdilution. METHODS Resistant and susceptible strains of Candida (n = 15) were evaluated against fluconazole and Aspergillus (n = 15) against itraconazole and voriconazole. Strains were exposed to serial dilutions of the antifungals for 15 h. Microorganisms' protein spectra against all drug concentrations were acquired and used to generate a composite correlation index (CCI) matrix. The comparison of autocorrelations and cross-correlations between spectra facilitated by CCI was used as a similarity parameter between them, enabling the inference of a minimum profile change concentration breakpoint. Results obtained with the different AFST methods were then compared. FINDINGS The overall agreement between methods was 91.11%. Full agreement (100%) was reached for Aspergillus against voriconazole and Candida against fluconazole, and 73.33% of agreement was obtained for Aspergillus against itraconazole. MAIN CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates MALDI-TOF MS' potential as a reliable and faster alternative for AFST. More studies are necessary for method optimisation and standardisation for clinical routine application.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lais Pontes
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas, SP, Brasil
| | | | - Luzia Lyra
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Campinas, SP, Brasil
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Yang Z, Zhang F, Li D, Wang S, Pang Z, Chen L, Li R, Shi D. Correlation Between Drug Resistance and Virulence of Candida Isolates from Patients with Candidiasis. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:7459-7473. [PMID: 36544991 PMCID: PMC9762413 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s387675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose This article aims to provide a theoretical basis for new or adjuvant strategies to facilitate the early diagnosis and treatment of candidiasis and to determine if drug-resistant Candida would affect virulence. Patients and Methods Our strains were collected from patients diagnosed with candidiasis in our hospital. The strains were identified by MALDI-TOF system and ITS sequencing. Antifungal sensitivity testing in vitro was performed to evaluate susceptibility of these isolates to current widely used antifungal drugs. The Galleria mellonella larvae model infected by Candida spp. was used to compare the virulence of drug-resistant and susceptible Candida spp. Results A total of 206 Candida strains were collected from clinical specimens. Candida albicans was the most common species among them, and was predominantly isolated from male patients aged over 40 years in ICU environments suffering from pulmonary and/or cerebral conditions. The accuracy rate of MALDI TOF-MS identification was 92.72% when compared with ITS sequencing as the standard method. Most Candida species, except for C. tropicalis which showed high resistance to micafungin, showed high susceptibilities to voriconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin B and micafungin but were highly resistant to terbinafine. For each specific Candida species, the G. mellonella larvae model revealed that the virulence of drug-resistant Candida isolates did not markedly differ from that of the drug-susceptible isolates, however, the virulence was dose-dependent on inoculated fungal cells in this model. Conclusion The possibility of Candida infection should not be neglected in patients at critical care hospital settings and C. albicans is the most common causative agent. MALDI-TOF MS has the advantages of rapidity and high accuracy, and should be a preferred method for identification of Candida spp. in a clinical laboratory. Voriconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin B and micafungin can still be recommended as the first line antifungals to treat candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiya Yang
- The Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Jining No.1 People’s Hospital, Jining, Shandong, 272111, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fangfang Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Jining Dermatosis Prevention and Treatment Hospital, Jining, Shandong, 272000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dongmei Li
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, 20057USA
| | - Sisi Wang
- The Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Jining No.1 People’s Hospital, Jining, Shandong, 272111, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiping Pang
- The Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Jining No.1 People’s Hospital, Jining, Shandong, 272111, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liu Chen
- The Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Jining No.1 People’s Hospital, Jining, Shandong, 272111, People’s Republic of China
| | - Renzhe Li
- The Laboratory of Clinical Medicine, Jining No.1 People’s Hospital, Jining, Shandong, 272111, People’s Republic of China,Renzhe Li, Clinical Laboratory of Jining No.1 People’s Hospital, 272111, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13563704987, Email
| | - Dongmei Shi
- The Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Jining No.1 People’s Hospital, Jining, Shandong, 272111, People’s Republic of China,Department of Dermatology, Jining No.1 People’s Hospital, Jining, Shandong, 272001, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Dongmei Shi, The Laboratory of Medical Mycology and Dermatology Department of Jining No.1 People’s Hospital, Shandong, 272011, China, Tel +86 537-6051008, Email
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Vanathi M, Naik R, Sidhu N, Ahmed NH, Gupta N, Tandon R. Evaluation of antifungal susceptibility and clinical characteristics in fungal keratitis in a tertiary care center in North India. Indian J Ophthalmol 2022; 70:4270-4283. [PMID: 36453329 PMCID: PMC9940598 DOI: 10.4103/ijo.ijo_855_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To study the antifungal susceptibility of common corneal pathogenic fungi to antifungal agents in the North Indian population. Methods Prospective study of the antifungal sensitivity testing (natamycin, amphotericin B, voriconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole, posaconazole, caspofungin, micafungin) of fungal isolates from 50 cases of culture positive fungal keratitis by using E test method. Details noted included demographic data, visual acuity, clinical details, grade of keratitis, healing time, and success in medical management. Results Of 50 patients with fungal keratitis (mean age: 40.28 ± 16.77 years), 12 eyes healed within 3 weeks, 14 had a delayed healing response, and 24 had chronic keratitis. Among the 15 cases of Fusarium isolates, 93.3% were sensitive to natamycin, while 40% to amphotericin B; 66.6% to voriconazole, 13.4% to itraconazole and fluconazole each. 80% of Fusarium cases (n = 12) showed susceptibility to posaconazole. Among Aspergillus flavus isolates, 53.4% (n = 8) were sensitive to natamycin, with only 40% (n = 7) showing sensitivity to amphotericin B and good susceptibility to azoles. MIC against susceptible Fusarium spp. for natamycin was 3-16 μg/mL, amphotericin B: 1-8 μg/mL, voriconazole: 0.5-1.5 μg/mL, itraconazole: 0.5-12 μg/mL, posaconazole: 0.094-1.5 μg/mL. MIC against Aspergillus flavus was natamycin: 8-32 μg/mL, amphotericin B: 0.5-16 μg/mL, voriconazole: 0.025-4 μg/mL, itraconazole: 0.125-8 μg/mL, posaconazole: 0.047-0.25 μg/mL; against Aspergillus niger isolates, to natamycin was 6 μg/mL (n=1), amphotericin B 8-12 μg/mL (n = 3), voriconazole: 0.125-0.19 μg/mL (n = 3), itraconazole: 0.38-0.75 μg/mL, posaconazole: 0.064-0.19 μg/mL and against Aspergillus fumigatus (n = 1), was natamycin4 μg/mL, amphotericin B - 8 μg/mL, voriconazole 0.25 μg/mL, itraconazole 1 μg/mL, and posaconazole 0.19 μg/mL. MIC against susceptible Acremonium spp. for natamycin was 1.5-16 μg/mL, amphotericin B: 0.5-8 μg/mL, voriconazole: 0.19-3 μg/mL, itraconazole: 0.125 μg/mL, posaconazole: 0.125-0.5 μg/mL and against susceptible Curvularia was natamycin 0.75-4 μg/mL, amphotericin B 0.5-1 μg/mL, voriconazole 0.125-0.19 μg/mL, itraconazole 0.047-0.094 μg/mL, posaconazole 0.047-0.094 μg/mL. MIC against Mucor spp.+ Rhizopus spp. (n = 1) was natamycin: 8 μg/mL, amphotericin B: 0.75 μg/mL, posaconazole: 1.5 μg/mL. MIC against of Alternaria (n = 1) was voriconazole: 0.19 μg/mL, posaconazole: 0.094 μg/mL. MIC against Penicillium (n=1) was natamycin: 8 μg/mL, voriconazole: 0.25 μg/mL, itraconazole: 0.5 μg/mL, and Posaconazole: 0.125 μg/mL. Conclusion Our observations highlight the variations in susceptibility to antifungal agents. Posaconazole seems to be effective with low MIC against common corneal pathogenic fungal isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murugesan Vanathi
- Cornea, Lens and Refractive Surgery Services, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India,Correspondence to: Dr. Murugesan Vanathi, Professor of Ophthalmology Cornea and Ocular Surface, Cataract and Refractive Services Dr. R. P. Center for Ophthalmic Sciences All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110 029, India. E-mail:
| | - Ravinder Naik
- Cornea, Lens and Refractive Surgery Services, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Navneet Sidhu
- Cornea, Lens and Refractive Surgery Services, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Nishat Hussain Ahmed
- Ocular Microbiology Services, Dr. R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Noopur Gupta
- Cornea, Lens and Refractive Surgery Services, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Radhika Tandon
- Cornea, Lens and Refractive Surgery Services, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Fioriti S, Brescini L, Pallotta F, Canovari B, Morroni G, Barchiesi F. Antifungal Combinations against Candida Species: From Bench to Bedside. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8101077. [PMID: 36294642 PMCID: PMC9605143 DOI: 10.3390/jof8101077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida spp. is the major causative agent of fungal infections in hospitalized patients and the fourth most common cause of nosocomial bloodstream infection (BSI). The availability of standardized methods for testing the in vitro activity of antifungals along with the expanding of antifungal armamentarium, the rising of drug-resistance and the persistence of a high mortality rate in systemic candidiasis have led to an increased interest in combination therapy. Therefore, we aimed to review the scientific literature concerning the antifungal combinations against Candida. A literature search performed in PubMed yielded 92 studies published from 2000 to 2021: 29 articles referring to in vitro studies, six articles referring to either in vitro and in vivo (i.e., animal models) studies and 57 clinical articles. Pre-clinical studies involved 735 isolates of Candida species and 12 unique types of antifungal combination approaches including azoles plus echinocandins (19%), polyenes plus echinocandins (16%), polyenes plus azoles (13%), polyenes plus 5-flucytosine ([5-FC], 13%), azoles plus 5-FC (11%) and other types of combinations (28%). Results varied greatly, often being species-, drug- and methodology-dependent. Some combinatorial regimens exerted a synergistic effect against difficult-to-treat Candida species (i.e., azoles plus echinocandins; polyenes plus 5-FC) or they were more effective than monotherapy in prevent or reducing biofilm formation and in speeding the clearance of infected tissues (i.e., polyenes plus echinocandins). In 283 patients with documented Candida infections (>90% systemic candidiasis/BSI), an antifungal combination approach could be evaluated. Combinations included: azoles plus echinocandins (36%), 5-FC-combination therapies (24%), polyenes plus azoles (18%), polyenes plus echinocandins (16%) and other types of combination therapy (6%). Case reports describing combination therapies yielded favorable response in most cases, including difficult-to-treat fungal infections (i.e., endocarditis, osteoarticular infections, CNS infections) or difficult-to-treat fungal pathogens. The only randomized trial comparing amphotericin-B deoxycholate (AMB) plus FLU vs. AMB alone for treatment of BSI in nonneutropenic patients showed that the combination trended toward improved success and more-rapid clearance from the bloodstream. In summary, antifungal combinations against Candida have produced great interest in the past two decades. To establish whether this approach can become a reliable treatment option, additional in vitro and clinical data are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Fioriti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Lucia Brescini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
- Infectious Disease Clinic, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria “Ospedali Riuniti”, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Pallotta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
- Infectious Disease Clinic, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria “Ospedali Riuniti”, 60126 Ancona, Italy
| | - Benedetta Canovari
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord, 61121 Pesaro, Italy
| | - Gianluca Morroni
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-071-220-6298; Fax: +39-071-220-6297
| | - Francesco Barchiesi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord, 61121 Pesaro, Italy
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Wiederhold NP, Patterson TF, Rebholz S, Boal CWC, Ehrensberger M, Boyle R, Cushion MT. The Antifungal and Anti-Pneumocystis Activities of the Novel Compound A3IS (Mycosinate). Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022; 66:e0052122. [PMID: 35852368 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00521-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
A3IS (Mycosinate) is a synthetic product which only contains ingredients found naturally within honey. A3IS is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial product which produces a sustained release of hydrogen peroxide at low but therapeutic levels. The product elicits this release through an enzymatic reaction between glucose oxidase and the substrate glucose once the product is hydrated. As medical uses for different honeys are being re-evaluated, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effects of A3IS against a comprehensive panel of human pathogens, including Pneumocystis species, providing a unique assessment against a panel of eukaryotic pathogens. Without exception, A3IS exhibited significant efficacy at 50% and 100% inhibitory concentrations against a broad spectrum of human pathogens including yeasts, molds (both hyaline and dematiaceous), and dimorphic fungi. Notably, A3IS was effective against fungal strains with a high level of resistance to fluconazole or voriconazole. The 50% inhibitory concentrations for Pneumocystis carinii and P. murina (surrogates for P. jirovecii) were considered "Marked" and "Moderate" on an established rank scale, and would be considered for in vivo studies, based on an established in vitro-in vivo pipeline. These results indicate that A3IS is a novel anti-fungal agent against an extensive range of human fungal pathogens.
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AlJindan R, AlEraky DM. Silver Nanoparticles: A Promising Antifungal Agent against the Growth and Biofilm Formation of the Emergent Candida auris. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8. [PMID: 35887498 DOI: 10.3390/jof8070744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is a globally-emerging pathogen that is correlated to nosocomial infections and high mortality rates, causing major outbreaks in hospitals and serious public health concerns worldwide. This study investigated the antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on clinical isolates of C. auris. A total of eight clinical isolates were collected from blood, urine, ear swab, and groin. C. auris was confirmed by MALDI-TOF MS, and gene sequencing. All isolates confirmed as C. auris were subjected to antimicrobial agents, including amphotericin B, fluconazole, caspofungin, voriconazole, micafungin, and flucytosine. A serial dilution of a silver nanoparticles solution was prepared to test antifungal susceptibility testing under planktonic conditions. Moreover, an antibiofilm activity assay was determined using a colony-forming assay and a cell viability assay by a live−dead yeast kit. Significant antifungal and antibiofilm activity of AgNPs was detected against all isolates; MIC was <6.25 μg/mL, the range of MFC was from 6.25 to 12.5 μg/mL for all isolates, and the highest value of IC50 was 3.2 μg/mL. Silver nanomaterials could represent a possible antimicrobial agent to prevent outbreaks caused by C. auris infections.
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Hoy MJ, Park E, Lee H, Lim WY, Cole DC, DeBouver ND, Bobay BG, Pierce PG, Fox D, Ciofani M, Juvvadi PR, Steinbach W, Hong J, Heitman J. Structure-Guided Synthesis of FK506 and FK520 Analogs with Increased Selectivity Exhibit In Vivo Therapeutic Efficacy against Cryptococcus. mBio 2022; 13:e0104922. [PMID: 35604094 PMCID: PMC9239059 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01049-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcineurin is an essential virulence factor that is conserved across human fungal pathogens, including Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Candida albicans. Although an excellent target for antifungal drug development, the serine-threonine phosphatase activity of calcineurin is conserved in mammals, and inhibition of this activity results in immunosuppression. FK506 (tacrolimus) is a naturally produced macrocyclic compound that inhibits calcineurin by binding to the immunophilin FKBP12. Previously, our fungal calcineurin-FK506-FKBP12 structure-based approaches identified a nonconserved region of FKBP12 that can be exploited for fungus-specific targeting. These studies led to the design of an FK506 analog, APX879, modified at the C-22 position, which was less immunosuppressive yet maintained antifungal activity. We now report high-resolution protein crystal structures of fungal FKBP12 and a human truncated calcineurin-FKBP12 bound to a natural FK506 analog, FK520 (ascomycin). Based on information from these structures and the success of APX879, we synthesized and screened a novel panel of C-22-modified compounds derived from both FK506 and FK520. One compound, JH-FK-05, demonstrates broad-spectrum antifungal activity in vitro and is nonimmunosuppressive in vivo. In murine models of pulmonary and disseminated C. neoformans infection, JH-FK-05 treatment significantly reduced fungal burden and extended animal survival alone and in combination with fluconazole. Furthermore, molecular dynamic simulations performed with JH-FK-05 binding to fungal and human FKBP12 identified additional residues outside the C-22 and C-21 positions that could be modified to generate novel FK506 analogs with improved antifungal activity. IMPORTANCE Due to rising rates of antifungal drug resistance and a limited armamentarium of antifungal treatments, there is a paramount need for novel antifungal drugs to treat systemic fungal infections. Calcineurin has been established as an essential and conserved virulence factor in several fungi, making it an attractive antifungal target. However, due to the immunosuppressive action of calcineurin inhibitors, they have not been successfully utilized clinically for antifungal treatment in humans. Recent availability of crystal structures of fungal calcineurin-bound inhibitor complexes has enabled the structure-guided design of FK506 analogs and led to a breakthrough in the development of a compound with increased fungal specificity. The development of a calcineurin inhibitor with reduced immunosuppressive activity and maintained therapeutic antifungal activity would add a significant tool to the treatment options for these invasive fungal infections with exceedingly high rates of mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Hoy
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Eunchong Park
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hyunji Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Won Young Lim
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - D. Christopher Cole
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nicholas D. DeBouver
- UCB Biosciences, Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Phillip G. Pierce
- UCB Biosciences, Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - David Fox
- UCB Biosciences, Bainbridge Island, Washington, USA
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Maria Ciofani
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Praveen R. Juvvadi
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - William Steinbach
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jiyong Hong
- Department of Chemistry, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Vahedi-Shahandashti R, Dietl AM, Binder U, Nagl M, Würzner R, Lass-Flörl C. Aspergillus terreus and the Interplay with Amphotericin B: from Resistance to Tolerance? Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022;:e0227421. [PMID: 35254091 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02274-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus terreus is an opportunistic causative agent of invasive aspergillosis and, in most cases, it is refractory to amphotericin B (AMB) therapy. Notably, AMB-susceptible Aspergillus terreus sensu stricto (s.s.) representatives exist which are also associated with poor clinical outcomes. Such findings may be attributable to drug tolerance, which is not detectable by antifungal susceptibility testing. Here, we tested in vitro antifungal susceptibility (AFST) and the fungicidal activity of AMB against 100 clinical isolates of A. terreus species complex in RPMI 1640 and antibiotic medium 3 (AM3). MICs ranged from 0.5 to 16 μg/mL for RPMI 1640 and from 1 to >16 mg/L for AM3. AMB showed medium-dependent activity, with fungicidal effects only in antibiotic medium 3, not in RPMI 1640. Furthermore, the presence of AMB-tolerant phenotypes of A. terreus has been examined by assessing the minimum duration for killing 99% of the population (MDK99) and evaluating the data obtained in a Galleria mellonella infection model. A time-kill curve analysis revealed that A. terreus with AMB MICs of ≤1 mg/L (susceptible range) displayed AMB-tolerant phenotypes, exhibiting MDK99s at 18 and 36 h, respectively. Survival rates of infected G. mellonella highlighted that AMB was effective against susceptible A. terreus isolates, but not against tolerant or resistant isolates. Our analysis reveals that A. terreus isolates which are defined as susceptible based on MIC may comprise tolerant phenotypes, which may, in turn, explain the worse outcome of AMB therapy for phenotypically susceptible isolates.
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Li J, Coste AT, Bachmann D, Sanglard D, Lamoth F. Assessment of the In Vitro and In Vivo Antifungal Activity of NSC319726 against Candida auris. Microbiol Spectr 2021;:e0139521. [PMID: 34730380 DOI: 10.1128/Spectrum.01395-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging yeast pathogen of candidemia with the ability to develop resistance to all current antifungal drug classes. Novel antifungal therapies against C. auris are warranted. NSC319726 is a thiosemicarbazone with an inhibitory effect on fungal ribosome biogenesis that has demonstrated some antifungal activity. In this study, we assessed the in vitro activity and in vivo efficacy of NSC319726 against C. auris. NSC319726 was active in vitro against 22 C. auris isolates from different clades, with MICs ranging from 0.125 to 0.25 mg/liter. Despite complete visual growth inhibition, the effect was described as fungistatic in time-kill curves. Interactions with fluconazole, amphotericin B, and micafungin, as tested by the checkerboard dilution method, were described as indifferent. NSC319726 demonstrated significant effects in rescuing G. mellonella larvae infected with two distinct C. auris isolates, compared to the untreated group. In conclusion, NSC319726 demonstrated in vitro activity against C. auris and in vivo efficacy in an invertebrate model of infection. Its potential role as a novel antifungal therapy in humans should be further investigated. IMPORTANCE Candida auris is emerging as a major public health threat because of its ability to cause nosocomial outbreaks of severe invasive candidiasis. Management of C. auris infection is difficult because of its frequent multidrug-resistant profile for currently licensed antifungals. Here, we show that the thiosemicarbazone NSC319726 was active in vitro against a large collection of C. auris isolates from different clades. Moreover, the drug was well tolerated and effective for the treatment of C. auris infection in an invertebrate model of Galleria mellonella. We conclude that NSC319726 might represent an interesting drug candidate for the treatment of C. auris infection.
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Raj N, Vanathi M, Ahmed NH, Gupta N, Lomi N, Tandon R. Recent Perspectives in the Management of Fungal Keratitis. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7110907. [PMID: 34829196 PMCID: PMC8621027 DOI: 10.3390/jof7110907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycotic keratitis is common in warm, humid regions with a varying profile of pathogenic fungi according to geographical origin, socioeconomic status, and climatic condition. Clinical diagnosis can be challenging in difficult cases and those refractory to treatment. Fungal hyphae on microscopic examination and culture isolation have been the gold standard in the laboratory diagnosis of fungal keratitis. A culture isolate of the aetiological fungus is essential to perform antifungal susceptibility testing. As the culture isolation of fungi is time-consuming, causing delays in the initiation of treatment, newer investigative modalities such as in vivo confocal microscopy and molecular diagnostic methods have recently gained popularity. Molecular diagnostic techniques now help to obtain a rapid diagnosis of fungal keratitis. Genomic approaches are based on detecting amplicons of ribosomal RNA genes, with internal transcribed spacers being increasingly adopted. Metagenomic deep sequencing allows for rapid and accurate diagnosis without the need to wait for the fungus to grow. This is also helpful in identifying new emerging strains of fungi causing mycotic keratitis. A custom-tear proteomic approach will probably play an important diagnostic role in future in the management of mycotic keratitis. Positive repeat cultures are being suggested as an important gauge indicative of a poor prognosis. Positive repeat fungal cultures help to modify a treatment regimen by increasing its frequency, providing the addition of another topical and oral antifungal agent along with close follow-up for perforation and identifying need for early therapeutic keratoplasty. The role of collagen crosslinking in the treatment of fungal keratitis is not convincingly established. Rapid detection by multiplex PCR and antifungal susceptibility testing of the pathogenic fungi, adopted into a routine management protocol of fungal keratitis, will help to improve treatment outcome. Early therapy is essential in minimizing damage to the corneal tissue, thereby providing a better outcome. The role of conventional therapy with polyenes, systemic and targeted therapy of antifungal agents, newer azoles and echinocandins in fungal keratitis has been widely studied in recent times. Combination therapy can be more efficacious in comparison to monotherapy. Given the diversity of fungal aetiology, the emergence of new corneal pathogenic fungi with varying drug susceptibilities, increasing the drug resistance to antifungal agents in some genera and species, it is perhaps time to adopt recent molecular methods for precise identification and incorporate antifungal susceptibility testing as a routine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nimmy Raj
- Cornea, Lens & Refractive Surgery Services—Dr R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute for Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India; (N.R.); (N.G.); (N.L.); (R.T.)
| | - Murugesan Vanathi
- Cornea, Lens & Refractive Surgery Services—Dr R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute for Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India; (N.R.); (N.G.); (N.L.); (R.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +91-11-26593010; Fax: +91-11-26588919
| | - Nishat Hussain Ahmed
- Ocular Microbiology Services—Dr R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute for Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India;
| | - Noopur Gupta
- Cornea, Lens & Refractive Surgery Services—Dr R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute for Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India; (N.R.); (N.G.); (N.L.); (R.T.)
| | - Neiwete Lomi
- Cornea, Lens & Refractive Surgery Services—Dr R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute for Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India; (N.R.); (N.G.); (N.L.); (R.T.)
| | - Radhika Tandon
- Cornea, Lens & Refractive Surgery Services—Dr R P Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute for Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India; (N.R.); (N.G.); (N.L.); (R.T.)
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Chidebelu PE, Nweze EI, Meis JF, Cogliati M, Hagen F. Multi-locus sequence typing reveals genotypic similarity in Nigerian Cryptococcus neoformans AFLP1/VNI of environmental and clinical origin. J Med Microbiol 2021; 70. [PMID: 34665109 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
IntroductionPigeon droppings are among the major environmental sources of Cryptococcus neoformans AFLP1/VNI, from where the organism infects susceptible humans and animals resulting in cryptococcosis. Until now, C. neoformans AFLP1B/VNII was the only molecular type reported in Nigeria. Effective clinical treatment of this infection has occasionally been stymied by the emergence of antifungal non-susceptible, and resistant strains of C. neoformans AFLP1/VNI.Hypothesis/Gap StatementPigeon droppings harbour C. neoformans and HIV/AIDS patients are among the susceptible population to develop cryptococcal infection. Epidemiological data on cryptococcal prevalence is limited in Nigeria.AimTo investigate the environmental prevalence of C. neoformans in South-eastern Nigeria and compare the isolates with other lineages by using molecular and microbiological tools.MethodologyA total of 500 pigeon droppings and 300 blood samples of HIV/AIDS patients were collected, respectively, from five market squares and three tertiary healthcare centres within the Nsukka area of South-eastern Nigeria. The antifungal susceptibility of the C. neoformans isolates to amphotericin B, fluconazole, 5-fluorocytosine, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and isavuconazole was investigated based on the CLSI M27-A3 protocol. Yeasts were identified by MALDI-TOF MS, thereafter Cryptococcus MLST was performed according to the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) consensus scheme.Results C. neoformans was recovered from 6 (1.2 %) pigeon droppings and 6 (2 %) blood cultures of HIV/AIDS patients. Molecular analyses indicated that all cryptococcal isolates belong to serotype A and the AFLP1/VNI molecular type with sequence type (ST)32. Infection with C. neoformans was independent of sex and age of the patients investigated. All C. neoformans isolates were susceptible to the seven antifungal agents.ConclusionThis is the first report on the prevalence of C. neoformans AFLP1/VNI (ST32) in environmental and clinical samples from Nigeria. The antifungal susceptibility indicates that antifungal resistance by C. neoformans is yet a rare occurrence in Nigeria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E Chidebelu
- Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
| | - Emeka I Nweze
- Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
- Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Jacques F Meis
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius-Wilhelmina Hospital (CWZ), Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Centre of Expertise in Mycology RadboudUMC/CWZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Massimo Cogliati
- Laboratorio di Micologia Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Ferry Hagen
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Fahmy AM, Hassan M, El-Setouhy DA, Tayel SA, Al-Mahallawi AM. Statistical optimization of hyaluronic acid enriched ultradeformable elastosomes for ocular delivery of voriconazole via Box-Behnken design: in vitro characterization and in vivo evaluation. Drug Deliv 2021; 28:77-86. [PMID: 33342315 PMCID: PMC7875553 DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2020.1858997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Voriconazole (VCZ) is a well-known broad spectrum triazole antifungal, mainly used orally and intravenously. The study aimed to formulate VCZ into ultradeformable elastosomes for the topical treatment of ocular fungal keratitis. Different formulae were prepared using a modified ethanol injection method, employing a 33 Box-Behnken design. They were characterized by measuring their entrapment efficiency (EE%), particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential (ZP). The optimized formula was subjected to further in vitro investigations and in vivo evaluation studies. The prepared vesicles had satisfactory EE%, PS, PDI and ZP values. The numerical optimization process suggested an optimal elastosomal formula (OE) composed of phosphatidyl choline and brij S100 at the weight ratio of 3.62: 1, 0.25%w/v hyaluronic acid and 5% (percentage from phosphatidyl choline/brij mixture) polyvinyl alcohol. It had high EE (72.6%), acceptable PS and PDI (362.4 nm and 0.25, respectively) and highly negative ZP of −41.7 mV. OE exhibited higher elasticity than conventional liposomes, with acceptable stability for three months. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the spherical morphology of vesicles with an external transparent coat of Hyaluronic acid. OE was expected to cause no ocular irritation or blurring in vision as reflected by pH and refractive index measurements. The histopathological study revealed the safety of OE for ocular use. The fungal susceptibility testing using Candida albicans demonstrated the superiority of OE to VCZ suspension, with greater and more durable growth inhibition. Therefore, OE can be regarded as a promising formula, achieving both safety and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdurrahman Muhammad Fahmy
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mariam Hassan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Doaa Ahmed El-Setouhy
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Saadia Ahmed Tayel
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Abdulaziz Mohsen Al-Mahallawi
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.,Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA), Giza, Egypt
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Brescini L, Fioriti S, Morroni G, Barchiesi F. Antifungal Combinations in Dermatophytes. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7090727. [PMID: 34575765 PMCID: PMC8469868 DOI: 10.3390/jof7090727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dermatophytes are the most common cause of fungal infections worldwide, affecting millions of people annually. The emergence of resistance among dermatophytes along with the availability of antifungal susceptibility procedures suitable for testing antifungal agents against this group of fungi make the combinatorial approach particularly interesting to be investigated. Therefore, we reviewed the scientific literature concerning the antifungal combinations against dermatophytes. A literature search on the subject performed in PubMed yielded 68 publications: 37 articles referring to in vitro studies and 31 articles referring to case reports or clinical studies. In vitro studies involved over 400 clinical isolates of dermatophytes (69% Trichophyton spp., 29% Microsporum spp., and 2% Epidermophyton floccosum). Combinations included two antifungal agents or an antifungal agent plus another chemical compound including plant extracts or essential oils, calcineurin inhibitors, peptides, disinfectant agents, and others. In general, drug combinations yielded variable results spanning from synergism to indifference. Antagonism was rarely seen. In over 700 patients with documented dermatophyte infections, an antifungal combination approach could be evaluated. The most frequent combination included a systemic antifungal agent administered orally (i.e., terbinafine, griseofulvin, or azole-mainly itraconazole) plus a topical medication (i.e., azole, terbinafine, ciclopirox, amorolfine) for several weeks. Clinical results indicate that association of antifungal agents is effective, and it might be useful to accelerate the clinical and microbiological healing of a superficial infection. Antifungal combinations in dermatophytes have gained considerable scientific interest over the years and, in consideration of the interesting results available so far, it is desirable to continue the research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Brescini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Sanità Pubblica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy; (L.B.); (S.F.); (G.M.)
| | - Simona Fioriti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Sanità Pubblica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy; (L.B.); (S.F.); (G.M.)
| | - Gianluca Morroni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Sanità Pubblica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy; (L.B.); (S.F.); (G.M.)
| | - Francesco Barchiesi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Sanità Pubblica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60020 Ancona, Italy; (L.B.); (S.F.); (G.M.)
- Malattie Infettive, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord, 61121 Pesaro, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-721-36-5505
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Lysková P, Dobiáš R, Čmoková A, Kolařík M, Hamal P, Šmatláková K, Hušek J, Mencl K, Mallátová N, Poláčková Z, Krnáčová A, Palkovičová K, Jablonská D, Macháčová J, Drlík Z, Bázsóová D, Jaworská P, Svobodová L, Hubka V. An Outbreak of Trichophyton quinckeanum Zoonotic Infections in the Czech Republic Transmitted from Cats and Dogs. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:684. [PMID: 34575722 PMCID: PMC8465542 DOI: 10.3390/jof7090684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Trichophyton quinckeanum, a zoophilic dermatophyte mostly known as the causative agent of rodent favus, is relatively rarely reported to cause human infections. Indeed, no infections were detected in Czechia between 2012 and 2015 despite routine verification of species identification by ITS rDNA sequencing. By contrast, 25 human and 11 animal cases of infection were documented from December 2016 to December 2020 and the rates tended to grow every following year. Interestingly, most of the cases were reported in the Olomouc region, suggesting a local outbreak. We bring the evidence that human T. quinckeanum infections are most commonly contracted from infected cats or, less frequently, dogs. Although rodents or contaminated soil and environment could be the source of infection to cats and dogs, the occurrence of infections in multiple animals in the same household suggests direct transmission among animals. Confirmation of the identification by molecular methods is highly recommended due to morphological similarity with T. mentagrophytes/T. interdigitale. Antifungal susceptibility testing of isolates to eight antifungals was performed using EUCAST methodology (E.Def 11.0). Among the tested antifungals, terbinafine, amorolfine, ciclopirox and efinaconazole were most potent in vitro and elevated minimum inhibitory concentrations were obtained for fluconazole and ketoconazole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlína Lysková
- Department of Parasitology, Mycology and Mycobacteriology, Public Health Institute in Ústí nad Labem, 186 00 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Radim Dobiáš
- Department of Bacteriology and Mycology, Public Health Institute Ostrava, 702 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic; (R.D.); (D.B.); (P.J.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, 703 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | - Adéla Čmoková
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 01 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.Č.); (M.K.)
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Kolařík
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 01 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.Č.); (M.K.)
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Hamal
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital Olomouc, 775 15 Olomouc, Czech Republic;
| | - Kateřina Šmatláková
- Veterinární Klinika MVDr. Vlastimil Pospíšil, 68 201 Vyškov, Czech Republic;
| | - Jan Hušek
- Veterinární Klinika Veterix, 79 601 Prostějov, Czech Republic;
| | - Karel Mencl
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Pardubice Regional Hospital, 53 203 Pardubice, Czech Republic;
| | - Nad’a Mallátová
- Laboratory of Mycology and Parasitology, Hospital České Budějovice, 370 01 České Budějovice, Czech Republic;
| | - Zora Poláčková
- Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases, University Hospital Olomouc, 775 15 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (Z.P.); (Z.D.)
| | - Anežka Krnáčová
- Department of Dermatology, Přerov Hospital, 751 52 Přerov, Czech Republic;
| | | | - Daniela Jablonská
- Dermatology Center, Hranice Hospital, 753 22 Hranice, Czech Republic;
| | - Jitka Macháčová
- Dermatology Center, 757 01 Valašské Meziříčí, Czech Republic;
| | - Zdeněk Drlík
- Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases, University Hospital Olomouc, 775 15 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (Z.P.); (Z.D.)
- Dr. Drlik Dermatovenereology, 789 85 Mohelnice, Czech Republic
| | - Denisa Bázsóová
- Department of Bacteriology and Mycology, Public Health Institute Ostrava, 702 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic; (R.D.); (D.B.); (P.J.)
| | - Pavla Jaworská
- Department of Bacteriology and Mycology, Public Health Institute Ostrava, 702 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic; (R.D.); (D.B.); (P.J.)
| | - Lucie Svobodová
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital Olomouc, 775 15 Olomouc, Czech Republic;
| | - Vit Hubka
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 128 01 Prague, Czech Republic; (A.Č.); (M.K.)
- Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic
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Kong X, Tang C, Singh A, Ahmed SA, Al-Hatmi AMS, Chowdhary A, Nenoff P, Gräser Y, Hainsworth S, Zhan P, Meis JF, Verweij PE, Liu W, de Hoog GS. Antifungal Susceptibility and Mutations in the Squalene Epoxidase Gene in Dermatophytes of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes Species Complex. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e0005621. [PMID: 33972254 DOI: 10.1128/AAC.00056-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During the past decade, a prolonged and serious outbreak of dermatophytosis due to a terbinafine-resistant novel species in the Trichophyton mentagrophytes-T. interdigitale complex has been ongoing in India, and it has spread to several European countries. The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular background of the squalene epoxidase (SQLE) gene in order to understand the risk of emergence and spread of multiresistance in dermatophytes. Antifungal susceptibility to fluconazole, griseofulvin, itraconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, naftifine, sertaconazole, and terbinafine was tested in 135 isolates from India, China, Australia, Germany, and The Netherlands. Based on the latest taxonomic insights, strains were identified as three species: T. mentagrophytessensu stricto (n = 35), T. indotineae (n = 64, representing the Indian clone), and T. interdigitalesensu stricto (n = 36). High MICs of terbinafine (>16 mg/liter) were found in 34 (53%) T. indotineae isolates. These isolates showed an amino acid substitution in the 397th position of the SQLE gene. Elevated MICs of terbinafine (0.5 mg/liter) were noted in 2 (3%) T. indotineae isolates; these isolates lead to Phe415Val and Leu393Ser of the SQLE gene. The stability of the effect of the mutations was proven by serial transfer on drug-free medium. Lys276Asn and Leu419Phe substitutions were found in susceptible T. mentagrophytes strains. The Phe377Leu/Ala448Thr double mutant showed higher MIC values for triazoles. High MICs of terbinafine are as yet limited to T. indotineae and are unlikely to be distributed throughout the T. mentagrophytes species complex by genetic exchange.
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Halvaee S, Daie-Ghazvini R, Hashemi SJ, Khodavaisy S, Rahimi-Foroushani A, Bakhshi H, Rafat Z, Ardi P, Abastabar M, Zareei M, Borjian-Boroujeni Z, Kamali Sarvestani H. A Mycological and Molecular Epidemiologic Study on Onychomycosis and Determination In Vitro Susceptibilities of Isolated Fungal Strains to Conventional and New Antifungals. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:693522. [PMID: 34336717 PMCID: PMC8319826 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.693522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Onychomycosis is one of the most common and recurrent dermatological diseases worldwide. The antimycotic activity of prescribed medications varies according to the causative agents, and treatment failure rates exceeding 30%. This study aimed to assess the epidemiological profile of onychomycosis in Iran. Also, the susceptibilities to conventional and new antifungals were investigated. Methods In this descriptive cross-sectional study, during the period of 18 months starting from September 2019 until March 2020, 594 nail specimens were obtained from patients who presented nail changes compatible with a clinical diagnosis of onychomycosis. The patients were referred from different cities, including Tehran, Kermanshah, Arak, Kashan, Rasht, Qom, Urmia, Zahedan, Hamadan, Zanjan, Borujerd, Bushehr, and Yazd. All the samples were subjected to microscopic examination and fungal culture. Fungi identified were confirmed through the PCR-sequencing method. The susceptibility to itraconazole, fluconazole, terbinafine, griseofulvin, posaconazole, ravuconazole, efinaconazole, luliconazole, and tavaborole was evaluated according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines, document M38-A2 for filamentous fungi, and document M27-A3 for yeasts. Results 594 patients were included. Of these, in 179 cases (30.1%) (95% CI:0.3 ± 0.037) onychomycosis was confirmed. The majority of patients were ≥ 60 years of age (n=58, 32.6%) and female (n=113, 63.1%). Saprophytic fungi accounted for the vast majority of the nail isolates (n=92, 51.4%) (95% CI:0.051 ± 0.0.073), followed by dermatophytes (n=45, 25.1%) (95% CI:0.25 ± 0.063), and yeasts (n=42, 23.5%) (95% CI:0.23 ± 0.061). Diabetes mellitus (77.3%), hypothyroidism (18.2%), and solid tumors (4.5%) were documented as the most prevalent underlying conditions. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed against 60 fungal isolates (20 each of Candida species, saprophytic fungi, and dermatophytes). Efinaconazole, ravuconazole, and luliconazole were the most active agents against Candida species. Also, luliconazole, posaconazole, and efinaconazole were most potent against dermatophytes. Luliconazole had the greatest antifungal activity against saprophytic fungi. Conclusions The prevalence of onychomycosis in Iranian patients was relatively high. LUL exhibited potent antifungal activity against the three groups of fungi tested, determining its broad-spectrum antimycotic activity and its probable use as the first-line therapy for onychomycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samaneh Halvaee
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Roshanak Daie-Ghazvini
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Jamal Hashemi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Food Microbiology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sadegh Khodavaisy
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Rahimi-Foroushani
- Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Heidar Bakhshi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Rafat
- Department. of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Pegah Ardi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdi Abastabar
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Mahdi Zareei
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zeinab Borjian-Boroujeni
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hasti Kamali Sarvestani
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Pfister J, Petrik M, Bendova K, Matuszczak B, Binder U, Misslinger M, Kühbacher A, Gsaller F, Haas H, Decristoforo C. Antifungal Siderophore Conjugates for Theranostic Applications in Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis Using Low-Molecular TAFC Scaffolds. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:558. [PMID: 34356941 PMCID: PMC8304796 DOI: 10.3390/jof7070558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a life-threatening form of fungal infection, primarily in immunocompromised patients and associated with significant mortality. Diagnostic procedures are often invasive and/or time consuming and existing antifungals can be constrained by dose-limiting toxicity and drug interaction. In this study, we modified triacetylfusarinine C (TAFC), the main siderophore produced by the opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus), with antifungal molecules to perform antifungal susceptibility tests and molecular imaging. A variation of small organic molecules (eflornithine, fludioxonil, thiomersal, fluoroorotic acid (FOA), cyanine 5 (Cy5) with antifungal activity were coupled to diacetylfusarinine C (DAFC), resulting in a "Trojan horse" to deliver antifungal compounds specifically into A. fumigatus hyphae by the major facilitator transporter MirB. Radioactive labeling with gallium-68 allowed us to perform in vitro characterization (distribution coefficient, stability, uptake assay) as well as biodistribution experiments and PET/CT imaging in an IPA rat infection model. Compounds chelated with stable gallium were used for antifungal susceptibility tests. [Ga]DAFC-fludioxonil, -FOA, and -Cy5 revealed a MirB-dependent active uptake with fungal growth inhibition at 16 µg/mL after 24 h. Visualization of an A. fumigatus infection in lungs of a rat was possible with gallium-68-labeled compounds using PET/CT. Heterogeneous biodistribution patterns revealed the immense influence of the antifungal moiety conjugated to DAFC. Overall, novel antifungal siderophore conjugates with promising fungal growth inhibition and the possibility to perform PET imaging combine both therapeutic and diagnostic potential in a theranostic compound for IPA caused by A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Pfister
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Milos Petrik
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, 77200 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (M.P.); (K.B.)
| | - Katerina Bendova
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University Olomouc, 77200 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (M.P.); (K.B.)
| | - Barbara Matuszczak
- Institute of Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Institute of Hygiene & Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
| | - Matthias Misslinger
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (M.M.); (A.K.); (F.G.); (H.H.)
| | - Alexander Kühbacher
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (M.M.); (A.K.); (F.G.); (H.H.)
| | - Fabio Gsaller
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (M.M.); (A.K.); (F.G.); (H.H.)
| | - Hubertus Haas
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; (M.M.); (A.K.); (F.G.); (H.H.)
| | - Clemens Decristoforo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
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Verma SB, Panda S, Nenoff P, Singal A, Rudramurthy SM, Uhrlass S, Das A, Bisherwal K, Shaw D, Vasani R. The unprecedented epidemic-like scenario of dermatophytosis in India: III. Antifungal resistance and treatment options. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2021; 87:468-482. [PMID: 34219433 DOI: 10.25259/ijdvl_303_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
One of the canonical features of the current outbreak of dermatophytosis in India is its unresponsiveness to treatment in majority of cases. Though there appears to be discordance between in vivo and in vitro resistance, demonstration of in vitro resistance of dermatophytes to antifungals by antifungal susceptibility testing is essential as it may help in appropriate management. The practical problem in the interpretation of antifungal susceptibility testing is the absence of clinical breakpoints and epidemiologic cutoff values. In their absence, evaluation of the upper limit of a minimal inhibitory concentration of wild type isolates may be beneficial for managing dermatophytosis and monitoring the emergence of isolates with reduced susceptibility. In the current scenario, most of the cases are unresponsive to standard dosages and duration of treatment recommended until now. This has resulted in many ex-cathedra modalities of treatment that are being pursued without any evidence. There is an urgent need to carry out methodical research to develop an evidence base to formulate a rational management approach in the current scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saumya Panda
- Department of Dermatology, Belle Vue Clinic, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, India
| | - Pietro Nenoff
- Department of Dermatology and Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory for Medical Microbiology, Moelbis, Germany
| | - Archana Singal
- Department of Dermatology and STD, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi, India
| | - Shivprakash M Rudramurthy
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Silke Uhrlass
- Department of Dermatology and Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory for Medical Microbiology, Moelbis, Germany
| | - Anupam Das
- Department of Dermatology, KPC Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
| | - Kavita Bisherwal
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Lady Hardinge Medical College and SSK Hospital, Delhi
| | - Dipika Shaw
- Department of Medical Microbiology, PGI, Chandigarh, India
| | - Resham Vasani
- Department of Dermatology, Bhojani Clinic, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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