candidiasis – Page 7

Synergistic potential and apoptosis induction of Bunium persicum essential oil and its pure components, cuminaldehyde and γ-terpinene, in combination with fluconazole on Candida albicans isolates: in vitro and in silico evaluation

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Researchers tested how Bunium persicum essential oil and its components work alongside the antifungal drug fluconazole against Candida albicans infections. Cuminaldehyde, a major component of the oil, showed the strongest effects when combined with fluconazole, making infection-causing cells die faster than each substance alone. This combination approach could help overcome drug-resistant fungal infections and offers a promising natural alternative to synthetic drugs alone.

Ploidy plasticity drives fungal resistance to azoles used in agriculture and clinics

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Agricultural fungicides can cause fungal pathogens like Candida tropicalis to change their genetic structure and become resistant to clinical antifungal drugs. When exposed to agricultural azole fungicides, these fungi can shift from their normal two-copy genetic state to a one-copy state, making them harder to treat with hospital medicines. This study reveals how the same drugs used on farms can create dangerous drug-resistant fungi that threaten human health.

Diversity and bioprospecting activities of endophytic Fungi associated with different Egyptian medicinal plants

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Scientists studied fungi that live inside Egyptian medicinal plants and found that one type called Aspergillus terreus produces compounds with powerful healing properties. These compounds can fight harmful bacteria, reduce oxidative damage, and even kill cancer cells while being safe for normal cells. This discovery suggests that fungi living in medicinal plants could be valuable sources of new medicines, offering hope for developing new treatments for infections and cancer.

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

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, fungal infections became a major health concern, especially in hospitalized patients. Treatments for COVID-19, such as steroids and immunosuppressive drugs, weakened patients’ immune systems, making them vulnerable to serious fungal infections like those caused by Candida auris. Current antifungal medications have significant side effects and many fungi are developing resistance, so scientists are urgently seeking safer and more effective antifungal treatments.

Anticancer drugs targeting topoisomerase II for antifungal treatment

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Researchers found that several anticancer drugs commonly used to treat human cancers can also effectively kill fungal infections, especially resistant strains of Candida. The most promising drug, idarubicin, works by targeting an essential enzyme in fungi called topoisomerase II, causing DNA damage and cell death. This discovery suggests a new strategy for treating serious fungal infections by repurposing existing cancer medications, particularly for patients with drug-resistant infections.

Regulation and functions of alternative polyadenylation in fungi

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This review explains how fungi use a process called alternative polyadenylation to create different versions of proteins from the same gene. Think of it like different recipes using the same ingredients but with different instructions. This process is important for fungal survival, growth, and ability to cause disease. Scientists are developing new tools and techniques to study this process, which could lead to better treatments for fungal infections.

Knowledge framework and emerging trends of invasive pulmonary fungal infection: A bibliometric analysis (2003–2023)

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This study examined 20 years of scientific research on invasive lung fungal infections using bibliometric analysis. The research found that the United States leads in fungal infection research, with emerging focus areas including COVID-19-associated fungal infections and new diagnostic methods like metagenomic sequencing. The findings show that diagnosis remains challenging and requires improved detection methods, while treatment typically involves antifungal medications like voriconazole and amphotericin-B.

Prevalence and antifungal susceptibility profiles of Candida isolates among patients with candiduria: a multiplex PCR assay

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Researchers studied yeast infections in urine from hospitalized patients using advanced molecular testing. They found that while Candida albicans was most common, other yeast species were becoming more resistant to antifungal medications. The study used a 21-tube PCR test to identify different yeast species and tested which medications worked best against them. Results showed that newer yeast species were much more likely to resist commonly used antifungal drugs like fluconazole.

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

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Scientists have developed a new imaging technology called optical transmission tomography that can directly observe living fungi without staining or special dyes. This technique reveals not only the structure of fungal cells but also shows their internal activity and metabolism in real-time. When combined with artificial intelligence, this technology could help doctors quickly identify dangerous fungal infections and choose the best treatments, potentially saving lives by speeding up diagnosis.

Fungal vaccines: so needed, so feasible, and yet so far off

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Fungal infections kill millions of people worldwide each year, particularly those with weakened immune systems, yet no vaccines exist to prevent them. Scientists have discovered that a specific fungal enzyme called Eng2 can trigger protective immune responses against three major disease-causing fungi. A vaccine containing this enzyme from all three fungi species could potentially protect against multiple dangerous fungal infections, though challenges like cost and the need to work in immunocompromised patients remain before such vaccines reach patients.

Disease: candidiasis