central nervous system infections

The Influence of Biogeographic Diversity, Climate and Wildlife on the Incidence of Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Croatia

mycolabadmin

This study examined tick-borne encephalitis cases in Croatia over 17 years to understand what factors influence disease spread. Researchers found that warmer winters lead to more TBE cases, likely because milder temperatures allow tick populations to survive and thrive better. The disease peaks in summer months when people spend more time outdoors, and certain areas of Croatia have much higher infection rates than others based on their geography and wildlife populations.

Candida glabrata meningitis in a patient with newly diagnosed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome from Sikkim, India

mycolabadmin

A middle-aged woman in India was admitted with severe headaches and was found to have a rare fungal infection of the brain (meningitis) caused by Candida glabrata, a type of yeast. She had recently been diagnosed with AIDS and had very low immune cell counts. Although doctors tried multiple antifungal medications, the yeast showed resistance to these drugs and the patient’s condition worsened, ultimately leading to her death. This case highlights how dangerous fungal infections can be in people with severely weakened immune systems.

Conjugation of a Cryptococcus neoformans-derived metalloprotease to antifungal-loaded PLGA nanoparticles treats neural cryptococcosis in an in vitro model

mycolabadmin

Researchers developed special nanoparticles that can cross the protective barrier surrounding the brain by using a protein from a fungal infection. These nanoparticles are loaded with an antifungal drug and can effectively treat cryptococcal brain infections in laboratory tests. This approach offers a new way to deliver medicines to the brain without invasive procedures, potentially helping patients with serious brain infections that are currently difficult to treat.

Unveiling new features of the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans through the reconstruction and exploitation of a dedicated genome-scale metabolic model

mycolabadmin

Scientists have created a detailed computer model of how the dangerous fungus Cryptococcus neoformans works at the metabolic level. By studying 890 genes and thousands of chemical reactions in this pathogen, they identified new weak points that could be targeted with future antifungal drugs. The model reveals why this fungus is particularly good at causing brain infections and shows several unique metabolic features not found in other pathogenic yeasts, offering hope for more effective treatments.

Conjugation of a Cryptococcus neoformans-derived metalloprotease to antifungal-loaded PLGA nanoparticles treats neural cryptococcosis in an in vitro model

mycolabadmin

Researchers developed tiny nanoparticle carriers coated with a fungal enzyme that helps them cross the protective barrier around the brain. These particles were loaded with an antifungal drug to treat brain infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. In laboratory tests, the Mpr1-coated particles successfully penetrated the blood-brain barrier better than regular nanoparticles and were more effective at killing the fungal cells.

Disease: central nervous system infections

The Influence of Biogeographic Diversity, Climate and Wildlife on the Incidence of Tick-Borne Encephalitis in Croatia

Candida glabrata meningitis in a patient with newly diagnosed acquired immunodeficiency syndrome from Sikkim, India

Conjugation of a Cryptococcus neoformans-derived metalloprotease to antifungal-loaded PLGA nanoparticles treats neural cryptococcosis in an in vitro model

Unveiling new features of the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans through the reconstruction and exploitation of a dedicated genome-scale metabolic model

Conjugation of a Cryptococcus neoformans-derived metalloprotease to antifungal-loaded PLGA nanoparticles treats neural cryptococcosis in an in vitro model