dermatophytosis – Page 7

Antifungal susceptibility testing of Microsporum canis isolated from the skin of dermatologically healthy cats

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Researchers tested healthy cats in Chile and found that about 5% carried a fungus called Microsporum canis that can cause ringworm. This fungus was resistant to a common antifungal drug called fluconazole. Indoor cats were more likely to carry the fungus than outdoor cats. Because cats can spread this fungus to people, identifying carrier cats is important for preventing human infections.

First case report of tinea corporis caused by Trichophyton indotineae in Latin America

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A 21-year-old woman in Argentina developed a persistent skin infection caused by a fungus called Trichophyton indotineae, likely acquired during travel to Mexico. The infection did not respond to common antifungal medications like terbinafine, but responded well to treatment with a special formulation of itraconazole that was completely effective within four weeks. This case represents the first documented occurrence of this emerging fungal pathogen in Latin America and highlights the importance of molecular identification when standard treatments fail.

Simplicillium sinense sp. nov., a novel potential pathogen of tinea faciei

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Researchers identified a new fungal species called Simplicillium sinense that caused a facial skin infection (tinea faciei) in a 46-year-old man with diabetes. The fungus was resistant to most common antifungal medications but responded well to terbinafine treatment. This is the first reported case of a Simplicillium infection causing facial ringworm, expanding our understanding of rare fungal pathogens.

Dual-Emission FRET-PCR Outperforms SYBR Green and EvaGreen for Accurate Discrimination of Primary Canine Dermatophytes: Microsporum canis, Nannizzia gypsea, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes

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Dogs often get fungal skin infections caused by three main types of fungi. Doctors have traditionally grown these fungi in culture, which takes 2-4 weeks. Scientists have now developed a faster genetic test called FRET-PCR that can identify which fungus is causing the infection in just 2.5 hours. This new test is more accurate and reliable than older genetic tests, helping veterinarians treat infections quickly and prevent them from spreading.

SUB6 Subtilisin is Involved During the Initial Adhesion of Trichophyton benhamiae and T. mentagrophytes onto Reconstructed Human Epidermis

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This study examined how a fungal protein called SUB6 helps dermatophytes (fungi causing ringworm) stick to human skin. Researchers used genetically modified fungi without SUB6 and found that these strains had difficulty initially attaching to skin but eventually infected it anyway. The results suggest SUB6 is a useful marker for detecting fungal infections but isn’t absolutely necessary for the fungus to cause disease.

Superficial Fungal Infections in the Pediatric Dermatological Population of Northern Poland

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This study examined fungal skin infections in children and teenagers in northern Poland from 2019 to 2024. Researchers tested over 1,200 young patients and found that about 1 in 5 had a fungal infection. The most common culprits were specific fungi that cause scalp infections in young children and foot/nail infections in teenagers. Interestingly, children living in rural areas were more likely to have these infections, even though more urban children were tested.

Synergistic effects of Cyp51 isozyme-specific azole antifungal agents on fungi with multiple cyp51 isozyme genes

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This study found that different azole antifungal drugs work better against different versions of an enzyme (Cyp51) that fungi need to survive. By combining two azole drugs that each target different enzyme versions, researchers achieved stronger antifungal effects than either drug alone. This discovery suggests a new strategy for treating stubborn fungal infections by carefully selecting drug combinations based on which enzyme versions the fungus possesses.

Characterization of Biofilm Formation by the Dermatophyte Nannizzia gypsea

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This study examined how Nannizzia gypsea, a fungus that causes skin infections in humans and animals, forms protective biofilms that make it resistant to antifungal drugs. Researchers found that the fungus creates a robust protective layer with specific molecular components and highly expresses genes related to virulence and drug resistance when in biofilm form. These findings help explain why dermatophyte infections are difficult to treat and recur frequently.

Tinea genitalis profunda caused by Microsporum canis: A case report and literature review

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A 23-year-old woman developed a severe fungal infection in the genital area caused by a fungus normally found on dogs. Her initial antibiotic treatment failed because the infection was actually fungal, not bacterial. After diagnosis through fungal culture, she was successfully treated with antifungal medications, though the infection left some scarring and discoloration. This case highlights how genital fungal infections can be difficult to diagnose because they look similar to bacterial infections.

Integrating Machine Learning and Molecular Methods for Trichophyton indotineae Identification and Resistance Profiling Using MALDI-TOF Spectra

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A new type of fungus called Trichophyton indotineae is causing stubborn skin infections that don’t respond well to standard antifungal treatments. Researchers used advanced laboratory techniques combined with computer analysis to better identify this fungus from MALDI-TOF spectra, which is a quick fingerprinting method for microorganisms. The study showed that machine learning could accurately distinguish this problematic fungus from similar species and found specific markers that could help clinics detect it faster, potentially improving patient treatment outcomes.

Disease: dermatophytosis