fungal infection – Page 4

A Case Report of Candidiasis Cellulitis in Long-Term Corticosteroid Use

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A 54-year-old man developed a serious hand infection caused by Candida albicans, a yeast that normally lives harmlessly on human skin. The infection occurred because he had been taking large doses of corticosteroid injections for 15 years to help with breathing problems, which weakened his immune system. Doctors drained the infected area and treated him with antifungal medication, and he recovered completely, highlighting the importance of recognizing fungal infections in patients on long-term steroid therapy.

Phospholipase PlcH is involved in the secretion of cell wall glycoproteins and contributes to the host immune response of Aspergillus fumigatus

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Researchers discovered that an enzyme called PlcH helps a dangerous mold called Aspergillus fumigatus release protective proteins into its cell wall. These proteins help the fungus survive and evade the immune system. When scientists removed the gene for PlcH, the fungus became weaker and more vulnerable to both antifungal drugs and immune cells, suggesting PlcH could be a target for new antifungal treatments.

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.

Extensive erythematous plaques of fungal origin in an overseas student: Cutaneous manifestation of coccidioidomycosis

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A 21-year-old student studying in Arizona developed unusual skin rashes months after returning to China. Doctors had difficulty diagnosing the condition because it lacked typical symptoms of the fungal infection coccidioidomycosis. By using multiple diagnostic methods including DNA sequencing and fungal culture, they identified the infection as caused by Coccidioides posadasii. When the initial antifungal drug didn’t work, testing showed the fungus was resistant, so they switched to a different antifungal called voriconazole, which successfully cured the infection after 12 months.

Successful management of Lomentospora prolificans septic arthritis and osteomyelitis in an immunocompetent child: A case report

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A 3-year-old healthy child developed a serious fungal bone and joint infection in the elbow after surgery to repair a broken arm bone. The fungus, called Lomentospora prolificans, is extremely resistant to most medications and can lead to limb amputation. Doctors saved the child’s arm by combining multiple approaches: repeated surgeries to clean out infected tissue, three different antifungal medications taken together, special antibiotic-loaded bone cement placed in the elbow, and antiseptic wound washing. After six months of treatment, the infection was cured and the child could use their arm again.

Immunometabolic reprogramming in macrophages infected with active and dormant Cryptococcus neoformans: differential modulation of respiration, glycolysis, and fatty acid utilization

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Researchers discovered that when fungal yeast cells enter a dormant state inside immune cells, they trigger different metabolic changes compared to actively growing yeast. While active yeast pushes immune cells to work harder metabolically, dormant yeast causes minimal stress but increases fat uptake by immune cells. This difference may explain how some fungal infections can remain hidden in the body for long periods without causing symptoms.

Abscisic Acid Metabolizing Rhodococcus sp. Counteracts Phytopathogenic Effects of Abscisic Acid Producing Botrytis sp. on Sunflower Seedlings

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Scientists discovered that a beneficial soil bacterium can protect sunflower plants from a harmful fungus by eating the toxin the fungus produces. The fungus normally weakens plant defenses by producing a chemical called abscisic acid, but the bacterium metabolizes this chemical and prevents it from harming the plant. This approach works without the bacterium directly killing the fungus, offering a new way to protect crops from disease.

Rhinocerebral Mucormycosis in a Patient With Diabetes: A Rare but Critical Infection in the United Arab Emirates

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A middle-aged man with undiagnosed diabetes developed a serious fungal infection called mucormycosis that affected his sinuses, eyes, and brain. He presented with flu-like symptoms and facial weakness, and blood tests showed dangerously high blood sugar and acid levels (diabetic ketoacidosis). Doctors treated him with multiple rounds of antifungal medications, several surgeries, and innovative injections directly into and around his eyes and spinal cord, resulting in his successful recovery and discharge.

Immunometabolic reprogramming in macrophages infected with active and dormant Cryptococcus neoformans: differential modulation of respiration, glycolysis, and fatty acid utilization

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This research examines how immune cells (macrophages) respond differently to active versus dormant forms of a dangerous fungus called Cryptococcus neoformans. The dormant form causes the immune cells to accumulate fatty acids differently than the active fungus, which may help the fungus establish long-term infections. Understanding these differences could lead to better treatments for cryptococcal infections, which are particularly dangerous for immunocompromised individuals.

Disease: fungal infection