Invasive fungal infections – Page 4

Tailoring mRNA lipid nanoparticles for antifungal vaccines

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Researchers are exploring mRNA vaccines, similar to those used for COVID-19, as a new approach to prevent fungal infections. These vaccines use fatty particles called lipid nanoparticles to deliver instructions to cells on how to make fungal proteins, triggering an immune response. The review discusses how to optimize these vaccines, what challenges need to be overcome, and why they might be especially useful for people with weakened immune systems who are most vulnerable to serious fungal infections.

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 serious complication in hospitalized patients, especially those receiving steroids and other immune-suppressing treatments. Common fungal pathogens like Candida and Aspergillus caused dangerous coinfections, with infection rates varying significantly by region. Current antifungal medications have significant limitations including toxicity and resistance, highlighting the urgent need for new and safer antifungal treatments.

Informing the World Health Organization Fungal Priority Pathogens List (WHO-FPPL): A collection of systematic reviews

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The World Health Organization created a priority list of dangerous fungal infections affecting millions of people globally each year. Experts reviewed 19 different fungal pathogens and ranked them by how dangerous they are and how much they need research and treatment development. The list identifies which fungal infections should get the most attention from doctors, researchers, and public health officials to improve patient outcomes and reduce deaths.

Time- and temperature-dependent Pentraxin 3 stability in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples

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Researchers tested how well Pentraxin 3, a protein that helps detect fungal infections, stays stable when stored under different conditions. They found that this protein remains reliable when kept frozen at cold temperatures (like in a freezer) for up to several months or even years, but breaks down quickly when stored at body temperature. These findings help doctors and laboratories know how to properly store and test patient samples to accurately diagnose serious fungal infections.

Pathogenic mucorales: Deciphering their cell wall polysaccharidome and immunostimulatory potential

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Researchers studied three dangerous fungi that cause serious infections called mucormycosis. They examined the outer coating of these fungi, called the cell wall, which is made of sugar-like molecules called polysaccharides. When these fungi were exposed to human immune cells, they triggered strong inflammatory responses. Understanding these fungal components could help develop better treatments and vaccines for this life-threatening infection.

Epidemiology of mucormycosis in COVID-19 patients in northwest Iran: Rhizopus arrhizus as the predominant species

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, a dangerous fungal infection called mucormycosis was found in 63 patients in northwestern Iran. The infection was caused mainly by a fungus called Rhizopus arrhizus and most commonly affected the sinuses and brain. Most patients had been given high-dose steroids to treat their COVID-19, which weakened their immune systems and increased their risk of this serious fungal infection, especially those with diabetes.

Strengthening Fungal Infection Diagnosis and Treatment: An In-depth Analysis of Capabilities in Honduras

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This study examined how well healthcare facilities in Honduras can diagnose and treat serious fungal infections. Researchers surveyed laboratories and hospitals to find out what diagnostic tools and antifungal medications were available. The findings showed that while basic tests like microscopy were common, advanced techniques were rare, and many important antifungal drugs were difficult to access. The study recommends improving training, building better laboratories, and making essential medications more available.

ESCMID-EFISG Survey on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Capacity for Invasive Fungal Infections in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg: A Focus on High Azole Resistance

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This survey examined how well hospitals in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg can diagnose and treat serious fungal infections, which are particularly dangerous for people with weakened immune systems. The researchers found that while most hospitals can test fungal samples, not all have access to all necessary diagnostic tools, especially tests for detecting resistant fungi and identifying fungal co-infections. Many hospitals outsource their testing to other facilities, which can delay diagnosis and treatment, and some hospitals lack access to all recommended antifungal medications.

Enhancing antifungal stewardship: The educational and healthcare benefits of involving pharmacy students in audits

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This study examined how pharmacy students could help improve the use of fluconazole, a common antifungal medication, in hospitals. Researchers found that nearly one-third of fluconazole prescriptions were not being used appropriately. By having pharmacy students participate in reviewing prescriptions under expert supervision, hospitals could better identify problems and educate future pharmacists, while the students gained valuable real-world experience in patient care.

Multi-omics Analysis of Experimentally Evolved Candida auris Isolates Reveals Modulation of Sterols, Sphingolipids, and Oxidative Stress in Acquired Amphotericin B Resistance

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Researchers studied how the fungus Candida auris develops resistance to amphotericin B, an important antifungal drug. By evolving two laboratory strains of this fungus under drug pressure, they discovered two different ways the fungus can become resistant: one through stress management genes, the other through changes in its protective lipids. These findings help explain why some clinical infections with this dangerous fungus are so hard to treat.

Disease: Invasive fungal infections