vulvovaginal candidiasis

Fungal Drug Discovery for Chronic Disease: History, New Discoveries and New Approaches

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This article examines how fungi have provided humanity with some of the most important medicines ever created, including penicillin, drugs that prevent organ rejection, and cholesterol-lowering statins. Many of these fungal compounds work as medicines because they target processes that are similar in both fungi and humans, helping them survive competition with other fungi while coincidentally treating human diseases. New researchers are now using modern genetic tools to discover additional fungal medicines, with several promising candidates currently being tested in clinical trials for cancer, depression, and other chronic diseases.

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 a spice-derived essential oil called Bunium persicum and two of its active compounds to see if they could work better with the antifungal drug fluconazole against drug-resistant yeast infections. They found that one component called cuminaldehyde was particularly effective and worked synergistically with fluconazole, meaning the combination was more powerful than either treatment alone. These natural compounds could potentially help treat fungal infections that no longer respond to standard medications, offering a promising approach using plant-based remedies alongside conventional drugs.

Addressing Critical Fungal Pathogens Under a One Health Perspective: Key Insights from the Portuguese Association of Medical Mycology

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Four dangerous fungal species pose growing threats to human health worldwide, especially for people with weakened immune systems. Portugal’s medical experts have reviewed the current situation, finding these fungi increasingly resistant to treatment, present in hospitals and the environment, and occasionally spreading from animals to people. The review emphasizes the need for better testing, coordinated tracking systems, and approaches that consider human, animal, and environmental health together to combat this emerging crisis.

Development of reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification-based assay for rapid and specific detection of human fungal pathogen, Candida auris

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Researchers developed a new rapid test called RT-LAMP to detect Candida auris, a dangerous multidrug-resistant fungus that causes hospital infections. The test works by changing color from pink to yellow when the fungus is present, making it easy to read without special equipment. It is more sensitive and specific than current methods, can be done quickly at a single temperature, and costs much less than existing tests, making it ideal for hospitals and clinics with limited resources.

Impact of Clove Oil on Biofilm Formation in Candida albicans and Its Effects on Mice with Candida Vaginitis

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This research demonstrates that clove oil, a natural and FDA-approved dietary supplement, can effectively combat Candida albicans infections that cause vaginal yeast infections. The study found that clove oil works by preventing the fungus from forming protective biofilms and by reducing inflammation. In mice with vaginal yeast infections, clove oil treatment significantly improved symptoms and reduced fungal levels, suggesting it could serve as a safer alternative to conventional antifungal medications.

Spatial distribution of pathogenic fungal isolates from clinical samples in Uganda: Diagnostic gaps and trends, January 2020 – May 2024

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This study examined fungal infections detected in Uganda’s laboratories from 2020 to 2024, finding that common yeast infections called Candida were the most frequently identified. Most cases occurred in women aged 16-35 years, particularly in the cities of Kampala and Mbarara. The research reveals that Uganda’s laboratories can only identify two types of fungi and cannot test which medications work best against them, highlighting the need for better diagnostic tools and training.

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

mycolabadmin

Researchers studied how Bunium persicum essential oil and two of its active components work together with the antifungal drug fluconazole to fight resistant Candida yeast infections. They found that cuminaldehyde, one of the oil’s main components, was particularly effective when combined with fluconazole and could trigger yeast cell death. These natural compounds could offer a promising new approach to treating fungal infections that have become resistant to standard medications.

Impact of Clove Oil on Biofilm Formation in Candida albicans and Its Effects on Mice with Candida Vaginitis

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Clove oil, a common kitchen spice, shows promise as a treatment for vaginal yeast infections caused by Candida albicans. The oil contains eugenol, which blocks the fungus’s ability to form protective biofilms and reduces inflammation. In mouse studies, clove oil treatment decreased yeast infection symptoms and lowered inflammatory markers, suggesting it could be a safe, natural alternative to conventional antifungal drugs.

Molecular Identification of Candida Species among Iranian Patients: Pursuing Candida auris

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Researchers in Iran studied 136 hospital patients to identify different types of Candida fungal infections using a molecular laboratory technique called PCR-RFLP. They found that while Candida albicans remained the most common species, other Candida species were increasingly prevalent in hospitalized patients. The study developed a cost-effective diagnostic method that could help developing countries identify these fungal infections faster and more accurately, though the dangerous multidrug-resistant Candida auris was not found in their samples.

Antifungal persistence: Clinical relevance and mechanisms

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Some fungal infections don’t respond well to antifungal medications even though the fungi aren’t drug-resistant. This happens because a small percentage of fungal cells enter a dormant, low-energy state that protects them from being killed by the drugs. Understanding how these persistent cells survive and finding ways to target them could help prevent recurring fungal infections and improve treatment outcomes.

Disease: vulvovaginal candidiasis