antifungal resistance – Page 21

Dermatophyte Treatment Failure: A Rapid Global Response to an Emerging Global Health Issue

mycolabadmin

Fungal skin infections affect nearly a billion people worldwide and are becoming increasingly difficult to treat due to growing resistance to common antifungal medications. A new species of fungus called T. indotineae, particularly resistant to the popular antifungal drug terbinafine, is spreading globally from India. To combat this emerging health crisis, doctors and health organizations are working together to create global registries and surveillance programs to track resistant infections and develop better treatment strategies.

Vesicle inhibition reduces Candida biofilm resistance

mycolabadmin

Researchers found that common FDA-approved drugs designed to block vesicle production in human cells can also reduce the protective matrix that Candida fungus builds around itself in biofilms. By combining these vesicle-blocking drugs with the antifungal fluconazole, the scientists were able to kill biofilm-forming Candida more effectively than either treatment alone. This discovery suggests a new approach to treating stubborn fungal infections on medical devices like catheters, potentially eliminating the need to surgically remove infected equipment.

Safety and Efficacy of a 48-Month Efinaconazole 10% Solution Treatment/Maintenance Regimen: 24-Month Daily Use Followed by 24-Month Intermittent Use

mycolabadmin

Researchers studied a 4-year treatment plan for toenail fungal infections using efinaconazole, an antifungal solution applied daily for 2 years, then 2-3 times weekly for another 2 years. The treatment was safe and effective, with all patients who achieved a cure maintaining it through the maintenance phase, and even some non-cured patients improving further. The study included many elderly patients, showing the treatment is safe across all age groups and could help prevent infection relapse.

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

mycolabadmin

This comprehensive study by Portugal’s mycology experts examines four dangerous fungi that cause severe infections: Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida auris, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans. The research shows that Portugal’s hospitals have varying capabilities to diagnose and treat these infections, with some laboratories well-equipped and others lacking advanced diagnostic tools. The study found concerning increases in antifungal resistance and highlights that these fungi live in hospitals, water systems, soil, and even animals, emphasizing the need for integrated approaches connecting human, animal, and environmental health to better protect public health.

Unlocking the potential of experimental evolution to study drug resistance in pathogenic fungi

mycolabadmin

Fungal infections are becoming harder to treat as fungi develop resistance to antifungal drugs. This review explains how scientists can use experimental evolution—growing fungi in controlled laboratory conditions while exposing them to drugs—to understand how and why resistance develops. By studying these evolutionary processes and using mathematical models to predict outcomes, researchers can develop better treatment strategies, including combination therapies and drug cycling approaches to prevent resistance from emerging.

Recognizing the Importance of Public Health Mycology

mycolabadmin

This editorial highlights how fungal infections are a growing but overlooked global health crisis, killing about 2.5 million people annually. The paper brings together seven research articles studying different fungal diseases, from lung infections to skin conditions, showing how these diseases spread differently in different populations and how resistance to antifungal medications is increasing. The authors emphasize that better testing, treatment access, and worldwide disease tracking are urgently needed, especially in poorer countries where the burden of fungal disease is highest.

Comparative gene expression analysis in closely related dermatophytes reveals secondary metabolism as a candidate driver of virulence

mycolabadmin

A strain of fungal skin pathogen (Trichophyton benhamiae var. luteum) is spreading rapidly among guinea pigs and people in Europe, but scientists didn’t understand why it was more contagious than closely related strains. Researchers compared gene activity in four related fungal species and found that the epidemic strain produces higher levels of toxic compounds called secondary metabolites. These compounds help the fungus escape the body’s immune system and cause infection more effectively than in less dangerous relatives.

De Novo Genome Assembly and Comparative Genome Analysis of the Novel Human Fungal Pathogen Trichosporon austroamericanum Type-Strain CBS 17435

mycolabadmin

Scientists sequenced the complete genome of a dangerous fungal species called Trichosporon austroamericanum that can cause serious infections in humans, particularly transplant patients. Using advanced long-read sequencing technology, they assembled the organism’s 21 million base pair genome and compared it to a closely related fungal species. The analysis showed this species is genetically distinct and has interesting characteristics that help it survive at higher temperatures than most other fungi. This genetic information will help doctors and researchers better understand and treat infections caused by this emerging pathogenic yeast.

Antifungal Activity of Selected Naphthoquinones and Their Synergistic Combination with Amphotericin B Against Cryptococcus neoformans H99

mycolabadmin

Scientists tested five synthetic compounds called naphthoquinones to see if they could fight a serious fungal infection called cryptococcosis. They found that one compound called 2-MNQ worked well against the fungus and was even more effective when combined with a standard antifungal drug (amphotericin B). The combination was strong enough to potentially allow lower doses of the existing drug, which could reduce side effects while improving treatment outcomes.

Moving beyond multi-triazole to multi-fungicide resistance: Broader selection of drug resistance in the human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus

mycolabadmin

Aspergillus fumigatus is a dangerous fungal infection treated with triazole drugs, but the fungus is developing resistance to multiple antifungal medications. This resistance appears to be selected in agricultural settings where fungicides are used on crops, and resistant strains then spread to humans through the air. The problem is worse because agricultural fungicides are selecting for strains resistant to multiple drug classes at once, making infections harder to treat. Addressing this issue requires reducing fungicide use in agriculture and better strategies for managing antifungal resistance.

Research Keyword: antifungal resistance