antifungal therapy – Page 19

The protein kinases family in fungi: adaptability, virulence and conservation between species

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Protein kinases are cellular ‘switches’ that help fungi survive harsh conditions by regulating how cells make proteins and adapt to stress. A particularly important kinase called GCN2 acts as a sensor that detects when fungi lack amino acids, triggering a survival response that helps the fungus adapt and maintain pathogenicity. This review shows how understanding GCN2 could help scientists develop new antifungal drugs to treat fungal infections.

Co-Infection of Pulmonary Aspergillosis and Cryptococcal Meningitis in an HIV-Positive Patient: A Case Report

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This case describes a 46-year-old man with advanced HIV who developed two serious fungal infections simultaneously: a lung infection caused by Aspergillus fungus and meningitis caused by Cryptococcus fungus. Despite receiving appropriate antifungal medications, his condition worsened and he unfortunately died. The case highlights how people with very low immune cell counts are at high risk for multiple life-threatening fungal infections and emphasizes the importance of early HIV testing and screening for fungal infections.

A broad-spectrum anti-fungal effector dictates bacterial-fungal interkingdom interactions

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Scientists discovered that a common soil bacterium called Acidovorax citrulli has a sophisticated weapon to fight dangerous fungi. This bacterium uses a needle-like structure to inject a toxic protein called TseN directly into fungal cells, where it damages the fungal DNA and causes death. This new discovery is particularly exciting because it works against drug-resistant fungi like Candida auris that are increasingly hard to treat. Tests in mice confirmed that this bacterial attack significantly reduces fungal infections on skin.

Epidemiology and outcomes of Candida-associated osteoarticular infections: A multicentre retrospective study from Turkey

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Researchers in Turkey studied 73 patients with rare bone and joint infections caused by Candida fungi over 10 years. They found that about half of the infections were caused by species other than the common C. albicans, with some showing resistance to fluconazole antibiotics. Surgical procedures to clean out infected tissue significantly improved patient recovery, while patients with diabetes had worse outcomes and recovered less completely.

Chronic cavitary pulmonary histoplasmosis treated with isavuconazole after a hypersensitivity reaction to itraconazole

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A 68-year-old patient with a serious lung infection caused by Histoplasma fungus initially developed an allergic skin reaction to the standard medication itraconazole. Unable to use the typical treatment, doctors switched him to a newer antifungal drug called isavuconazole using a carefully controlled graded dose approach. The patient successfully tolerated the new medication and achieved complete resolution of his infection with sustained improvement, suggesting isavuconazole could be a viable alternative for similar patients.

The Prognostic Value of (1→3)-β-D-Glucan in COVID-19 Patients with and Without Secondary Fungal Disease

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During COVID-19, patients in intensive care sometimes develop dangerous fungal infections. Doctors use a blood test to measure a fungal marker called BDG to help diagnose these infections. This study found that even without confirmed fungal infection, high BDG levels predicted who would not survive, but giving antifungal medications improved survival even without proven infection.

Schizophyllum radiatum: An uncommon culprit of invasive fungal rhinosinusitis in an immunocompetent patient – A case report from India

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A 32-year-old healthy woman in India developed a serious fungal infection in her sinuses caused by an extremely rare fungus called Schizophyllum radiatum. Standard laboratory tests could not identify the fungus due to its unusual characteristics, so doctors used advanced DNA sequencing to confirm the diagnosis. After surgery to remove the infected material and treatment with antifungal medication, the patient fully recovered, marking this as likely the first documented case of this type of infection in India.

Rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis in diabetic ketoacidosis: A classic clinical presentation still unknown in Senegal

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A young woman in Senegal with uncontrolled diabetes developed a serious fungal infection affecting her eye and brain caused by Rhizopus oryzae. Despite showing classic warning signs like swelling and tissue death, the infection was not diagnosed quickly enough, and the necessary antifungal medication (amphotericin B) was not available, resulting in her death within three days. This case highlights how invasive fungal infections are underrecognized and undertreated in Africa due to limited laboratory capacity and drug availability.

Breaking down biofilms across critical priority fungal pathogens: proteomics and computational innovation for mechanistic insights and new target discovery

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Fungal infections like cryptococcal meningitis and invasive aspergillosis are becoming increasingly difficult to treat because fungi form protective structures called biofilms that resist our current medications. Researchers are using advanced techniques like mass spectrometry to identify the proteins that help fungi build these biofilms, combined with artificial intelligence tools to design new drugs that could break down these protective shields. This combined approach offers hope for developing better antifungal treatments that could save millions of lives.

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.

Research Keyword: antifungal therapy