dimorphic fungi – mycolab.ai

Sporothrix is neglected among the neglected

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Sporotrichosis is a fungal infection caused by Sporothrix species that usually affects the skin but can spread to joints, lungs, and eyes. While traditionally spread through plant material during gardening, the disease has increasingly spread between cats and humans through bites and scratches, particularly in South America and other regions. The fungus is developing resistance to common antifungal drugs, and scientists worry climate change could expand where this disease occurs worldwide.

Key Fungal Secreted Proteases in Coccidioidomycosis

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Researchers studied how a dangerous fungus called Coccidioides causes disease by examining special proteins called proteases that the fungus secretes. They found that blocking these proteases prevented the fungus from forming the spherule structures that allow it to spread inside infected people. This discovery could lead to new treatments for coccidioidomycosis, a serious infection that affects people in the Southwest United States.

Photo Quiz: A cutaneous fungal infection with discordant biomarker results—a diagnostic challenge

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This case describes a woman with advanced HIV who developed a serious fungal infection called histoplasmosis affecting her skin, lungs, and lymph nodes. Diagnosis was challenging because standard fungal blood tests came back negative, but careful examination of samples and specialized testing confirmed Histoplasma capsulatum. The patient was successfully treated with antifungal medications, highlighting the importance of not relying solely on negative tests when clinical suspicion is high.

Aspartyl protease MfSAP2 is a key virulence factor in mycelial form of skin fungi Malassezia furfur

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Malassezia furfur is a common skin fungus that can change from round yeast cells to thread-like filaments. When it becomes thread-like, it produces a special enzyme called MfSAP2 that damages the proteins holding together the dead skin cells that form our skin’s protective barrier. This damage may be responsible for the patches and discoloration seen in pityriasis versicolor, a common skin condition.

The impact of osteoarticular invasion by Coccidioides Sp disseminated infection

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A 48-year-old man from Mexico developed a serious fungal infection caused by Coccidioides, which spread from his lungs to his skin, bones, and joints, causing pain and swelling. Despite having a normally functioning immune system, he developed progressive disease that was initially misdiagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis. After switching to the antifungal medication fluconazole, his condition improved dramatically, with symptoms resolving within several months of treatment.

A case of Blastomyces helicus pneumonia in a dog from a non-endemic region: diagnostic challenges and successful treatment outcome

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A dog from Colorado developed a severe respiratory infection that was initially mistaken for a bacterial pneumonia. After antibiotics failed to help, advanced testing revealed the dog had a fungal infection caused by Blastomyces helicus, a rare fungus found in western North America. The dog was successfully treated with an antifungal medication called itraconazole and made a complete recovery within six months, demonstrating the importance of considering fungal infections when standard treatments fail.

Current taxonomic status of the cultivable and uncultivable Paracoccidioides species

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Paracoccidioides are fungi that cause serious infections in humans and dolphins. Scientists have recently reorganized and renamed these fungi into five different species—three that can be grown in labs and two that cannot. Some previously named species turned out to be invalid due to naming rule violations. This article explains the correct names and classifications that doctors and researchers should use.

Targeted long-read sequencing analysis and antifungal susceptibility profiles of Sporothrix schenckii isolates from Thailand

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Researchers in Thailand studied a fungal infection called sporotrichosis that affects both cats and people. They used advanced DNA sequencing technology to identify the specific type of fungus and understand how it’s related to similar fungi found in other parts of the world. They also tested how well common antifungal medications work against these fungi and found that some isolates are becoming harder to treat.

Data analysis of patients with positive mould or dimorphic fungal cultures from sterile sites

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This study examined 48 patients with serious mould and fungal infections at a South African hospital between 2014-2017. Most infections occurred in people with weak immune systems, especially those with HIV. The most common fungal type was Aspergillus. Even with appropriate antifungal medicines, one-quarter of patients died, highlighting how serious these infections can be.

Photo Quiz: Asteroid bodies in a skin biopsy of a farmer

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A farmer developed nodular skin lesions two weeks after a wrist injury during farming activities, which turned out to be sporotrichosis, a fungal infection caused by Sporothrix globosa. Skin biopsy revealed characteristic structures called asteroid bodies that helped suggest the diagnosis. The infection was confirmed through fungal culture and DNA testing, and was successfully treated with potassium iodide over six months.

Research Keyword: dimorphic fungi