Research Keyword: echinocandins

Caspofungin therapy in prosthetic valve endocarditis and candidemia due to itraconazole-resistant Candida glabrata (Nakaseomyces glabratus): A case report

A 13-year-old boy developed a serious fungal infection of his heart valve after receiving an artificial valve replacement. The initial antibiotic (itraconazole) did not work because the fungus became resistant, likely by forming a protective biofilm. After identifying the resistant fungus through specialized testing, doctors switched to a different medication called caspofungin. The patient fully recovered with this new treatment and remained healthy during follow-up, showing that combination of precise identification and targeted treatment can overcome antibiotic resistance.

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A zinc-chelating cyclic alkyl polyamine compound is efficient and safe in a murine model of multidrug-resistant Candida auris infection

Researchers tested a new drug called APC6 that works by trapping zinc, which fungi need to survive. In mouse studies of a dangerous resistant fungus called Candida auris, APC6 saved all treated mice while most untreated mice died. The drug also reduced fungal infections in organs without causing serious side effects, suggesting it could become a new treatment option for serious fungal infections resistant to current medicines.

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Breaking down the wall: Solid-state NMR illuminates how fungi build and remodel diverse cell walls

Scientists have developed a new technique called solid-state NMR that can examine fungal cell walls without damaging them, revealing how these structures are built and reorganized. This research shows that different fungi have different wall architectures made of sugar-like molecules including chitin and various glucans, and that fungi can quickly adapt their walls when exposed to antifungal drugs. These findings could help develop better antifungal treatments by targeting the specific structural features that different fungi rely on for survival.

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Invasive Candidiasis in Contexts of Armed Conflict, High Violence, and Forced Displacement in Latin America and the Caribbean (2005–2025)

This comprehensive review examines candida fungal infections in conflict-affected areas of Latin America and the Caribbean, where wars, violence, and displacement create dangerous conditions that make infections more likely and harder to treat. In these regions, mortality from candida bloodstream infections reaches 65% or higher among displaced populations, compared to about 45-60% in regular hospitals. The main problems are lack of proper diagnostic equipment, limited access to effective antifungal medications, malnutrition, overcrowding in shelters, and the emergence of drug-resistant fungal strains.

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