molecular diagnosis – mycolab.ai

Fungal keratitis complicating the diagnosis of Acanthamoeba keratitis

mycolabadmin

A 42-year-old farmer presented with a severe eye infection that was initially misdiagnosed as a viral infection caused by herpes simplex virus. When antiviral treatment failed, doctors discovered the patient had a fungal infection caused by Fusarium. However, advanced testing revealed she actually had a dual infection with both the fungus and a microscopic parasite called Acanthamoeba. The patient required corneal transplant surgery and combination therapy with multiple medications to control the infection and preserve vision.

Inappropriate treatment of pulmonary aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus flavus in susceptible pediatric patients: a case series

mycolabadmin

This case series describes three children in Iran who developed serious lung infections caused by a fungal organism called Aspergillus flavus. Tragically, two of the three children died because their infections were diagnosed too late and they did not receive appropriate antifungal medications. The study emphasizes that children with weakened immune systems need quick diagnosis and proper antifungal treatment to survive these dangerous fungal infections.

Clinical and Molecular Characterization of Feline Sporotrichosis in the Brazilian Amazon: PCR-Based Identification of Sporothrix brasiliensis

mycolabadmin

This research studied a fungal disease called sporotrichosis that affects cats in the Brazilian Amazon and can spread to humans. Most infected cats were young males that roamed freely outdoors and had skin lesions on their faces and paws. Researchers tested different laboratory methods to identify the fungus and found that a specific technique extracted DNA best. They confirmed that Sporothrix brasiliensis was the cause and tested how well common antifungal medications work against it, finding that some drugs work better than others.

Multicenter performance evaluation of the “quanty TOXO (RH region)” kit (Clonit) for molecular diagnosis of toxoplasmosis

mycolabadmin

Researchers from seven French hospitals tested a commercial DNA test kit called “quanty TOXO” that detects Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite causing serious infections in pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems. The kit performed well overall, correctly identifying infection in nearly 95% of positive cases and showing no false positives. However, the test sometimes missed infections when parasite levels were very low, suggesting doctors should run tests twice to increase detection chances.

Extensive erythematous plaques of fungal origin in an overseas student: Cutaneous manifestation of coccidioidomycosis

mycolabadmin

A 21-year-old student studying in Arizona developed unusual skin rashes months after returning to China. Doctors had difficulty diagnosing the condition because it lacked typical symptoms of the fungal infection coccidioidomycosis. By using multiple diagnostic methods including DNA sequencing and fungal culture, they identified the infection as caused by Coccidioides posadasii. When the initial antifungal drug didn’t work, testing showed the fungus was resistant, so they switched to a different antifungal called voriconazole, which successfully cured the infection after 12 months.

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

mycolabadmin

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.

Controlled inoculation provides insight into western redcedar resistance to multiple root- and butt-rot pathogens

mycolabadmin

Western redcedar is an economically important tree species suffering from fungal diseases that cause wood decay and significant financial losses. Researchers developed controlled methods to test how resistant young redcedar trees are to eight different decay fungi, finding that some fungi are much more damaging than others. Importantly, they discovered that some infections remain hidden without visible symptoms but still harm tree growth, and these hidden infections can be detected using advanced DNA-based methods. This research will help forest managers and breeders develop redcedar varieties with better disease resistance.

When Emerging Fungal Infections Mimic Tuberculosis: First Reported Case of Invasive Emergomyces europaeus Infection in a Man With Immunocompromise Living in France

mycolabadmin

A 65-year-old man living in France who received a kidney transplant developed a serious fungal infection caused by Emergomyces europaeus, a rare fungus that initially appeared to be tuberculosis. Doctors used advanced genetic testing to identify the unusual fungus in samples from his lungs and bone marrow. The patient was treated with a combination of antifungal medications, which successfully cleared the infection. This is the first time this particular fungal infection has been documented in France and highlights how emerging infections can mimic more common diseases.

Research Keyword: molecular diagnosis