Molecular epidemiology

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

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Four dangerous fungal species pose growing threats to human health worldwide, especially for people with weakened immune systems. Portugal’s medical experts have reviewed the current situation, finding these fungi increasingly resistant to treatment, present in hospitals and the environment, and occasionally spreading from animals to people. The review emphasizes the need for better testing, coordinated tracking systems, and approaches that consider human, animal, and environmental health together to combat this emerging crisis.

Prevalence and antifungal susceptibility profiles of Candida isolates among patients with candiduria: a multiplex PCR assay

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Researchers studied urinary tract infections caused by yeast (Candida species) in hospitalized patients. Using advanced molecular testing, they found that while the common yeast Candida albicans was most prevalent, other yeast species were increasingly showing resistance to antifungal medications, particularly to fluconazole. The study highlights the importance of identifying which specific yeast species is causing an infection to choose the most effective treatment.

Prevalence and antifungal susceptibility profiles of Candida isolates among patients with candiduria: a multiplex PCR assay

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This study examined Candida yeast infections in urine samples from hospitalized patients in Iran. Researchers identified seven different Candida species using a specialized PCR test and tested how well they responded to three antifungal medications. They found that while Candida albicans was most common, other species showed much higher resistance to fluconazole treatment. The findings highlight the importance of proper species identification for choosing the right treatment.

Molecular Identification of Candida Species among Iranian Patients: Pursuing Candida auris

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Researchers in Iran studied 136 hospital patients to identify different types of Candida fungal infections using a molecular laboratory technique called PCR-RFLP. They found that while Candida albicans remained the most common species, other Candida species were increasingly prevalent in hospitalized patients. The study developed a cost-effective diagnostic method that could help developing countries identify these fungal infections faster and more accurately, though the dangerous multidrug-resistant Candida auris was not found in their samples.

Detection of Multiple Nosocomial Trichosporon asahii Transmission Events via Microsatellite Typing Assay, South America

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Researchers developed a test to identify different strains of a dangerous fungus called Trichosporon asahii that causes serious infections in hospitals. Using this test on samples from South America, they discovered that multiple patients in different hospitals were infected with genetically identical strains, suggesting the fungus was spreading between patients. This typing method is faster and cheaper than other genetic tests, making it useful for hospitals in countries with limited resources to track and control fungal outbreaks.

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.

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 by using advanced DNA sequencing technology to identify the exact species and understand how different strains are related to each other. They found that while current treatment options work, some strains are becoming resistant to the main drug used (itraconazole). The study shows that a newer, faster DNA sequencing method can be just as reliable as traditional methods for identifying these dangerous fungi and tracking how they spread between cats and humans.

Detection of Multiple Nosocomial Trichosporon asahii Transmission Events via Microsatellite Typing Assay, South America

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Researchers developed a new genetic fingerprinting test to track and identify outbreaks of a dangerous fungal infection called Trichosporon asahii in hospitals across South America. The test uses microsatellite markers to create a detailed genetic profile of different fungal isolates, making it much better at detecting when infections spread from patient to patient compared to older methods. This discovery revealed multiple hidden disease clusters in hospitals, including one that occurred over 13 years, highlighting the importance of this new surveillance tool for hospital infection control.

Mapping Histoplasma spp. in bats and cave ecosystems: evidence from midwestern Brazil

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Researchers studied caves in Brazil to find where a fungus called Histoplasma that causes histoplasmosis disease is located. They tested soil from caves and tested bats that live in these caves. They found the fungus in about 20% of cave soil samples and in one-third of the bats tested. Multiple bat species were carriers of the fungus, and researchers even found it in bat brains for the first time.

Prevalence and antifungal susceptibility profiles of Candida isolates among patients with candiduria: a multiplex PCR assay

mycolabadmin

Researchers studied fungal infections in urine samples from hospitalized patients and found that while the common yeast Candida albicans was most prevalent, other Candida species were increasingly resistant to antifungal medications. Using advanced genetic testing methods, they identified seven different Candida species and tested their resistance to three common antifungal drugs. The findings highlight the growing problem of drug-resistant fungal infections and the need for better diagnostic tools to identify which species is causing infection so appropriate treatment can be selected.

Research Keyword: Molecular epidemiology