Research Keyword: mycology

Fungal infections in burn patients: The rise of Fusarium as the most prevalent in a burn center in Mexico City

Burn patients are at high risk for serious fungal infections that can cause death. This study from a Mexican burn hospital found that a fungus called Fusarium was the most common cause of these infections, affecting over half of patients with fungal infections. This finding differs from other parts of the world where Aspergillus is usually most common, suggesting that Mexican burn patients face unique fungal threats that doctors should watch for carefully.

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Fungi under fire: diagnostic capacities and antifungal availability in Peruvian healthcare facilities

This study examined how well Peruvian hospitals can diagnose and treat serious fungal infections across the country. Researchers surveyed 54 healthcare centers and found that while basic fungal tests are available everywhere, advanced diagnostic tools and certain antifungal medications are mostly limited to the capital city of Lima. The research identifies major gaps in care that need to be addressed to help more patients survive these serious infections.

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The first report of rhinosinusitis by Rhizopus delemar in a patient with severe COVID-19 in Iran: a case report

A 63-year-old man hospitalized with COVID-19 developed a serious fungal sinus infection caused by a rare mold called Rhizopus delemar. Despite surgery to remove infected tissue and treatment with antifungal medication amphotericin B, the infection spread and the patient died after five weeks. This was the first documented case of this particular mold causing sinus infection in a COVID-19 patient in Iran, highlighting how severe fungal infections can occur as dangerous complications of COVID-19.

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Candida krusei Empyema: A Lung Transplant Case and Systematic Review of the Literature

Candida krusei is a dangerous yeast that causes a serious lung infection called empyema, where pus collects around the lungs. This infection is particularly difficult to treat because the yeast is resistant to common antifungal drugs like fluconazole and can form protective biofilms. This systematic review identified only ten cases of this rare infection in the medical literature, showing how uncommon but serious it is, and found that patients need aggressive treatment with multiple antifungal medications combined with surgical drainage to survive.

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Rediscovery of viomellein as an antibacterial compound and identification of its biosynthetic gene cluster in dermatophytes

Researchers discovered that dermatophytes, fungi that cause common skin infections like athlete’s foot, produce a red pigment called viomellein that kills bacteria. By studying the genes responsible for making this compound, scientists found that most dermatophytes produce it, which may help explain how these fungi establish infections on skin despite the presence of protective bacteria. This discovery opens new possibilities for understanding skin infections and potentially developing new treatments.

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Isolation, (bio)synthetic studies and evaluation of antimicrobial properties of drimenol-type sesquiterpenes of Termitomyces fungi

Termite colonies farm a fungus called Termitomyces for food in an ancient partnership. Scientists discovered that the mushrooms produced by this fungus release distinctive chemical signals, particularly a compound called drimenol. By isolating and synthesizing these compounds, researchers found they have antimicrobial properties and may play a role in communicating between termites and their fungal crop or protecting mushrooms from infection.

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Biodiversity of Bacteria Associated with Eight Pleurotus ostreatus (Fr.) P. Kumm. Strains from Poland, Japan and the USA

Oyster mushrooms grown in different parts of the world carry diverse communities of bacteria living inside or on their cells. Researchers identified over 34 different types of bacteria in eight oyster mushroom strains from Poland, Japan, and the USA. These bacteria likely help the mushrooms break down wood and may protect them from diseases. This discovery shows that oyster mushrooms are not solitary organisms but rather complex ecosystems hosting beneficial bacterial partners.

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Deep Fungal Infection of the Skin with Two Rare Fungi in a Dog Being Treated with Immunosuppressant Therapy: A Case Report

An 8-year-old dog receiving long-term immunosuppressive medication for brain inflammation developed rare fungal skin infections caused by two unusual fungi not previously reported together in veterinary medicine. Diagnosis required multiple tests including tissue samples, staining techniques, and genetic testing. Despite treatment with antifungal medications and careful adjustment of immunosuppressive drugs, the infections did not improve, highlighting the difficult balance between fighting infections and controlling the underlying immune disease.

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Invasive Fungal Disease is Rare in Multiple Myeloma Patients Treated with BCMA CAR-T Therapy

Researchers studied patients with multiple myeloma who received a new type of cancer treatment called BCMA CAR-T cell therapy. While this powerful therapy can sometimes increase infection risk, the study found that serious fungal infections occurred in only a small percentage of patients (1.7%). However, when these fungal infections did occur, they were often severe and potentially life-threatening, particularly in patients who experienced significant side effects from the therapy.

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Successful management of Lomentospora prolificans septic arthritis and osteomyelitis in an immunocompetent child: A case report

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.

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