antifungal resistance – Page 18

Unlocking the potential of experimental evolution to study drug resistance in pathogenic fungi

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Fungal infections are becoming harder to treat as fungi develop resistance to antifungal drugs. This review explains how scientists can use experimental evolution—growing fungi in controlled laboratory conditions while exposing them to drugs—to understand how and why resistance develops. By studying these evolutionary processes and using mathematical models to predict outcomes, researchers can develop better treatment strategies, including combination therapies and drug cycling approaches to prevent resistance from emerging.

Brown locusts, Locustana pardalina, host fluconazole-resistant Candidozyma (Candida) auris, closely related to Clade III clinical strains

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Researchers discovered that brown locusts in South Africa can carry a dangerous drug-resistant fungus called Candida auris in their digestive systems. This fungus, which causes serious infections in hospitals and is resistant to the antifungal drug fluconazole, may use locusts as a way to spread to humans or other environments. The study suggests that insects could play an important role in how dangerous fungi emerge and spread globally, particularly in warm climates where locusts thrive.

Recognizing the Importance of Public Health Mycology

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This editorial highlights how fungal infections are a growing but overlooked global health crisis, killing about 2.5 million people annually. The paper brings together seven research articles studying different fungal diseases, from lung infections to skin conditions, showing how these diseases spread differently in different populations and how resistance to antifungal medications is increasing. The authors emphasize that better testing, treatment access, and worldwide disease tracking are urgently needed, especially in poorer countries where the burden of fungal disease is highest.

Moving beyond multi-triazole to multi-fungicide resistance: Broader selection of drug resistance in the human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus

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Aspergillus fumigatus is a dangerous fungal infection treated with triazole drugs, but the fungus is developing resistance to multiple antifungal medications. This resistance appears to be selected in agricultural settings where fungicides are used on crops, and resistant strains then spread to humans through the air. The problem is worse because agricultural fungicides are selecting for strains resistant to multiple drug classes at once, making infections harder to treat. Addressing this issue requires reducing fungicide use in agriculture and better strategies for managing antifungal resistance.

New approaches to tackle a rising problem: Large-scale methods to study antifungal resistance

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Fungal infections are becoming increasingly resistant to antifungal drugs, creating a serious public health challenge. Scientists are using advanced genetic sequencing and laboratory techniques to understand how fungi develop drug resistance and identify the specific genetic changes responsible. By cataloging resistance mutations and creating shared databases, researchers aim to develop better diagnostic tests and treatment strategies to combat these dangerous infections.

Overexpression of efflux pump and biofilm associated genes in itraconazole resistant Candida albicans isolates causing onychomycosis

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This study examined why some fungal nail infections caused by Candida albicans don’t respond to itraconazole treatment. Researchers found that resistant fungi have higher levels of genes that pump the antifungal drug out of their cells and genes that help them form protective biofilm layers. These findings suggest that combining itraconazole with drugs that block these pumps or disrupt biofilms could be more effective for treating stubborn fungal nail infections.

Itraconazole resistance in Madurella fahalii linked to a distinct homolog of the gene encoding cytochrome P450 14-α sterol demethylase (CYP51)

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A fungal infection called mycetoma caused by Madurella fahalii doesn’t respond to a common antifungal drug called itraconazole. Researchers discovered that this fungus has an extra gene that produces a protein that resists the drug, which isn’t found in a similar fungus that remains susceptible. This finding could help develop better treatments for mycetoma patients in the future.

Evaluation of Antifungal Activity Against Candida albicans Isolates From HIV-Positive Patients with Oral Candidiasis in a Major Referral Hospital, West Java, Indonesia

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This study examined fungal infections in HIV-positive patients’ mouths at an Indonesian hospital. Researchers identified which Candida species caused the infections and tested how well common antifungal medications worked against them. They found that while a specific antifungal drug (fluconazole) was effective in most cases, some infections showed resistance, suggesting the need for careful monitoring and personalized treatment approaches.

Pan-Indian Clinical Registry of Invasive Fungal Infections Among Patients in the Intensive Care Unit: Protocol for a Multicentric Prospective Study

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Fungal infections are a serious hidden threat in hospital intensive care units, particularly for patients with weakened immune systems. This study establishes India’s first comprehensive database system to track fungal infections across 8 major medical centers nationwide. By collecting detailed information about these infections and how they respond to treatments, the research aims to help doctors diagnose and treat fungal infections faster and more effectively. The findings will guide better clinical practices and public health policies to combat these often-neglected but deadly infections.

Geotrichosis Due to Magnusiomyces capitatus: A Severe Emerging Invasive Fungal Disease

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A 71-year-old cancer patient receiving chemotherapy developed a severe blood infection caused by a rare fungus called Magnusiomyces capitatus. This emerging fungal infection caused septic shock and multiple organ failure despite treatment with antifungal medications. The case highlights how these rare fungi can be deadly in patients with weakened immune systems and emphasizes the importance of quick, accurate identification using advanced laboratory techniques to guide treatment decisions.

Research Topic: antifungal resistance