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New Perspectives on Sporothrix and Sporotrichosis
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New Perspectives on Sporothrix and Sporotrichosis

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungal Pathogenesis and Disease Control".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2024) | Viewed by 13341

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Maria Galhardo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Clinical Research in Infectious Dermatology, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INI), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil
Interests: mycosis; patient management; therapeutics; diagnosis; molecular epidemiology; translational medicine
Dr. Rodrigo Almeida-Paes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Mycology, Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INI), Oswaldo Cruz. Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, RJ, Brazil
Interests: mycosis; molecular diagnosis; serology; fungal identification; new antifungal drugs; therapy; translational medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, sporotrichosis has emerged as an important fungal infection in several countries from Latin America and Asia. In addition, the transmission of this mycosis through infected animals impacts not only the animal health, but also its expansion potential to areas where no cases are currently reported. Changes have also occurred in the epidemiology, etiology, and clinical manifestations. These aspects are strongly interconnected, with distinct species presenting different clinical aspects and antifungal susceptibility profiles. Together with the recent emergence of sporotrichosis, an increase in severe extracutaneous forms, rarely reported in the past century, is being observed. Currently, it is a challenge to diagnose, manage, and treat this group of patients as well as in domestic cats. Control and prevention of sporotrichosis is possible, but effective policies are not fully implemented in endemic areas. Therefore, new perspectives in the sporotrichosis field are necessary to improve survival and quality of life of human and animal patients. The purpose of this Special Issue is to highlight recent advances related to sporotrichosis and its etiologic agents. Therefore, this Special Issue will present new, important, and innovative research on this topic, which will help to deal with the current major challenges associated with this neglected disease, such as diagnosis and treatment, under the one health perspective.

Some of its focal points include but are not limited to the following:

  1. Cellular biology
  2. Epidemiology
  3. Sporothrix–host interactions
  4. Immunopathogenesis
  5. Animal sporotrichosis
  6. Diagnostic improvement
  7. Management of different clinical forms
  8. Treatment innovations
  9. Vaccine development
  10. One health

Reviews, original research, and communications will be welcome. 

Dr. Maria Clara Gutierrez Galhardo
Dr. Rodrigo Almeida-Paes
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Fungi is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 4219 KiB  
Article
Neutrophil Oxidative Burst Profile Is Related to a Satisfactory Response to Itraconazole and Clinical Cure in Feline Sporotrichosis
by Luisa Helena Monteiro de Miranda, Marta de Almeida Santiago, Julia Frankenfeld, Erica Guerino dos Reis, Rodrigo Caldas Menezes, Sandro Antonio Pereira, Isabella Dib Ferreira Gremião, Regina Hofmann-Lehmann and Fátima Conceição-Silva
J. Fungi 2024, 10(6), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10060422 - 14 Jun 2024
Viewed by 893
Abstract
Despite the central role of cats in the transmission and amplification of Sporothrix, studies regarding immune response in feline sporotrichosis are scarce. In cats with sporotrichosis, neutrophil-rich lesions are usually associated to good general condition and lower fungal burden. However, the role [...] Read more.
Despite the central role of cats in the transmission and amplification of Sporothrix, studies regarding immune response in feline sporotrichosis are scarce. In cats with sporotrichosis, neutrophil-rich lesions are usually associated to good general condition and lower fungal burden. However, the role of neutrophils in anti-Sporothrix immunity has been little explored in cats. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the neutrophil oxidative burst in the blood of cats with sporotrichosis. Cats with sporotrichosis included in the study were treated with itraconazole (ITZ) alone or combined with potassium iodide (KI). The neutrophil oxidative burst was evaluated through a flow-cytometry-based assay using dihydrorhodamine 123 (background) and stimulation with Zymosan and heat-killed Sporothrix yeasts. The cure rate was 50.0% in cats under treatment with ITZ monotherapy and 90.9% in cats treated with ITZ + KI (p = 0.014), endorsing the combination therapy as an excellent alternative for the treatment of feline sporotrichosis. Higher percentages of Sporothrix-stimulated neutrophils were associated with good general condition (p = 0.003). Higher percentages of Sporothrix- (p = 0.05) and Zymosan-activated (p = 0.014) neutrophils before and early in the treatment were related to clinical cure in ITZ-treated cats. The correlation between oxidative burst and successful use of KI could not be properly assessed given the low number of failures (n = 2) in this treatment group. Nasal mucosa involvement, typically linked to treatment failure, was related to lower percentages of activated neutrophils in the background at the treatment outcome (p = 0.02). Our results suggest a beneficial role of neutrophils in feline sporotrichosis and a positive correlation between neutrophil activation and the cure process in ITZ-treated cats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives on Sporothrix and Sporotrichosis)
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20 pages, 3184 KiB  
Article
Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization and Antifungal Susceptibility of Sporothrix schenckii sensu stricto Isolated from a Feline Sporotrichosis Outbreak in Bangkok, Thailand
by Kanokporn Yingchanakiat, Orawan Limsivilai, Supita Sunpongsri, Waree Niyomtham, Kittitat Lugsomya and Chompoonek Yurayart
J. Fungi 2023, 9(5), 590; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9050590 - 18 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3003
Abstract
Sporotrichosis, an invasive fungal infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii, has emerged in Southeast Asia, affecting cats and posing a potential zoonotic risk to humans. We evaluated 38 feline sporotrichosis cases in and around Bangkok, Thailand, from 2017 to 2021. The isolates were [...] Read more.
Sporotrichosis, an invasive fungal infection caused by Sporothrix schenckii, has emerged in Southeast Asia, affecting cats and posing a potential zoonotic risk to humans. We evaluated 38 feline sporotrichosis cases in and around Bangkok, Thailand, from 2017 to 2021. The isolates were phenotypically and genotypically characterized. The cats infected with sporotrichosis were mainly young adults, males, and domestic short hairs with uncontrolled outdoor access, and they lived in Bangkok. All isolates showed low thermotolerance and converted to the yeast phase at 35 °C. Based on the internal transcribed spacer region of rDNA sequences, our strains belonged to S. schenckii sensu stricto and clustered with clinical clade D. Based on the concatenated tree of calmodulin and beta-tubulin genes, five groups of S. schenckii were generated, and the monophyletic clade, Group II, of Thai strains was recognized. In vitro antifungal susceptibility testing demonstrated that the MIC50 of our isolates to amphotericin B, itraconazole, and posaconazole were within the limit of the species-specific epidemiological cutoff values, suggesting that the organisms were the wild type. Addressing the outbreak of feline sporotrichosis in Thailand by providing guidelines for diagnosis and effective treatment may help control the spread of disease and reduce the risk of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis to humans. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives on Sporothrix and Sporotrichosis)
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14 pages, 1421 KiB  
Article
Preservation Methods in Isolates of Sporothrix Characterized by Polyphasic Approach
by Vanessa Brito de Souza Rabello, Danielly Corrêa-Moreira, Cledir Santos, Tatiana Casto Abreu Pinto, Anna Carolina Procopio-Azevedo, Jéssica Boechat, Rowena Alves Coelho, Rodrigo Almeida-Paes, Gisela Costa, Nelson Lima, Rosely Maria Zancopé-Oliveira and Manoel Marques Evangelista Oliveira
J. Fungi 2023, 9(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9010034 - 25 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2332
Abstract
Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis with worldwide distribution and caused by eight pathogenic species of the Sporothrix genus. Different ex situ preservation methods are used around the world to maintain the survival, morphophysiological and genetic traits of fungal strains isolated from patients with [...] Read more.
Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis with worldwide distribution and caused by eight pathogenic species of the Sporothrix genus. Different ex situ preservation methods are used around the world to maintain the survival, morphophysiological and genetic traits of fungal strains isolated from patients with sporotrichosis for long terms. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the survival, phenotypic and genotypic stability of Sporothrix strains after preservation on PDA slant stored at 4 °C, sterile water and cryopreservation at −80 °C, for a period of time of 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of storage. Eight clinical Sporothrix isolates were identified based on a polyphasic approach consisting of classical macro- and micro-morphological traits, biochemical assays, proteomic profiles by MALDI-TOF MS and molecular biology. According to the final identification, one strain was identified as S. schenckii (CMRVS 40428) and seven strains were re-identified as S. brasiliensis (CMRVS 40421, CMRVS 40423, CMRVS 40424, CMRVS 40425, CMRVS 40426, CMRVS 40427 and CMRVS 40433). In addition, it was observed that the isolates survived after the different time points of storage in distilled water, PDA slant and cryopreservation at −80 °C. For fungi preserved in water, low polymorphisms were detected by the partial sequencing of β-tubulin. Cryopreservation at −80 °C induced morphological changes in one single isolate. The proteomic profiles obtained by MALDI-TOF MS after preservation showed differences among the methods. In conclusion, preservation on agar slant stored at 4 °C was the most effective method to preserve the eight clinical Sporothrix strains. This method produced less change in the phenotypic traits and kept the genetic integrity of all strains. Agar slant stored at 4 °C is a simple and inexpensive method and can be especially used in culture collections of limited funding and resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives on Sporothrix and Sporotrichosis)
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12 pages, 1677 KiB  
Article
Meningeal Sporotrichosis Due to Sporothrix brasiliensis: A 21-Year Cohort Study from a Brazilian Reference Center
by Marco A. Lima, Dayvison F. S. Freitas, Raquel V. C. Oliveira, Vivian Fichman, Andréa G. Varon, Andréa D. Freitas, Cristiane C. Lamas, Hugo B. Andrade, Valdilea G. Veloso, Rodrigo Almeida-Paes, Fernando Almeida-Silva, Rosely Maria Zancopé-Oliveira, Priscila M. de Macedo, Antonio C. F. Valle, Marcus T. T. Silva, Abelardo Q. C. Araújo and Maria C. Gutierrez-Galhardo
J. Fungi 2023, 9(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9010017 - 22 Dec 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2440
Abstract
Meningeal sporotrichosis is rare and occurs predominantly in immunosuppressed individuals. This retrospective study explored clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of patients with disseminated sporotrichosis who underwent lumbar puncture (LP) at a Brazilian reference center from 1999 to 2020. Kaplan–Meier and Cox [...] Read more.
Meningeal sporotrichosis is rare and occurs predominantly in immunosuppressed individuals. This retrospective study explored clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of patients with disseminated sporotrichosis who underwent lumbar puncture (LP) at a Brazilian reference center from 1999 to 2020. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression models were used to estimate overall survival and hazard ratios. Among 57 enrolled patients, 17 had meningitis. Fifteen (88.2%) had HIV infection, and in 6 of them, neurological manifestations occurred because of the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). The most frequent symptom was headache (88.2%). Meningeal symptoms at first LP were absent in 7/17 (41.2%) patients. Sporothrix was diagnosed in cerebrospinal fluid either by culture or by polymerase chain reaction in seven and four patients, respectively. All but one patient received prolonged courses of amphotericin B formulations, and seven received posaconazole, but relapses were frequent. Lethality among patients with meningitis was 64.7%, with a higher chance of death compared to those without meningitis (HR = 3.87; IC95% = 1.23;12.17). Meningeal sporotrichosis occurs mostly in people with HIV and can be associated with IRIS. Screening LP is indicated in patients with disseminated disease despite the absence of neurological complaints. Meningitis is associated with poor prognosis, and better treatment strategies are needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives on Sporothrix and Sporotrichosis)
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Review

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21 pages, 1378 KiB  
Review
Current Progress in Sporothrix brasiliensis Basic Aspects
by Manuela Gómez-Gaviria, José A. Martínez-Álvarez and Héctor M. Mora-Montes
J. Fungi 2023, 9(5), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9050533 - 29 Apr 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3760
Abstract
Sporotrichosis is known as a subacute or chronic infection, which is caused by thermodimorphic fungi of the genus Sporothrix. It is a cosmopolitan infection, which is more prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions and can affect both humans and other mammals. The [...] Read more.
Sporotrichosis is known as a subacute or chronic infection, which is caused by thermodimorphic fungi of the genus Sporothrix. It is a cosmopolitan infection, which is more prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions and can affect both humans and other mammals. The main etiological agents causing this disease are Sporothrix schenckii, Sporothrix brasiliensis, and Sporothrix globosa, which have been recognized as members of the Sporothrix pathogenic clade. Within this clade, S. brasiliensis is considered the most virulent species and represents an important pathogen due to its distribution and prevalence in different regions of South America, such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay, and Central American countries, such as Panama. In Brazil, S. brasiliensis has been of great concern due to the number of zoonotic cases that have been reported over the years. In this paper, a detailed review of the current literature on this pathogen and its different aspects will be carried out, including its genome, pathogen-host interaction, resistance mechanisms to antifungal drugs, and the caused zoonosis. Furthermore, we provide the prediction of some putative virulence factors encoded by the genome of this fungal species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives on Sporothrix and Sporotrichosis)
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