Current Patterns in Epidemiology and Antifungal Resistance

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 (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 9994

Special Issue Editors


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Chairwoman at the Department of Dermatology, Hospital Vithas, Vigo, Spain
Interests: dermatovirology; atopic dermatitis; sexually transmitted diseases; fungi
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Sección de Estudios de Posgrado e Investigación, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Plan de San Luis y Díaz Mirón, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico
Interests: clinical microbiology; medical mycology; opportunistic mycoses; yeasts of the genus Candida; trichosporon; filamentous fungi; mucorales; dermatophytes; sporotrichosis; virulence factors; molecular epidemiology of fungal pathogens; infectious diseases
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General Hospital of Acapulco Secretary of Health and Private Medicine, Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico
Interests: dermatology; diagnosis and treatment; medical mycology

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Guest Editor
Postgraduate Medical Education Center, Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
Interests: dermatology; medical mycology; clinical immunology; telemedicine

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fungi are opportunistic pathogens that can cause infections in individuals with compromised immune systems, which may escalate to invasive disease.

The increase in the population at risk of contracting invasive fungal infections, as well as possible advancements in the diagnosis and identification of these pathogens, have contributed to the significant increase in their incidence in recent years, making them a public health concern.

More recently, we have noted an increase in infections caused by other fungi, known as emerging fungi, most likely because of diagnostic advances and improved identification techniques, but also as a result of increased selection pressure from available antifungal therapies, as many of these rare species are resistant to treatments used in clinical practice.

The fundamental features of the most prominent fungal infections and the resistance mechanisms they develop to the main antifungal agents are described in this Special Issue.

Furthermore, the most regularly used molecular approaches for detecting fungal resistance are presented, including new antifungal compounds that are being tested against a diverse spectrum of pathogens to validate their efficacy and overcome the limitations of present antifungal medications.

Dr. Carmen Rodríguez-Cerdeira
Dr. Erick Martinez-Herrera
Dr. Marina Romero-Navarrete
Dr. Sergeev Alexey Yurievich
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Candida albicans
  • Candida aureus
  • Candida glabrata
  • aspergillus fumigatus
  • cryptococcus neoformans
  • determination of antifungal susceptibility
  • resistance to antifungal agents
  • adaptation, rate of mutation and reproduction
  • molecular methods to determine resistance
  • the study of new antifungal agents
  • genotypic characterization techniques
  • invasive infections caused by filamentous fungi
  • antimicrobial peptides with antifungal properties
  • antifungal resistance in dermatophytes

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 5830 KiB  
Article
The Drug H+ Antiporter FgQdr2 Is Essential for Multiple Drug Resistance, Ion Homeostasis, and Pathogenicity in Fusarium graminearum
by Tianling Ma, Yiqing Li, Yang Lou, Junrui Shi, Kewei Sun, Zhonghua Ma, Leiyan Yan and Yanni Yin
J. Fungi 2022, 8(10), 1009; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8101009 - 26 Sep 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1972
Abstract
Increased emergence of drug resistance and DON pollution pose a severe problem in Fusarium head blight (FHB) control. While the H+ antiporter (DHA) family plays crucial roles in drug resistance, the characterization of DHA transporters has not been systematically studied in pathogenetic [...] Read more.
Increased emergence of drug resistance and DON pollution pose a severe problem in Fusarium head blight (FHB) control. While the H+ antiporter (DHA) family plays crucial roles in drug resistance, the characterization of DHA transporters has not been systematically studied in pathogenetic fungi. In this study, a systematic gene deletion analysis of all putative DHA transporter genes was carried out in Fusarium graminearum, and one DHA1 transporter FgQdr2 was found to be involved in multiple drug resistance, ion homeostasis, and virulence. Further exploration showed that FgQdr2 is mainly localized in the cell membrane; its expression under normal growth conditions is comparatively low, but sufficient for the regulation of drug efflux. Additionally, investigation of its physiological substrates demonstrated that FgQdr2 is essential for the transport of K+, Na+, Cu2+, and the regulation of the membrane proton gradient. For its roles in the FHB disease cycle, FgQdr2 is associated with fungal infection via regulating the biosynthesis of virulence factor deoxynivalenol (DON), the scavenging of the phytoalexin, as well as both asexual and sexual reproduction in F. graminearum. Overall, the results of this study reveal the crucial roles of FgQdr2 in multiple drug resistance, ion homeostasis, and pathogenicity, which advance the understanding of the DHA transporters in pathogenetic fungi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Patterns in Epidemiology and Antifungal Resistance)
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14 pages, 3690 KiB  
Review
An Overview on Candida auris in Healthcare Settings
by Maria Luisa Cristina, Anna Maria Spagnolo, Marina Sartini, Alessio Carbone, Martino Oliva, Elisa Schinca, Silvia Boni and Emanuele Pontali
J. Fungi 2023, 9(9), 913; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9090913 - 8 Sep 2023
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4182
Abstract
Candida auris has become a major concern in critical care medicine due to the increasing number of immunocompromised patients and candidiasis is the most frequent cause of fungal infections. C. auris and other fungal pathogens are responsible for at least 13 million infections [...] Read more.
Candida auris has become a major concern in critical care medicine due to the increasing number of immunocompromised patients and candidiasis is the most frequent cause of fungal infections. C. auris and other fungal pathogens are responsible for at least 13 million infections and 1.5 million deaths globally per year. In immunocompromised patients, infections can quickly become severe, causing wound infections, otitis and candidemia, resulting in high morbidity and mortality. The clinical presentation of C. auris is often non-specific and similar to other types of systemic infections; in addition, it is harder to identify from cultures than other, more common types of Candida spp. Some infections are particularly difficult to treat due to multi-resistance to several antifungal agents, including fluconazole (and other azoles), amphotericin B and echinocandins. This entails treatment with more drugs and at higher doses. Even after treatment for invasive infections, patients generally remain colonized for long periods, so all infection control measures must be followed during and after treatment of the C. auris infection. Screening patients for C. auris colonization enables facilities to identify individuals with C. auris colonization and to implement infection prevention and control measures. This pathogenic fungus shows an innate resilience, enabling survival and persistence in healthcare environment and the ability to rapidly colonize the patient’s skin and be easily transmitted within the healthcare setting, thus leading to a serious and prolonged outbreak. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Patterns in Epidemiology and Antifungal Resistance)
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27 pages, 1044 KiB  
Review
What’s New in Prevention of Invasive Fungal Diseases during Hospital Construction and Renovation Work: An Overview
by Ivana Mareković
J. Fungi 2023, 9(2), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9020151 - 23 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3298
Abstract
The goal of the overview was to give insight into the recent data of invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) associated with construction and renovation in healthcare settings as well as the recent evidence about available prevention and infection control measures. The number of studies [...] Read more.
The goal of the overview was to give insight into the recent data of invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) associated with construction and renovation in healthcare settings as well as the recent evidence about available prevention and infection control measures. The number of studies describing IFD outbreaks associated with construction or renovation is on the rise again. Applying adequate prevention measures is still a challenge not just for healthcare workers but also for architects and construction workers as well. The role of multidisciplinary teams in the planning and monitoring of prevention measures cannot be overemphasized. Dust control is an inevitable part of every prevention plan. HEPA filters are helpful in the prevention of fungal outbreaks in hematologic patients, but further studies are needed to clarify the extent in which they contribute as specific control measures. The cut-off value for a “threating” level of fungal spore contamination still remains to be defined. The value of antifungal prophylaxis is difficult to assess because other preventive measures are simultaneously applied. Recommendations are still based on few meta-analyses, a large number of descriptive reports, and the opinion of respective authorities. Outbreak reports in the literature are a valuable resource and should be used for education as well as for preparing outbreak investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Patterns in Epidemiology and Antifungal Resistance)
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