Journal of Fungi

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Open AccessArticle

Nine-Year Surveillance of Candida parapsilosis Candidemia in a Cardiothoracic ICU: Insights into Mortality and Resistance

by Caio Trevelin Sambo, Bianca Leal de Almeida, Gabriel Fialkovitz, Tiago Alexandre Cocio, Afonso Rafael da Silva Junior, Lumena Pereira Machado Siqueira, Isabela Cristina Oliveira Silva, Flavia Rossi, Thaís Guimarães, Rinaldo Focaccia Siciliano, Evangelina da Motta Pacheco de Araújo, Gilda Maria Barbaro Del Negro, Gil Benard, Tania Mara Varejão Strabelli and Marcello Mihailenko Chaves Magri

J. Fungi 2025, 11(10), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11100692 - 23 Sep 2025

Abstract

Candida parapsilosis has emerged as a prominent cause of nosocomial candidemia, particularly among critically ill patients. The increasing prevalence of fluconazole-resistant C. parapsilosis (FR-Cp) poses major therapeutic challenges, especially in resource-limited settings. We conducted a retrospective study of 144 patients with C. parapsilosis candidemia admitted to two post-surgical ICUs at a Brazilian tertiary cardiothoracic hospital between 2016 and August 2024. Demographic, clinical, microbiological, and therapeutic data were analyzed. Predictors of 30-day mortality were identified through multivariate logistic regression. The incidence density of C. parapsilosis candidemia ranged from 2.93 to 8.31 per 1000 hospitalizations. Fluconazole resistance was identified in 81% of isolates. Overall 30-day mortality was 55%. Independent risk factors for mortality included cardiopathy (OR: 19.36, p = 0.006), higher SOFA scores (OR: 1.54, p = 0.003), parenteral nutrition (OR: 29.77, p = 0.013), and dialysis (OR: 6.59, p = 0.043), while longer treatment duration was protective (OR: 0.81, p < 0.001). Fluconazole resistance was not independently associated with increased mortality. In this cohort of critically ill patients, C. parapsilosis candidemia was associated with high mortality and a high prevalence of fluconazole resistance. Clinical outcomes were mainly driven by host-related and therapeutic factors rather than antifungal resistance alone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Infections in Intensive Care Medicine)

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2012 KB

Open AccessArticle

Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus Metabolites for Fungal Biocontrol and Application in Soybean Seed Protection

by Nathalie Otoya-Martinez, Mustapha Touray, Harun Cimen, Edna Bode, Helge B. Bode, Selcuk Hazir, Julie Giovanna Chacon-Orozco, César Júnior Bueno and Luís Gárrigos Leite

J. Fungi 2025, 11(10), 691; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11100691 - 23 Sep 2025

Abstract

Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus bacteria, members of the Morganellaceae family, are sources of novel natural products for the biocontrol of fungal pathogens in soybean production. This study demonstrated the inhibitory effects of metabolites from four Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus strains (including a local isolate, X. szentirmaii PAM 25), against four key phytopathogenic fungi. Bacterial metabolite efficacy and fungal susceptibility varied. Xenorhabdus szentirmaii DSM 16338, X. szentirmaii PAM 25, and X. doucetiae demonstrated significant inhibition (>90%) against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Botrytis cinerea, and Macrophomina phaseolina, exhibiting superior efficacy compared to X. nematophila and Photorhabdus kayaii. Fusarium oxysporum demonstrated greater resistance to the bacterial supernatants. We identified fabclavine, pyrollizixenamide, and szentirazine from X. szentirmaii, and xenocoumacins from X. doucetiae as the antifungal bioactive compounds in the respective easyPACid mutants. Furthermore, we assessed the efficacy of X. szentirmaii PAM 25 and its metabolites in protecting soybean seeds from S. sclerotiorum and investigated the shelf stability of the bacterial metabolites as the fungus suppressors. Cell-free supernatant maintained >80% inhibition of S. sclerotiorum after one year at 5–35 °C. Importantly, the cell-free supernatant, as well as the bacterial culture, effectively inhibited S. sclerotiorum in seed treatments, ensuring ≥80% seed germination, comparable to thiophanate-methyl + fluazinam fungicide. This study demonstrates that the direct seed application of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus bacteria offers a practical and innovative biological control method against soil-borne fungal pathogens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Control of Fungal Plant Pathogens)

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16 pages, 6899 KB

Open AccessArticle

Variation in Growth, Morphology, and Fungicide Sensitivity Among Monilinia Species from South Tyrol’s Alpine Orchards

by Melanie M. Pagano, Sabine Oettl, Evi Deltedesco, Youry Pii and Urban Spitaler

J. Fungi 2025, 11(10), 690; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11100690 - 23 Sep 2025

Abstract

Brown rot, caused by Monilinia species, is a major disease affecting stone and pome fruits. The most relevant species are M. fructigena, M. laxa, M. polystroma, and M. fructicola. These four species exhibit morphological differences, but comparative data on these traits remain limited. In European integrated fruit production, pre-harvest control of brown rot mainly relies on the fungicides cyprodinil, boscalid, and tebuconazole. Given the coexistence of multiple Monilinia species, understanding differences in fungicide sensitivity is crucial for optimizing control strategies. In this study, mycelial growth, colony and conidial morphology, and sporulation capacity on potato dextrose agar (PDA), tomato sauce agar (TSA), and apple fruit were investigated. Fungicide sensitivity was assessed by measuring mycelial growth on apples following treatment with the three active ingredients. Tebuconazole was the most effective fungicide, particularly against M. laxa and M. polystroma, while cyprodinil and boscalid were less effective. These results highlight the need for species-specific fungicide strategies, Monilinia populations, and the effectiveness of disease control under various environmental conditions. All Monilinia species sporulated successfully on TSA, underscoring its suitability for sporulation studies. Conidial size varied significantly among species; nevertheless, overlapping sizes prevent reliable species or strain discrimination based on this trait alone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Fungal Pathogenesis and Disease Control)

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13 pages, 1220 KB

Open AccessArticle

Progression of Structural Lung Disease in Different Aspergillus fumigatus Disease Phenotypes in Children with CF

by Federico Mollica, Eleni-Rosalina Andrinopoulou, Beyza Y. Ikiz, Punitkumar Makani, Harm A. W. M. Tiddens and Daan Caudri

J. Fungi 2025, 11(10), 689; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11100689 - 23 Sep 2025

Abstract

Aspergillus fumigatus (Asp) is frequently cultured from airways of children with Cystic Fibrosis (CwCF), but the impact on structural lung disease (SLD) remains unknown. In this retrospective study of 125 CwCF with a positive Asp airway culture (Asp+) at Sophia Children’s Hospital between 1988 and 2021, four Asp disease phenotypes were defined based on serum Asp-specific IgE (IgE_Asp) and IgG (IgG_Asp): colonisation, sensitisation, bronchitis, and allergic bronchitis. SLD was assessed on biennial chest CTs (n = 382) using the PRAGMA-CF score. Annual progression of SLD was modelled for the Asp disease phenotypes, adjusting for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA). Annual SLD progression was high in all phenotypes but was higher in Asp sensitisation and bronchitis compared to colonisation. The proportion of air trapping was high in the full study population (mean 57%), but no differences were found in annual progression between the different Asp disease phenotypes. CwCF with Asp allergic bronchitis had a 10-fold higher risk to develop ABPA during the study follow-up than those with Asp colonisation. The four Asp disease phenotypes, colonisation, sensitisation, bronchitis, and allergic bronchitis, that were defined based on IgE_Asp and IgG_Asp show different rates of progression of SLD and different risks of ABPA development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Invasive Fungal Infections: Recent Advances in Epidemiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment)

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J. Fungi, Volume 11, Issue 10 (October 2025) – 4 articles

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