Superficial Fungal Infections
Share This Topical Collection
Editors
Prof. Dr. Aditya K. Gupta
Prof. Dr. Aditya K. Gupta
E-Mail
Website
Collection Editor
Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H2, Canada
Interests: onychomycosis; tinea infection; antifungal therapy; antifungal resistance; clinical diagnosis; superficial non-dermatophyte infections
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Topical Collection Information
Dear Colleagues,
Technological advances have expanded the clinical perspective of superficial fungi from minor infective species to widespread agents with important roles in the human microbiome. New technologies allow us to better identify fungal agents, leading to an improved understanding of fungal species’ function and detection in infection. Furthermore, greater knowledge of fungal biology promotes a better clinical assessment of superficial fungal infection and opens the door for enhanced methods of treatment. Thus, new perspectives on these infections are essential to establish optimal therapy routes for future patients.
This Topical Collection aims to review the changing biological factors of fungal infections:
- New fungal ID methods/classification;
- Possible changing epidemiology;
- Fungal resistance;
- Biofilms and other new fungal biology.
Another objective is to address the role of non-dermatophyte fungi in superficial infections, provide strategies for improved standard therapies and discuss new treatment options/strategies.
The scope of this Topical Collection is as follows:
- New classifications of species/epidemiology;
- Interactions among dermatophytes/non-dermatophytes/other microbes;
- New oral/topical/device therapies;
- Immune system impacts of superficial infections;
- Improved methods of fungal detection/identification.
Prof. Dr. Aditya K. Gupta
Prof. Dr. Bianca Maria Piraccini
Collection 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 collection 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.
Keywords
- tinea
- trichophyton
- non-dermatophyte
- fungal resistance
- azoles
- itraconazole
- terbinafine
Published Papers (1 paper)
2025
Open AccessCommunication
Epidemiology and Genomic Characterization of Trichophyton mentagrophytes over a Period of 4 Years in Northern Italy
by
Luca Rossi, Annarita Sorrentino, Caterina Signoretto and Paolo Gaibani
J. Fungi 2025, 11(8), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11080566 (registering DOI) - 29 Jul 2025
Abstract
Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi that cause a wide range of superficial infections in humans and animals. The
Trichophyton mentagrophytes species complex is one of the most clinically important groups due to its broad host range, widespread distribution, and increasing involvement in antifungal-resistant infections.
[...] Read more.
Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi that cause a wide range of superficial infections in humans and animals. The
Trichophyton mentagrophytes species complex is one of the most clinically important groups due to its broad host range, widespread distribution, and increasing involvement in antifungal-resistant infections. Here, we described the epidemiology of
T. mentagrophytes over a period of 4 years detected in the northeastern part of Italy and provided the genomic characterization of clinical isolates. ITS sequence analysis revealed that among the 13 strains studied, 11 belonged to the
T. mentagrophytes complex. In detail, nine were classified as genotype I/II and two as genotype VII. Analysis of the
SQLE gene revealed that nine strains harbored a wild-type gene, while two carried a Lys276Asn mutation. Genomic analysis was performed on three clinical
T. mentagrophytes strains that belonged to genotype I/II, revealing the presence of different virulence factors including MEP-1, MEP-2, MEP-3, and MEP-5. Phylogenetic analysis based on core-genome SNPs demonstrated that the two genomes included in this study were clonally related to a
T. mentagrophytes strain isolated in China in 2024. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of genomic characterization in order to trace the epidemiology of dermatophytes worldwide and to characterize emerging strains.
Full article
►▼
Show Figures
