Superficial Fungal Infections
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Editors
Prof. Dr. Aditya K. Gupta
Prof. Dr. Aditya K. Gupta
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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
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Keywords
- tinea
- trichophyton
- non-dermatophyte
- fungal resistance
- azoles
- itraconazole
- terbinafine
Published Papers (3 papers)
Open AccessArticle
Chromatic Variants of Pityriasis Versicolor and Molecular Species Identification Using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)
by
Marina Romero-Navarrete, Francisca Hernández-Hernández, Roberto Arenas, Aureliano Castillo-Solana, Lizbeth Magnolia Martínez-Aguilar, Erika Córdova-Martínez, Brianda Stephanie Herrera-Ramírez, Settanan Plangsiri and Teerapong Rattananukrom
Viewed by 688
Abstract
Background: Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a common superficial mycosis caused by
Malassezia species. To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of PV in Acapulco, Mexico, and to identify the associated
Malassezia species using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Methods: A cross-sectional
[...] Read more.
Background: Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a common superficial mycosis caused by
Malassezia species. To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of PV in Acapulco, Mexico, and to identify the associated
Malassezia species using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 at Acapulco General Hospital and a private dermatology clinic. Patients with clinically suspected PV and no recent antifungal or immunosuppressive treatment were enrolled. Skin scales were examined microscopically and cultured on modified Dixon agar. Isolates were identified using conventional methods and PCR-RFLP with HhaI and BstCI enzymes. Results: Sixty-nine patients were included; 68.1% were male, and the most affected age group was 11–20 years (34.8%). The hypochromic variant predominated (63.8%). PCR-RFLP identified
M. globosa (33.3%) and
M. furfur (31.9%) as the most frequent species, followed by
M. restricta,
M. sympodialis, and
M. slooffiae. Species identification was unsuccessful in 11.6% of isolates. No statistically significant associations were found between clinical variants, gender, or species distribution. Conclusions:
M. globosa and
M. furfur were the predominant species in this tropical Mexican cohort. PCR-RFLP is a practical option for species-level identification, highlighting the diversity of
Malassezia in PV.
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Open AccessArticle
National Belgian Study on Terbinafine Resistance in Trichophyton interdigitale/mentagrophytes/indotineae (2022–2023): Epidemiology and Molecular Features
by
Rosalie Sacheli, Sabrina Egrek, Khalid El Moussaoui, Bahoz Kurt, Emilie Machowski, Saadia Harag and Marie-Pierre Hayette
Viewed by 2082
Abstract
Objectives:
Trichophyton indotineae, a dermatophyte closely related to
T. interdigitale and
T. mentagrophytes, is of growing concern due to its high terbinafine resistance and widespread presence in India. Its emergence in Europe calls for enhanced surveillance. Resistance is linked to
[...] Read more.
Objectives:
Trichophyton indotineae, a dermatophyte closely related to
T. interdigitale and
T. mentagrophytes, is of growing concern due to its high terbinafine resistance and widespread presence in India. Its emergence in Europe calls for enhanced surveillance. Resistance is linked to mutations in the squalene epoxidase (
SQLE) gene. This multicentric national study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, terbinafine susceptibility, and phylogenomics of
T. interdigitale/mentagrophytes/indotineae strains in Belgium, with a focus on SQLE substitutions.
Methods: Between February 2022 and April 2023, 137 isolates from 16 Belgian labs were analyzed for antifungal susceptibility using the EUCAST E.Def.11.0 method. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed via Illumina sequencing method.
Results: Phylogenomic analysis identified 8
T. indotineae, 91
T. interdigitale, and 38
T. mentagrophytes (including 7 genotype VII strains). Terbinafine resistance (5.1%) was mainly found in
T. indotineae (87.5%), always linked to SQLE substitutions.
T. interdigitale was fully susceptible.
T. mentagrophytes showed mildly elevated MICs, often associated with K276N substitution.
Conclusions: Terbinafine-resistant
T. indotineae is emerging in Belgium, mostly via imported cases. Continued molecular surveillance and species-specific treatment strategies are essential.
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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
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1673
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.
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