Multidrug-Resistant Fungi: New Strategies for Diagnosis and Treatment

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 (20 June 2024) | Viewed by 3676

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Health Sciences Research Laboratory, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados 79825-070, MS, Brazil
Interests: antifungal therapy; drug repurposing; dug susceptibility; Candida auris

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In light of the scenario wherein advancements in medical science have multiplied, the prevalence of fungal infections continues to annually escalate, while therapeutic interventions available in the early years of the third millennium remain notably constrained. The emergence of concerns regarding the rising incidence of fungal infections traces back to the first few decades of the 20th century, attributed to diverse environmental factors and anthropogenic pressures. Consequently, initial endeavours to address these infections through therapeutic means have been initiated.

Despite pathogenic fungi standing as one of the most ancient groups of microorganisms, they have been excluded from any stable taxonomic system for an extended period. Given the considerable taxonomic variations among closely related fungal pathogens and the criticality of species-level identification, an ongoing debate surrounds the selection of a gold standard for fungal routine identification. Thus, the reliable demarcation of fungal species boundaries, and consequently accurate species identification, necessitates a multidimensional approach to mitigate the potential for diagnostic errors. The significance of accurately identifying the etiological agent of mycosis becomes most evident in cases of treatment failure. Nevertheless, the inefficacy of therapy in fungal infections may stem from various factors beyond misdiagnosis.

Although interest in clinical antifungal therapy has grown over time, the pace of antifungal drug development has been notably slow. Despite the existence of several classes of antifungal drugs for clinical use, their spectrum of accessible cellular targets remains limited. Another challenge arising from the widespread use of antifungal drugs, linked to overlapping mechanisms of action and identical cellular targets, is the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes in an expanding array of pathogenic fungi. Consequently, in vitro assessments of antifungal drugs and the elucidation of mechanisms contributing to this emergent resistance constitute current imperatives within the mycological community.

In the context of the increasing amount of studies dedicated to the diagnostics and therapy of fungal infections, this Special Issue is inaugurated to serve as a comprehensive repository, showcasing the latest research across all facets of clinical and veterinary diagnostics and therapy for fungal infectious diseases.

Dr. Luana L. Rossato
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • antifungal therapy
  • drug repurposing
  • dug susceptibility
  • emerging yeast
  • natural antimycotics
  • fungal infection
  • molds
  • mechanism of action
  • invasive fungal infections
  • MALDI-TOF
  • new methods

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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18 pages, 5208 KiB  
Article
Impact of Nitric Oxide-Release Kinetics on Antifungal Activity
by Quincy E. Grayton, Ivie L. Conlon, Christopher A. Broberg and Mark H. Schoenfisch
J. Fungi 2024, 10(5), 308; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10050308 - 24 Apr 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2127
Abstract
Pathogenic fungi are an increasing health threat due to the rise in drug resistance. The limited number of antifungals currently available and growing incidence of multi-drug-resistant fungi has caused rising healthcare costs and a decreased quality of life for patients with fungal infections. [...] Read more.
Pathogenic fungi are an increasing health threat due to the rise in drug resistance. The limited number of antifungals currently available and growing incidence of multi-drug-resistant fungi has caused rising healthcare costs and a decreased quality of life for patients with fungal infections. Nitric oxide (NO) has previously been shown to act as an antimicrobial agent, albeit with a limited understanding of the effects of the NO-release kinetics against pathogenic fungi. Herein, the antifungal effects of four nitric oxide-releasing small molecules were studied against the pathogenic fungi Candida albicans, Candida auris, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus, to demonstrate the broad-spectrum antifungal activity of NO. A bolus dose of NO was found to eradicate fungi after 24 h, where nitric oxide donors with shorter half-lives achieved antifungal activity at lower concentrations and thus had wider selectivity indexes. Each NO donor was found to cause a severe surface destruction of fungi, and all NO donors exhibited compatibility with currently prescribed antifungals against several different fungi species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multidrug-Resistant Fungi: New Strategies for Diagnosis and Treatment)
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10 pages, 826 KiB  
Case Report
Phenotypical Differences at the Physiological and Clinical Level between Two Genetically Closely Related Clavispora lusitaniae Strains Isolated from Patients
by Debora Casagrande Pierantoni, Simone Giuliano, Angela Conti, Laura Corte, Jacopo Angelini, Gianluigi Cardinali and Carlo Tascini
J. Fungi 2024, 10(7), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10070460 - 28 Jun 2024
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Abstract
The occurrence of non-albicans species within the genus Candida poses a major challenge in the clinical setting. Clavispora lusitaniae, formerly known as Candida lusitaniae, has gained attention due to its potential multidrug resistance, particularly to amphotericin B (AmB). While intrinsic resistance [...] Read more.
The occurrence of non-albicans species within the genus Candida poses a major challenge in the clinical setting. Clavispora lusitaniae, formerly known as Candida lusitaniae, has gained attention due to its potential multidrug resistance, particularly to amphotericin B (AmB). While intrinsic resistance to AmB is rare, secondary resistance may develop during treatment due to phenotypic rearrangement and the reorganization of the cell wall. Although there is evidence of genetic variability within C. lusitaniae, comprehensive genomic studies are lacking. This study examines the physiological differences within Candida species and focuses on the medical implications of this. Using two case reports, significant physiological and resistance differences between two strains of C. lusitaniae are demonstrated, highlighting the need for further research into genetic variability. While one strain showed higher resistance to antifungal drugs and slower growth compared to Strain 2, both strains showed minimal beta-D-glucan production, suggesting alternative pathogenic mechanisms. The study underlines the importance of understanding microbial adaptation and selection mechanisms, especially in the clinical setting, to effectively combat emerging drug resistance. Furthermore, research is needed to clarify the complex interplay between environmental causes, physiological traits, and the mechanisms of drug resistance in C. lusitaniae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multidrug-Resistant Fungi: New Strategies for Diagnosis and Treatment)
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