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Recent Advances in Systemic and Emerging Mycoses
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Recent Advances in Systemic and Emerging Mycoses

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: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 2261

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Carlos Pelleschi Taborda

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Microbiology, University of Sao Paulo, ICB II-USP, São Paulo, Brazil
Interests: pathogenic dimorphic fungi; fungal virulence; immune response; vaccines and nanovaccines; fungal diagnostics; antifungal activity; mycoses; fungal resistance; endemic and emerging systemic infections; alternative in vivo methods for infection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Gabriel Davi Marena

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Microbiology, University of Sao Paulo, ICB II-USP, São Paulo, Brazil
Interests: fungal infections; fungal virulence; nanotherapy; nanovaccines; antifungal activity; mycoses; fungal resistance; endemic and emerging systemic infections; alternative in vivo methods for infection

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fungal diseases are becoming increasingly common worldwide, especially in developing countries. Endemic and emerging systemic infections have increased dramatically due to the pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome virus (SARS-CoV-2). This increase is a cause for concern among scientists, since the therapeutic arsenal against fungal infections is limited and the number of resistant and multidrug-resistant fungal species is constantly growing. In view of this, much research has developed new treatment options as well as new and promising diagnostic methodologies in order to accelerate the detection and combatting of pathogens. Therefore, this Special Issue aims to bring together new advances in systemic and emerging mycoses, bringing together studies involved in the evaluation of virulence, resistance, new therapies, and diagnosis against fungal pathogens. Studies involving in vitro, in vivo, and alternative in vivo models are highly recommended.

Prof. Dr. Carlos Pelleschi Taborda
Dr. Gabriel Davi Marena
Guest 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 special issue 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

  • vaccines and nanovaccines
  • antifungal therapy
  • diagnosis
  • fungal resistance
  • endemic and emerging systemic infections
  • immune response
  • alternative in vivo infection models

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 1783 KiB  
Article
Acidic pH Modulates Cell Wall and Melanization in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Affecting Macrophage Interaction
by Rafael de Souza Silva, Wilson Dias Segura, Rogéria Cristina Zauli, Reinaldo Souza Oliveira, Vitor Vidal, Eduardo Correa Louvandini, Patricia Xander, Suzan Pantaroto Vasconcellos and Wagner Luiz Batista
J. Fungi 2025, 11(7), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11070504 - 4 Jul 2025
Viewed by 449
Abstract
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen and the main etiological agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a neglected systemic mycosis endemic in Latin America. The virulence of P. brasiliensis is closely associated with its capacity to survive under hostile host conditions, including acidic [...] Read more.
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen and the main etiological agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a neglected systemic mycosis endemic in Latin America. The virulence of P. brasiliensis is closely associated with its capacity to survive under hostile host conditions, including acidic environments. In this study, we demonstrate that acidic pH induces melanization in P. brasiliensis, modulates its cell wall composition, and alters the interaction with macrophages. Cultivation at acidic pH resulted in reduced fungal growth without compromising viability and triggered increased production of melanin-like pigments, as confirmed by enhanced laccase activity and upregulation of genes in the DHN-melanin biosynthetic pathway. Additionally, growth under acidic pH induced significant remodeling of the fungal cell wall, leading to increased chitin on the cell wall surface and reduced mannan content, while β-glucan levels remained unchanged. These modifications correlated with decreased viability to Congo Red, suggesting altered cell wall stability. Importantly, P. brasiliensis grown under acidic conditions exhibited reduced phagocytosis by RAW 264.7 macrophages, along with changes in nitric oxide and cytokine production, indicating potential mechanisms of immune evasion. Collectively, our findings suggest that environmental acidification promotes fungal adaptations that enhance survival and modulate host–pathogen interactions, contributing to P. brasiliensis virulence. Understanding how acidic pH regulates these processes provides new insights into the pathobiology of PCM and may contribute to understanding the mechanisms of fungal immune evasion. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Systemic and Emerging Mycoses)
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11 pages, 909 KiB  
Article
Real-World Experience with Isavuconazole for Invasive Aspergillosis in Hematologic Patients with and Without COVID-19 in Brazil
by Larissa Simão Gandolpho, Vinicius Ponzio, Marjorie Vieira Batista, Ivan Leonardo Avelino França e Silva, Jessica Fernandes Ramos, Marcio Nucci and Arnaldo Lopes Colombo
J. Fungi 2025, 11(6), 456; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11060456 - 16 Jun 2025
Viewed by 565
Abstract
(1) Background: Invasive aspergillosis is a life-threatening fungal infection, particularly in patients with hematologic malignancies. Isavuconazole, a broad-spectrum triazole, has emerged as a key treatment option, but real-world data in high-risk populations from middle-income countries remain limited. (2) Methods: We conducted a multicenter, [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Invasive aspergillosis is a life-threatening fungal infection, particularly in patients with hematologic malignancies. Isavuconazole, a broad-spectrum triazole, has emerged as a key treatment option, but real-world data in high-risk populations from middle-income countries remain limited. (2) Methods: We conducted a multicenter, retrospective study to evaluate the clinical response rate and tolerability of isavuconazole in patients with hematologic malignancies and probable or proven invasive aspergillosis across four medical centers in Brazil. (3) Results: We enrolled 50 patients aged 18 to 82 years (64% male) with proven or probable invasive aspergillosis, diagnosed in the context of complex hematologic conditions. Among them, 60% had active or refractory malignancies, and 22% had a prior COVID-19 infection. Isavuconazole was used as a first-line therapy in 64% of cases. No patients discontinued treatment due to toxicity. The 6-week overall survival was 60%. Prior COVID-19 infection was associated with a lower survival rate (44% vs. 69% in patients without COVID-19, p = 0.04). (4) Conclusions: This study provides real-world evidence supporting the efficacy and tolerability of isavuconazole in a high-risk population. The findings reinforce its role as a key antifungal therapy, particularly in patients with complex underlying conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Systemic and Emerging Mycoses)
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17 pages, 9451 KiB  
Article
Resistance to Azoles in Candida parapsilosis Isolates from Spain Is Associated with an Impairment in Filamentation and Biofilm Formation
by Alba Torres-Cano, Cristina de Armentia, Alejandra Roldán, Elena López-Peralta, Juliana Manosalva, Paloma Merino-Amador, Fernando González-Romo, Mireia Puig-Asensio, Carmen Ardanuy, María Teresa Martín-Gómez, Daniel Romero-Herrero, Ana Pérez-Ayala, Marta López-Lomba, María Teresa Durán-Valle, Isabel Sánchez-Romero, María Muñoz-Algarra, María Pía Roiz-Mesones, Isabel Lara-Plaza, Maite Ruíz Pérez de Pipaón, Gregoria Megías-Lobón, María Ángeles Mantecón-Vallejo, Laura Alcázar-Fuoli, Diego Megías and Oscar Zaragozaadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
J. Fungi 2025, 11(4), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11040299 - 9 Apr 2025
Viewed by 798
Abstract
In recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence of fluconazole-non-susceptible (FNS) Candida parapsilosis. The reasons why these strains are able to colonize hospitals remain unknown. It is also unclear whether these strains exhibit resistance to the disinfectants used in [...] Read more.
In recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence of fluconazole-non-susceptible (FNS) Candida parapsilosis. The reasons why these strains are able to colonize hospitals remain unknown. It is also unclear whether these strains exhibit resistance to the disinfectants used in hospitals, facilitating their spread. For these reasons, in this work, we aimed to investigate whether fluconazole resistance was associated with virulence traits and the resistance of these strains to common hospital disinfectants. The general conclusion of the study was that more than 95% of the FNS strains, regardless of the resistance mutation they carried, had filamentation problems, whereas around 75% of the susceptible strains formed pseudohyphae and were capable of filamentation. This 95% of the FNS strains did not form pseudohyphae, did not invade agar, and did not form biofilms, while the susceptible strains exhibited the opposite behaviour. Through microfluidics experiments, we observed that both the susceptible and FNS strains were capable of adhering to a plastic surface under dynamic conditions, but the FNS strains formed unstable aggregates that did not remain attached to the surface, confirming the filamentation defect of these strains. In the second part of the study, we observed that FNS strains are susceptible to clinical disinfectants, although they presented a slight resistance to some of them, such as chlorhexidine, compared to susceptible isolates. In this work, we address important aspects to understand the dissemination of FNS strains in clinical outbreaks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Systemic and Emerging Mycoses)
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