Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.4
4.2
Journals
JoF
Special Issues
Fungal Infections: Immune Defenses and New Therapeutic Strategies
share announcement

Fungal Infections: Immune Defenses and New Therapeutic Strategies

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 (31 May 2025) | Viewed by 2609

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Sandro Rogério de Almeida

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
Interests: medical mycology; mycosis; immunology of fungal infection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing incidence of fungal infections and the growing problem of antifungal resistance underscore the need for enhanced immune defense mechanisms and innovative therapeutic strategies. The immune system protects the host against fungal infections, which range from mild superficial issues to severe systemic conditions. Immunosuppressed individuals, including those with HIV/AIDS, undergoing chemotherapy, or receiving organ transplants, are particularly vulnerable to these infections. Understanding the immune responses to fungal pathogens is critical for developing effective therapeutic strategies. This Special Issue will focus on immune defenses against fungal infections and explore emerging therapeutic approaches. Fungal infections present complex challenges due to their diverse nature and the ability of fungi to evade immune defenses. Enhancing our understanding of immune responses to fungal infections and developing innovative therapeutic strategies are critical for effectively managing these infections. Advances in immunotherapy, vaccine development, and novel antifungal agents hold promise for improving the outcomes of patients who are at risk for severe fungal diseases.

Prof. Dr. Sandro Rogério de Almeida
Guest Editor

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

  • fungal infection
  • immune response
  • immunotherapy

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

21 pages, 1339 KiB  
Article
Toxicity Assessment and Antifungal Potential of Copper(II) and Silver(I) Complexes with 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-dione Against Drug-Resistant Clinical Isolates of Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans
by Lucas Giovanini, Ana Lucia Casemiro, Larissa S. Corrêa, Matheus Mendes, Thaís P. Mello, Lucieri O. P. Souza, Luis Gabriel Wagner, Christiane Fernandes, Matheus M. Pereira, Lais C. S. V. de Souza, Andrea R. S. Baptista, Josué de Moraes, Malachy McCann, Marta H. Branquinha and André L. S. Santos
J. Fungi 2025, 11(6), 436; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11060436 - 6 Jun 2025
Viewed by 346
Abstract
The World Health Organization included Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in its priority fungal pathogen list due to their high mortality rates and frequent treatment failures. These facts have driven research toward the discovery of new compounds for the treatment of cryptococcosis. In [...] Read more.
The World Health Organization included Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in its priority fungal pathogen list due to their high mortality rates and frequent treatment failures. These facts have driven research toward the discovery of new compounds for the treatment of cryptococcosis. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of two complexes, [Cu(phendione)3](ClO4)2·4H2O (Cu-phendione) and [Ag(phendione)2]ClO4 (Ag-phendione), against drug-resistant clinical isolates of C. gattii and C. neoformans. Both complexes demonstrated anti-Cryptococcus activity, with Cu-phendione exhibiting minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 6.25 μM for C. gattii and 3.125 μM for C. neoformans, while Ag-phendione showed an MIC of 1.56 μM for both Cryptococcus species. Notably, both Cu-phendione and Ag-phendione complexes exhibited enhanced antifungal activity against reference strains of C. neoformans and C. gattii. In silico analysis identified both complexes as highly promising, exhibiting good oral bioavailability, high gastrointestinal absorption, and moderate skin permeability. Moreover, neither complex demonstrated toxicity toward sheep erythrocytes at concentrations up to 62.5 μM, with a selectivity index (SI) exceeding 10 for Cu-phendione and 40 for Ag-phendione. In vivo testing using the Galleria mellonella model demonstrated that both complexes were non-toxic, with 100% larval survival at concentrations up to 1000 μM and SI exceeding 160 following a single administration. Interestingly, larvae exposed to Cu-phendione at concentrations of 15.6–31.25 μM exhibited a significant increase in the density of hemocytes, the immune cells responsible for defense in invertebrates. Furthermore, multiple treatments with 62.5 μM of complexes caused either no larval mortality, hemocyte alterations, or changes in silk production or coloration, indicating a lack of toxicity. These findings suggest that Cu-phendione and Ag-phendione may serve as promising antifungal alternatives against Cryptococcus, with minimal host toxicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Infections: Immune Defenses and New Therapeutic Strategies)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

14 pages, 1098 KiB  
Review
Novel Insights into Sporotrichosis and Diabetes
by Mariana de Araujo Oliveira, Sandro Rogério de Almeida and Joilson O. Martins
J. Fungi 2024, 10(8), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10080527 - 29 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1807
Abstract
Sporotrichosis is a type of zoonotic subcutaneous mycosis caused by different species of dimorphic fungus of the genus Sporothrix, and it is the most common form of subcutaneous mycosis in Latin America. Sporotrichosis is generally restricted to cutaneous and lymphatic tissue (i.e., [...] Read more.
Sporotrichosis is a type of zoonotic subcutaneous mycosis caused by different species of dimorphic fungus of the genus Sporothrix, and it is the most common form of subcutaneous mycosis in Latin America. Sporotrichosis is generally restricted to cutaneous and lymphatic tissue (i.e., localized forms), and involvement in the viscera (i.e., disseminated or disseminated cutaneous form) is uncommon, especially in the central nervous system. However, immunosuppression in individuals with diabetes mellitus can lead to the disseminated form of the disease due to a failure to eliminate the pathogen and poor infection treatment outcomes. Possible correlations between patients with diabetes and their greater susceptibility to disseminated cases of sporotrichosis include a decreased cytokine response after stimulation, increased oxidative stress, decreased chemotaxis, phagocytic activity, adhesion and rolling of neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages, and increased macrophage/monocyte and polymorphonuclear cell apoptosis. Therefore, this review highlights novel insights into diabetes and sporotrichosis by investigating how chronic inflammation affects and aggravates the infection, the possible causes of the greater susceptibility of Sporothrix sp. to hematogenous dissemination in immunocompromised patients, and the main alterations that this dissemination can cause. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Infections: Immune Defenses and New Therapeutic Strategies)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop