Journal of Fungi

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Aditya K. Gupta

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Guest Editor

Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Interests: onychomycosis; tinea infection; antifungal therapy; antifungal resistance; clinical diagnosis; superficial non-dermatophyte infections
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Prof. Dr. Bianca Maria Piraccini

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Guest Editor

Dermatology Unit, IRCCS of Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Interests: disorders of the skin appendages; skin mycology; fungal nail infections; onychomycosis

Special Issue 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 enhanced methods of treatment. Thus, new perspectives on these infections are essential to establish optimal therapy routes for future patients.

Aims:

To review the changing biological factors of fungal infection:
- New fungal ID methods/classification;
- Possible changing epidemiology;
- Fungal resistance;
- Biofilms and other new fungal biology.
To address the role of non-dermatophyte fungi in superficial infection;
To provide strategies for improved standard therapies;
To discuss new treatment options/strategies.

Scope:

New classifications of species/epidemiology;
Interaction among dermatophytes/non-dermatophytes/other microbes;
New oral/topical/device therapies;
Immune system impacts of superficial infection;
Improved methods of fungal detection/identification.

Prof. Dr. Aditya K. Gupta
Prof. Dr. Bianca Maria Piraccini
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 3080 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Clinical Diagnosis and Laboratory Testing of Abnormal Appearing Toenails: A Retrospective Assessment of Confirmatory Testing for Onychomycosis in the United States, 2022–2023

by Aditya K. Gupta, Tong Wang, Elizabeth A. Cooper, Sara A. Lincoln, Hui-Chen Foreman, William P. Scherer and Wayne L. Bakotic

J. Fungi 2024, 10(2), 149; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10020149 - 13 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1610

Abstract

Onychomycosis is an under-recognized healthcare burden. Despite the risk of misdiagnosis, confirmatory laboratory testing is under-utilized. Histopathologic examination with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is currently the most effective diagnostic method; it offers direct detection and identification of a fungal invasion. In this retrospective cohort study, we assessed confirmatory testing results, with matching clinical diagnoses, in 96,293 nail specimens submitted during a 9-month period from 2022 to 2023. Toenail specimens were examined using fungal culture, histopathology and/or PCR. Clinical diagnoses were identified using the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision codes. For clinically diagnosed onychomycosis patients, the overall positivity rate was 59.4%; a similar positivity rate (59.5%) was found in patients with clinically diagnosed non-fungal nail dystrophy. Performing a histopathologic examination with PCR was more likely to provide pathogen identification results than using fungal culture. Male patients had a higher rate of onychomycosis overall; however, female patients had more non-dermatophyte mold onychomycosis caused by Aspergillus. Clinically diagnosed onychomycosis patients with a co-diagnosis of tinea pedis were more likely to test positive for onychomycosis by PCR (odds ratio [OR]: 4.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.7–6.4), histopathology (OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 2.0–3.1) and fungal culture (OR: 3.2; 95% CI: 1.5–6.6). Our results support the use of confirmatory laboratory testing when there is a clinical diagnosis of onychomycosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives for Superficial Fungal Infections, Second Edition)

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15 pages, 2522 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Signaling and Metabolic Responses during the Interaction between Human Keratinocytes (HaCaT) and the Dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum

by Monise Fazolin Petrucelli, Leonardo Martins-Santana, Antonio Rossi and Nilce Maria Martinez-Rossi

J. Fungi 2024, 10(1), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10010072 - 16 Jan 2024

Viewed by 1101

Abstract

Trichophyton rubrum is the leading causative agent of dermatophytosis worldwide. Keratinocytes are the first line of defense that drives an immune response against fungal invasion. Host-specific pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) to trigger immunological pathways. Fungal cell wall components are the primary sources of fungal PAMPs, and some pathogens increase cell wall rearrangement to evade the immune system. Glycolysis and enhanced lactate levels are critical for improving host immune responses to fungal infections. Using reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), we evaluated the transcriptional responses of human genes involved in fungal recognition and glycolytic metabolism and fungal cell-wall-related genes in a co-culture model of human keratinocytes with T. rubrum. We observed the upregulation of several Toll-like receptors (TLRs), NOD-like receptors (NLRs), and glycolytic genes. Complementarily, we measured intra- and extracellular glucose levels and the increase in lactate production in the co-culture supernatant. We noted a distinct transcriptional regulation pattern of fungal cell-wall-related genes from fungal growth on keratin as the primary carbon source compared to co-culture with human keratinocytes. Our results showed new insights into the transcriptional adaptation of keratinocytes, particularly in regulating genes involved in sensing and metabolic processes, during the interaction with T. rubrum. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Perspectives for Superficial Fungal Infections, Second Edition)

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