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Nat Commun 2020 Jul 7;11(1):3387. Epub 2020 Jul 7.

Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, Forum 1 Novartis Campus, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland.

Biosynthesis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) is required for anchoring proteins to the plasma membrane, and is essential for the integrity of the fungal cell wall. Here, we use a reporter gene-based screen in Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the discovery of antifungal inhibitors of GPI-anchoring of proteins, and identify the oligocyclopropyl-containing natural product jawsamycin (FR-900848) as a potent hit. The compound targets the catalytic subunit Spt14 (also referred to as Gpi3) of the fungal UDP-glycosyltransferase, the first step in GPI biosynthesis, with good selectivity over the human functional homolog PIG-A. Read More

Otolaryngol Pol 2020 Feb;74(4):37-40

Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institutesri Balaji Vidyapeeth.

<b>Background:</b> Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection affecting people with impaired immunity. The aim of this study is to shed light on the epidemiology, incidence, and outcome of patients with mucormycosis hospitalized at a tertiary care center in Pondicherry. <br><b>Methods:</b> We conducted a retrospective chart review between January 2008 and January 2018. Read More

Ear Nose Throat J 2020 Jul 5:145561320936489. Epub 2020 Jul 5.

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.

Braz J Microbiol 2020 Jul 5. Epub 2020 Jul 5.

Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Science and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon.

In the recent years, the epidemiology of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) has changed worldwide. This is remarkably noticed with the significant increase in high-risk populations. Although surveillance of such infections is essential, data in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region remain scarce. Read More

Rev Iberoam Micol 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Dirección de Investigación, Hospital General de México "Dr. Eduardo Liceaga", Ciudad de México, México.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a public health problem in Mexico, and the trend of the disease is increasing. From 2000 to 2017, 7.32 million new cases were diagnosed, with pulmonary mycoses being one of the most serious complications. Read More

An Bras Dermatol 2020 Jun 16. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Dermatology and Venereology, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China. Electronic address:

The authors report a rare case of primary cutaneous mucormycosis caused by Mucor irregularis and cutaneous Klebsiella pneumoniae infections in a 67-year-old Chinese woman. After the administration of liposomal amphotericin B combined with cefoperazone/sulbactam sodium, the patient recovered. Invasive fungal infection combined with cutaneous bacterial infection should receive attention. Read More

mBio 2020 Jun 30;11(3). Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA

Trauma-related necrotizing myocutaneous mucormycosis (NMM) has a high morbidity and mortality in victims of combat-related injuries, geometeorological disasters, and severe burns. Inspired by the observation that several recent clusters of NMM have been associated with extreme mechanical forces (e.g. Read More

J Fungi (Basel) 2020 Jun 26;6(2). Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.

Mucormycosis is an emerging fungal infection caused by Mucorales with an unacceptable high mortality rate. Mucorales is a complex fungal group, including eleven different genera that can infect humans. This heterogeneity is associated with species-specific invasion pathways and responses to the host defense mechanisms. Read More

Chin Med J (Engl) 2020 Jun 24. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Department of Dermatology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.

Transpl Infect Dis 2020 Jun 25:e13387. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Division of Hematology, Jichi Medical University Saitama Medical Center, Saitama-city, Japan.

Background: We evaluated the clinical impact of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation calculated in terms of the area under the curve of CMV antigenemia (CMV-AUC) on the development of invasive mold infection (IMI) in the post-engraftment phase after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Methods: Among 394 consecutive patients who underwent their first allogeneic HSCT at our center between 2007 and 2018, 335 were included after excluding patients with a past history of invasive fungal disease (IFD), the development of IFD before engraftment, engraftment failure, or early death within 30 days. CMV antigenemia (CMV-AG) was monitored weekly after engraftment and 3 or more cells/2 slides were regarded as positive. Read More

Environ Microbiol 2020 Jun 24. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Jena Microbial Resource Collection, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany.

Mucormycosis is an emergent, fatal fungal infection of humans and warm-blooded animals caused by species of the order Mucorales. Immune cells of the innate immune system serve as the first line of defense against inhaled spores. Alveolar macrophages were challenged with the mucoralean fungus Lichtheimia corymbifera and subjected to biotinylation and streptavidin enrichment procedures followed by LC-MS/MS analyses. Read More

Front Microbiol 2020 5;11:1193. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Applied Systems Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany.

Phagocytosis is series of steps where the pathogens and the immune cells interact during an invasion. This starts with the adhesion process between the host and pathogen cells, and is followed by the engulfment of the pathogens. Many analytical methods that are applied to characterize phagocytosis based on imaging the host-pathogen confrontation assays rely on the fluorescence labeling of cells. Read More

J Fungi (Basel) 2020 Jun 22;6(2). Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Section of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria.

Isavuconazole (ISA) is a triazole antifungal agent recommended for treatment of invasive aspergillosis or mucormycosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate ISA levels in a real world setting in a mixed patient cohort including patients with non-malignant diseases and extracorporeal treatments, and to correlate findings with efficacy and safety outcomes. We investigated 33 ISA treatment courses in 32 adult patients with hematological and other underlying diseases and assessed the clinical response, side effects and ISA trough plasma concentrations. Read More

Rev Esp Enferm Dig 2020 Jun 24;112. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Aparato Digestivo, Hospital General Universitario Morales Meseguer , España.

We have read the article published by Sánchez-Velázquez P et al., which described a clinical case of gastrointestinal hemorrhage secondary to gastric ulcer due to Mucor. We present a similar clinical case, as an example of one identified by gastroscopy. Read More

Trop Doct 2020 Jun 23:49475520934358. Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases, PD Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, India.

A young Indian man presented elsewhere with a short history of haematuria and cough. Investigations revealed renal and pulmonary lesions. Histopathology of these lesions was reported as mucormycosis. Read More

J Fungi (Basel) 2020 Jun 18;6(2). Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague, Czech Republic.

spp. are the most common etiological agents of mucormycosis, causing over 90% mortality in disseminated infections. The diagnosis relies on histopathology, culture, and/or polymerase chain reaction. Read More

Cell Microbiol 2020 Jun 19:e13236. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Instituto de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Ciudad Universitaria, Morelia, Mich, Mexico.

Mucor circinelloides, a dimorphic opportunistic pathogen, expresses three heterotrimeric G-protein beta subunits (Gpb1, Gpb2, Gpb3). The Gpb1-encoding gene is upregulated during mycelial growth compared with that in the spore or yeast stage. gpb1 deletion mutation analysis revealed its relevance for an adequate development during the dimorphic transition and for hyphal growth under low oxygen concentrations. Read More

PLoS One 2020 17;15(6):e0234063. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.

Pathogenic mucormycetes induce diseases with considerable morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Virulence data comparing different Mucorales species and various underlying risk factors are limited. We therefore compared the pathogenesis of inhalative infection by Rhizopus (R. Read More

Am J Ophthalmol Case Rep 2020 Sep 6;19:100771. Epub 2020 Jun 6.

California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, United States.

Purpose: We report a case of rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) with focal anterior cerebritis treated favorably with retrobulbar amphotericin B and systemic antifungals.

Observations: A 55-year-old diabetic male presented to the emergency department with left sided proptosis, left temple headache, maxillary sinus pain, and diplopia of 3 days duration. Biopsy results from the left middle turbinate, ethmoid, and maxillary sinus revealed broad and irregular non-septate hyphae consistent with mucormycosis. Read More

Med Mycol Case Rep 2020 Sep 30;29:22-24. Epub 2020 May 30.

Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 800 Stanton L Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.

A patient with well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus developed a severe pulmonary infection secondary to spp. after receiving short courses of corticosteroids for a respiratory tract infection. He recovered after an aggressive surgical intervention and treatment with isavuconazole. Read More

Cureus 2020 May 11;12(5):e8050. Epub 2020 May 11.

Internal Medicine, Northwell Health-Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, USA.

Opportunistic fungal infections are rare but life-threatening in immunocompromised patients. We discuss a case of an immunocompromised patient with multiple myeloma who presented with shortness of breath, fever, ocular palsy, and hemiplegia. She was found to have influenza A respiratory tract infection complicated by invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis. Read More

Med Mycol 2020 Jun 13. Epub 2020 Jun 13.

Parasitology - Mycology, University Hospital Besançon, Besançon, France.

Interlaboratory evaluations of Mucorales qPCR assays were developed to assess the reproducibility and performance of methods currently used. The participants comprised 12 laboratories from French university hospitals (nine of them participating in the Modimucor study) and 11 laboratories participating in the Fungal PCR Initiative. For panel 1, three sera were each spiked with DNA from three different species (Rhizomucor pusillus, Lichtheimia corymbifera, Rhizopus oryzae). Read More

AACE Clin Case Rep 2020 Mar-Apr;6(2):e62-e64. Epub 2020 Mar 4.

Objective: Posaconazole (PSO) is commonly used in the treatment of invasive fungal infections. PSO-induced primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) is rare, and we present what we think to be the third case report of its incidence. We want to bring awareness to this rare but significant side effect that can impact management and monitoring of patients on this medication. Read More

Ann Intensive Care 2020 Jun 8;10(1):74. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France.

Background: Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection, with an increasing incidence especially in patients with hematological malignancies. Its prognosis is poor because of its high invasive power and its intrinsic low susceptibility to antifungal agents. We aimed to describe the epidemiology of mucormycosis in intensive care units (ICU) and evaluate the outcomes. Read More

Transpl Infect Dis 2020 Jun 8:e13362. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

Transplant Center, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection that can occur throughout the body and carries a high mortality. Colonic mucormycosis is an uncommon form of the disease whose successful treatment relies upon a high degree of clinical suspicion and early, often empiric, therapy. We report colonic mucormycosis in a liver transplant patient and review the literature on colonic mucormycosis in solid organ transplant recipients. Read More

Caspian J Intern Med 2020 ;11(2):227-230

Imam Khomeini Complex Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background: Mucormycosis is an uncommon fungal infection caused by the members of the order Mucorales. In susceptible patients, mucormycosis can infect any tissue or organ, and without suitable treatment (i.e. Read More

Infection 2020 Jun 6. Epub 2020 Jun 6.

Department of Biotechnology, University of Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600025, India.

Background: Mucormycosis is a serious and often fatal mycotic infection caused by members of class Mucormycetes in populations with immunologic or metabolic disorders. Though several clinical manifestations are associated with mucormycetes, gastrointestinal involvement is quite rare.

Case Description: We described a rare case of invasive fungal infection due to Syncephalastrum racemosum associated with gastric adenocarcinoma in a 48-year-old male patient with type II Diabetes mellitus. Read More

mBio 2020 Jun 2;11(3). Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Division of Infectious Diseases, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Harbor-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA

Mucormycosis, caused by species, is a life-threatening fungal infection that occurs in patients immunocompromised by diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunosuppressive therapy, hematologic malignancies, or severe trauma. Inhaled spores cause pulmonary infections in patients with hematologic malignancies, while patients with DKA are much more prone to rhinoorbital/cerebral mucormycosis. Here, we show that interacts with glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) on nasal epithelial cells via its spore coat protein CotH3 to invade and damage the nasal epithelial cells. Read More

Mycoses 2020 Jun 2. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD), Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Cologne, Germany.

Background: Regional differences in the underlying causes, manifestations and treatment of mucormycosis have been noted in studies covering Europe, Asia and South America.

Objectives: To review cases of mucormycosis across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in order to identify epidemiological, treatment and outcome trends in this region.

Patients/methods: Cases of proven or probable invasive mucormycosis from the region were identified from the FungiScope® database and the medical literature. Read More

Med Mycol Case Rep 2020 Jun 11;28:55-59. Epub 2020 Apr 11.

Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi, 110029, India.

Mucormycosis isolated to the mandible is a rare presentation occurring generally after dental procedures. The case we report presented with discharging sinuses over facial region with radiological appearance of isolated osteomyelitis of the mandible. The patient used to apply an addictive dental powder over his teeth leading to caries. Read More

Int J Mycobacteriol 2020 Jan-Mar;9(1):95-97

Department of Medicine, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Patients with diabetes are often susceptible to various opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis and mucormycosis. However, the occurrence of both these infections simultaneously is rare. We present one such case of pulmonary tuberculosis with disseminated pulmonary mucormycosis in a patient with diabetes, which was successfully managed. Read More

J Infect 2020 May 28. Epub 2020 May 28.

University of Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the clinical relevance of the marketed pan-mucorales real-time PCR assay MucorGenius® (Pathonostics) on pulmonary specimens relative to that of in-house PCR assays and conventional mycology for the diagnosis of mucormycosis.

Methods: In total, 319 pulmonary samples from severely immunosuppressed patients at risk for invasive mold disease (IMD) were retrospectively included. Direct examination, mycological culture, and PCR testing were performed using three genus-specific in-house mucorales real-time PCR assays and MucorGenius®PCR. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2020 May 25;21(10). Epub 2020 May 25.

MTA-SZTE Fungal Pathogenicity Mechanisms Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences-University of Szeged, 6726 Szeged, Hungary.

is considered as one of the most frequent agents of mucormycosis. The lack of efficient genetic manipulation tools hampers the characterization of the pathomechanisms and virulence factors of this opportunistic pathogenic fungus. Although such techniques have been described for certain species, the performance of targeted mutagenesis and the construction of stable transformants have remained a great challenge in Mucorales fungi. Read More

IDCases 2020 11;20:e00760. Epub 2020 May 11.

Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-cho, Hirokoji, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan.

Introduction: although rarely causing mucormycosis, is responsible for the highest mortality among mucormycetes. The diagnosis of mucormycosis is challenged by the absence of specific biomarkers. Herein, we report a fatal case of infection and detection of its DNA in the serum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Read More

Respir Med Case Rep 2020 6;30:101082. Epub 2020 May 6.

Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Jefferson Health New Jersey, Sewell, NJ, USA.

Mucormycosis is a life-threatening infection caused by fungi in the Mucorales species. It most often affects immunocompromised hosts, including diabetics patients. It can affect a variety of organ systems with pulmonary manifestations being the second most common. Read More

J Clin Microbiol 2020 May 26;58(6). Epub 2020 May 26.

Division of Clinical Care and Research, Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Diagn Cytopathol 2020 May 22. Epub 2020 May 22.

Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Modena-Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.

Emerg Infect Dis 2020 Jun;26(6):1308-1310

Case reports have identified invasive fungal diseases in persons who use cannabis, and fungal contamination of cannabis has been described. In a large health insurance claims database, persons who used cannabis were 3.5 (95% CI 2. Read More

IDCases 2020 11;20:e00773. Epub 2020 May 11.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Fayetteville, AR, United States.

Mucormycosis is a fatal opportunistic fungal infection. Rarely it can occur in immunocompetent patients. Here, we present a case of colonic mucormycosis in immunocompetent patients. Read More

Indian J Crit Care Med 2020 Mar;24(3):168-171

Department of Microbiology, Velammal Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India.

Background: Mucormycosis is an emerging fungal infection in both developed and developing countries with different target population. Unusual isolates and unusual clinical presentations have been reported from India in recent times.

Objectives: The present study was done to know the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnostic modalities, and treatment outcome of mucormycosis patients in our hospital. Read More

Curr Med Mycol 2020 ;6(1):30-35

Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background And Purpose: Organ transplant recipients are vulnerable to fungal infections. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of fungal colonization and infections among patients who underwent various transplantations and molecularly characterize the etiological agents.

Materials And Methods: This study was conducted on candidates for transplantation in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from April 2017 to April 2018. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2020 May 15;21:e921562. Epub 2020 May 15.

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, WI, USA.

BACKGROUND Actinomucor elegans is an unusual cause of mucormycosis and can be difficult to identify by conventional methods. Mucormycosis has a very high mortality rate, especially among immunocompromised individuals. Due to the morbid and progressive nature of opportunistic fungal infections, early diagnosis is paramount for effective disease management. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2020 May 12;13(5). Epub 2020 May 12.

Department of Nephrology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

Critically ill patients are at risk of developing both acute kidney injury (AKI) and invasive fungal infections (IFIs). Prompt and efficient treatment of the IFI is essential for the survival of the patient. This article examines three distinct clinical situations where liposomal amphotericin B, a broad-spectrum antifungal agent, was successfully used in the setting of AKI. Read More

Kyobu Geka 2020 Feb;73(2):127-130

Department of Thoracic Surgery, St. Mary's Hospital, Kurume, Japan.

The patient was a male in his 60s, who had undergone bone marrow transplantation because of lymphoblastic leukemia. He suffered from chest pain two weeks after the transplantation. A chest computed tomography(CT) showed reversed halo sign( RHS) in the right upper lobe of the lung. Read More

Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020 Jun 23;64(7). Epub 2020 Jun 23.

Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and mucormycosis are life-threatening complications in immunocompromised patients. A rapid diagnosis followed by early antifungal treatment is essential for patient survival. Given the limited spectrum of biomarkers for invasive mold infections, recent studies have proposed the use of radiolabeled siderophores or antibodies as molecular probes to increase the specificity of radiological findings by nuclear imaging modalities. Read More

Mycopathologia 2020 Jun 9;185(3):555-567. Epub 2020 May 9.

Department of Dermatology, The Affiliated Hospital, Guizhou Medical University, Beijing Road 4, Yunyan District, Guiyang, China.

Background: Lichtheimia species are emerging opportunistic fungal pathogens in the Mucorales, causing serious skin and respiratory infections in immunocompromised patients. Established agents are Lichtheimia corymbifera and L. ramosa, while L. Read More

Adv Appl Microbiol 2020 20;110:1-61. Epub 2019 Nov 20.

Biosciences, Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom. Electronic address:

Fungi are an important but frequently overlooked cause of morbidity and mortality in humans. Life-threatening fungal infections mainly occur in immunocompromised patients, and are typically caused by environmental opportunists that take advantage of a weakened immune system. The filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus is the most important and well-documented mold pathogen of humans, causing a number of complex respiratory diseases, including invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, an often fatal disease in patients with acute leukemia or in immunosuppressed bone marrow or solid organ transplant recipients. Read More

BMC Anesthesiol 2020 May 7;20(1):107. Epub 2020 May 7.

Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Intensivstation 39, Tübingen University Hospital, Eberhard-Karls-University, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.

Background: With the following report we want to present an unusual case of a patient suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome with early discovery of bacterial pathogens in bronchoalveolar liquid samples that developed a fatal undiscovered disseminated fungal infection.

Case Presentation: A 67-year-old man was admitted to our university hospital with dyspnea. Progressive respiratory failure developed leading to admission to the intensive care unit, intubation and prone positioning was necessary. Read More