Mycoses 2018 Apr 17. Epub 2018 Apr 17.

Medical Pathology Department School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.

Background: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most prevalent systemic mycosis among immunocompetent patients in Latin America.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the expansion over time and the geographical distribution of confirmed Neuroparacoccidioidomycosis (NPCM) and PCM cases, and relate it to environmental characteristics such as climate, soil types, and coffee crops.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of autopsy and biopsy reports between 1951 and 2014 from the Medical Pathology Section of the Hospital de Clinicas, UFPR, Curitiba, Southern Brazil. Read More

Mult Scler 2018 Apr 1:1352458518763091. Epub 2018 Apr 1.

Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Natalizumab (NTZ) is a monoclonal antibody with an immunosuppressive effect that reduces the inflammation of the central nervous system, and it has been used for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). In patients with low cellular immune response, systemic mycosis arising from endemic areas may occur.

Results And Conclusion: In this article, we will describe a case of paracoccidioidomycosis as a complication to treatment with NTZ in an RRMS patient. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 20;9:464. Epub 2018 Mar 20.

Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), which have been extensively studied in the context of the immune response to viruses, have recently been implicated in host defense mechanisms against fungal infections. Nevertheless, the involvement of human pDCs during paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a fungal infection endemic to Latin America, has been scarcely studied. However, pDCs were found in the cutaneous lesions of PCM patients, and in pulmonary model of murine PCM these cells were shown to control disease severity. Read More

Dis Aquat Organ 2018 Mar;128(1):1-12

The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York 10016, USA.

Lobomycosis and lobomycosis-like diseases (LLD) (also: paracoccidioidomycosis) are chronic cutaneous infections that affect Delphinidae in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. In the Americas, these diseases have been relatively well-described, but gaps still exist in our understanding of their distribution across the continent. Here we report on LLD affecting inshore bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus from the Caribbean waters of Belize and from the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean off the southwestern coast of Mexico. Read More

J Fungi (Basel) 2018 Mar 18;4(1). Epub 2018 Mar 18.

National Aspergillosis Centre, Wythenshawe Hospital and The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.

We aimed to estimate for the first time the burden of fungal infections in Uruguay. Data on population characteristics and underlying conditions were extracted from the National Statistics Institute, the World Bank, national registries, and published articles. When no data existed, risk populations were used to estimate frequencies extrapolating from the literature. Read More

Braz J Infect Dis 2018 Mar 15. Epub 2018 Mar 15.

Department of Radiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rua Prof. Rodolfo Paulo Rocco, n° 255 - Cidade Universitária - Ilha do Fundão - CEP: 219.419-13, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address:

Int J Biol Macromol 2018 Mar 6;113:1214-1220. Epub 2018 Mar 6.

Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil. Electronic address:

A critical step in the lifecycle of many fungal pathogens is the ability to switch between filamentous and yeast growth, a process known as dimorphism. cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) controls morphological changes and the pathogenicity of several animal and plant pathogenic fungi. In this work, we report the analysis of PKA activity during the mycelium to yeast transition in the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides lutzii. Read More

Clin Nucl Med 2018 May;43(5):305-310

Objective: The evaluation of therapy response of patients with deep mycosis is a major challenge. The aim of this study was to assess the severity of disease at admission and evaluate treatment response of patients with paracoccidioidomycosis using Ga scintigraphy.

Subjects And Methods: Seventy-three patients with fully active disease were enrolled. Read More

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2018 Jan-Feb;51(1):111-114

Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Dermatologia Infecciosa, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.

The authors report the first case of fatal septic shock, a rare clinical presentation of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis S1. We also provide an immunological evaluation of the patient. Severe clinical signs such as organ dysfunction and digital gangrene occurred in this case. Read More

Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2018 Feb 27. Epub 2018 Feb 27.

Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biology, São Leopoldo Mandic Institute and Research Center, Campinas, Sa[Combining Tilde]o Paulo, Brazil.

Secreted osteoclastogenic factor of activated T cells (SOFAT) is a novel activated human T-cell-secreted cytokine that induce osteoclastogenesis in a RANKL-independent manner. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of SOFAT in intraosseous and extraosseous lesions. Thirty-two oral biopsies were divided into 2 groups: (1) intraosseous lesions-4 cases of cherubism, 5 central giant cell lesions, 3 osteoblastomas, 3 cementoblastomas, 2 periapical lesions and (2) extraosseous lesions-5 peripheral giant cell lesions, 5 cases of oral paracoccidioidomycosis, and 5 foreign body reactions. Read More

Mycopathologia 2018 Feb 16. Epub 2018 Feb 16.

Oral Diagnosis Department, Semiology and Oral Pathology Areas, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Av. Limeira, 901, Piracicaba, SP, CEP 13.414-903, Brazil.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a common deep fungus infection in South America, particularly in Brazil. It is acquired through inhalation and primary involvement of lungs. Subsequently, dissemination may occur and oral mucosa is frequently affected and actually, in most of the cases the diagnosis is established because of the oral lesions. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018 Feb 15;12(2):e0006245. Epub 2018 Feb 15.

Tropical Medicine Unit, Infectious Diseases Department. PROSICS Barcelona (International Health Program of the Catalan Health Institute), Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.

Endemic mycoses are systemic fungal infections. Histoplasmosis is endemic in all temperate areas of the world; coccidioidomycosis and paracoccidioidomycosis are only present in the American continent. These pathogens are not present in Spain, but in the last years there has been an increase of reported cases due to migration and temporary movements. Read More

Med Mycol 2017 Oct 9. Epub 2017 Oct 9.

Tropical Diseases Department, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Campus Botucatu, Brazil.

A prospective study was performed in 200 paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) patients, 51 presenting the acute/subacute form (AF) and 149 the chronic form (CF), submitted to the evaluation of the hepatobiliary system at admission and during the follow-up treatment with cotrimoxazole (CMX) or itraconazole (ITC). This study aimed to better evaluate the involvement of the hepatobiliary system in PCM and the effect of these antifungal compounds on this system. Serum levels of direct bilirubin (DB), total bilirubin (TB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) were evaluated. Read More

Med Mycol 2017 Oct 9. Epub 2017 Oct 9.

School of Microbiology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.

Itraconazole (ITC) is the drug of choice for treating paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM); nonetheless, patients with the chronic form of this mycosis develop fibrosis, a residual pulmonary abnormality, even after treatment. Recently, we observed that the depletion of neutrophils with a specific monoclonal antibody (mAb-anti-Ly6G) during the chronic stages of PCM was associated with a decrease in the fungal burden, the inflammatory response and a reduction of fibrosis. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the effect of ITC in combination with the mAb-anti-Ly6G in an experimental model of pulmonary PCM. Read More

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2018 Mar;113(3):167-172

Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Dermatologia Infecciosa, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.

Background: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is one of the most important systemic mycoses in Latin America and the leading fungal cause of mortality in non-immunosuppressed individuals in Brazil. However, HIV/PCM co-infection can increase the clinical severity in these co-infected patients. This co-infection is rarely reported in the literature mainly because of the different epidemiological profiles of these infections. Read More

FEMS Yeast Res 2018 Mar;18(2)

Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the agent of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a cause of disease in healthy and immunocompromised persons in Latin America. The infection begins after inhalation of the fungal propagules and their thermo-dimorphic shift to yeast form. The development of the disease depends on factors associated with the host immune response and the infectious agent's characteristics, especially virulence. Read More

Am J Trop Med Hyg 2018 Apr 1;98(4):1082-1085. Epub 2018 Feb 1.

Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Dermatology and Immunodeficiencies Unit #56, Medical School and Tropical Medicine Institute, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.

Negative results in serological routine screening of patients with microbiologically proven Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) are occasionally reported. Failure in detecting anti- antibodies has been ascribed to factors either related to serological techniques or to the status of the host immune reactivity. Recently, this issue has been renewed by the recognition that the genera comprises two species, and , which have distinct antigenic profiles and, therefore, may elicit different host antibody responses. Read More

J Fungi (Basel) 2017 Jan 3;3(1). Epub 2017 Jan 3.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo 14049-900, Brazil.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic fungal disease occurring in Latin America and more prevalent in South America. The disease is caused by the dimorphic fungus spp. whose major hosts are humans and armadillos. Read More

Pathog Dis 2018 Feb;76(1)

Laboratório de Micologia Clínica, Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Araraquara, Brazil.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic fungal infection affecting mainly Latin American countries that is caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and Paracoccidioides lutzii. During the study of fungal pathogenesis, in vivo studies are crucial to understand the overall mechanisms involving the infection as well as to search for new therapeutic treatments and diagnosis. Caenorhabditis elegans is described as an infection model for different fungi species and a well-characterized organism to study the innate immune response. Read More

Med Mycol 2018 Jan 13. Epub 2018 Jan 13.

Departamento de Micología, Instituto de Medicina Regional, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, CONICET, Resistencia, Argentina.

Argentina has two endemic areas of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). Bordering Paraguay and Brazil, Northeast Argentina (NEA) comprises the area with the highest incidence where the chronic adult clinical form has historically been reported. Juvenile form in children and adolescents is rare in this area since only one case was reported in the last 10 years. Read More

Radiol Bras 2017 Nov-Dec;50(6):378-382

Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, SP, Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate SPECT/CT with radiolabeled somatostatin analogues (RSAs) in systemic granulomatous infections in comparison with gallium-67 (Ga) citrate scintigraphy.

Materials And Methods: We studied 28 patients with active systemic granulomatous infections, including tuberculosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, pneumocystosis, cryptococcosis, aspergillosis, leishmaniasis, infectious vasculitis, and an unspecified opportunistic infection. Of the 28 patients, 23 had started specific treatment before the study outset. Read More

Mycoses 2018 Apr 23;61(4):237-244. Epub 2018 Jan 23.

Medical Patology Departament, Medicine School, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis prevalent among immunocompetent patients in Latin America. This study aimed to describe the frequency, demographics and clinical characteristics of central nervous system PCM (NPCM) and PCM in an endemic region, and the impact of human immunosuppression virus (HIV) co-infection. This was a retrospective study of autopsy and biopsy reports from the Medical Pathology Section of the Hospital de Clinicas, UFPR, Curitiba, Southern Brazil, between 1951 and 2014. Read More

Med Mycol 2017 Dec 14. Epub 2017 Dec 14.

Microbiology School, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin Colombia.

Several studies have shown the potential use of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) as a therapeutic approach to infectious diseases. Since BM-MSCs can exert antimicrobial properties and influence the immune response against pathogens, our aim was to study the antimicrobial therapeutic potential of BM-MSCs in an experimental model of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). BM-MSCs were isolated from BALB/c donor mice. Read More

Transbound Emerg Dis 2018 04 3;65(2):585-587. Epub 2017 Dec 3.

Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Open Microbiol J 2017 31;11:224-282. Epub 2017 Oct 31.

Department of Tropical Diseases, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - São Paulo State University - UNESP, São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: This review article summarizes and updates the knowledge on paracoccidioidomycosis. and the cryptic species of and their geographical distribution in Latin America, explaining the difficulties observed in the serological diagnosis.

Objectives: Emphasis has been placed on some genetic factors as predisposing condition for paracoccidioidomycosis. Read More

Am J Trop Med Hyg 2017 Dec;97(6):1635

Infectious Diseases Section, University of Antioquia School of Medicine, Medellín, Colombia.

Front Immunol 2017 13;8:1522. Epub 2017 Nov 13.

Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Resistance to primary fungal pathogens is usually attributed to the proinflammatory mechanisms of immunity conferred by interferon-γ activation of phagocytes that control microbial growth, whereas susceptibility is attributed to anti-inflammatory responses that deactivate immunity. This study challenges this paradigm by demonstrating that resistance to a primary fungal pathogen such as can be mediated by disease tolerance, a mechanism that preserves host fitness instead of pathogen clearance. Among the mechanisms of disease tolerance described, a crucial role has been ascribed to the enzyme indoleamine-2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) that concomitantly controls pathogen growth by limiting tryptophan availability and reduces tissue damage by decreasing the inflammatory process. Read More

An Bras Dermatol 2017 Sep-Oct;92(5):642-648

Division of Dermatology, Department of Medical Clinics, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP) - Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brazil.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is distributed worldwide, including Brazil. Its several clinical forms need to be distinguished from other dermatoses. Clinical similarities and lack of a gold standard diagnostic tool make leishmaniasis-like lesions a challenging diagnosis. Read More

Mycopathologia 2017 Nov 20. Epub 2017 Nov 20.

Laboratories of Medical Investigation Units #53 and #56, Medical School and Tropical Medicine Institute, University of São Paulo Medical School, Avenida Doutor Arnaldo 455, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Two distinct patterns of immune recovery inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) are recognized, paradoxical and unmasking IRIS. Here we raise some concerns regarding the first case of neuroPCM-IRIS published to date, as recently proposed by Almeida and Roza (Mycopathologia 177:137-141, 2017) for a patient originally described by Silva-Vergara et al. (Mycopathologia 182:393-396, 2014), taking in account the different case definitions for IRIS and the cases of neuroparacoccidioidomycosis already described in the literature. Read More

Med Mycol Case Rep 2018 Mar 25;19:6-8. Epub 2017 Sep 25.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória 29043-900, Espírito Santo, Brazil.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a fungal disease caused by Paracoccidioides spp., which can cause a systemic granulomatous infection with tegumentary and visceral involvement. Sarcoid-like skin lesions are uncommon and can be misdiagnosed due to similarities with erythematous infiltrated plaques on her face that was treated for leprosy and rosacea with no response and was later diagnosed with PCM, presenting positive serology for Paracoccidioides lutzii. Read More

J Infect Public Health 2017 Nov 16. Epub 2017 Nov 16.

Department of Clinical Dentistry, Espírito Santo Federal University, Vitória, Brazil. Electronic address:

Background: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most prevalent endemic systemic fungal infection in Latin America. In Brazil, it stands out as the eighth-highest cause of mortality among chronic or recurrent infections and has the highest mortality rate among systemic mycoses. Oral mucosal lesions may be the first visible physical manifestation of the disease. Read More

J Infect Dis 2018 Jan;217(2):329-339

Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is equipped with an arsenal of virulence factors that are crucial for causing infection. Our group previously defined the NLRP3 inflammasome as a mediator of P brasiliensis-induced cell damage recognition and induction of effective Th1 immune responses. However, deficiency of caspase-1 only partially reduced interleukin (IL)-1β levels. Read More

Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2017 Nov;112(11):748-755

Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina, Botucatu, SP, Brasil.

Background: The main clinical forms of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) are the acute/subacute form (AF) and the chronic form (CF), and they both display considerable clinical variability. The immune responses of PCM patients, during and after treatment, remain neglected, mainly in the case of CF patients, due to the high prevalence of pulmonary sequelae.

Objective: To evaluate the distribution of whole blood T cell subsets, serum cytokines, and biomarkers of pulmonary fibrosis in PCM patients, according to the clinical form and at different time points, during the antifungal therapy. Read More

Med Mycol Case Rep 2018 Mar 6;19:1-5. Epub 2017 Oct 6.

Núcleo de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa da Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

This paper presents a case of disseminated paracoccidioidomycosis in a 62-year-old male patient, who lives in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. The patient was hospitalized with icteric syndrome of cholestatic pattern and weight loss, with loss 30 kg in 5 months. The imaging of the abdomen showed lesion of infiltrative pattern, affecting gallbladder and intrahepatic bile ducts, suggesting neoplasia of malignant behavior, besides to presenting the yellow nail syndrome. Read More

Emerg Infect Dis 2017 11;23(11):1917-1919

Transmission of Paracoccidioides spp. fungi to humans is usually related to manipulation of soil. Rural workers are the most affected group. Read More

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2017 Sep-Oct;50(5):744

[This corrects the article doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0230-2017]. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2017 Oct 18;18:1114-1117. Epub 2017 Oct 18.

Department of Internal Medicine, CES Clinic, Medellin, Colombia.

BACKGROUND Paracoccidioidomycosis is an endemic mycosis in Central and South America caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Despite its self-limited course and usually asymptomatic infection, some patients may present with a systemic illness mimicking multiple conditions and thus question the general state of their immune system. CASE REPORT A 28-year-old male presented to the hospital with fever, dry cough, and non-pruritic rash with no characteristic distribution for the past 10 days. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017 Oct 17;11(10):e0006006. Epub 2017 Oct 17.

School of Microbiology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) have been consider as a promising therapy in fibrotic diseases. Experimental models suggest that BMMSCs may be used as an alternative therapy to treat chemical- or physical-induced pulmonary fibrosis. We investigated the anti-fibrotic potential of BMMSCs in an experimental model of lung fibrosis by infection with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Read More

J Infect Dis 2017 Dec;216(12):1623-1634

Department of Immunology, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Mutations in genes affecting interferon-γ (IFN-γ) immunity have contributed to understand the role of IFN-γ in protection against intracellular pathogens. However, inborn errors in STAT4, which controls interleukin-12 (IL-12) responses, have not yet been reported. Our objective was to determine the genetic defect in a family with a history of paracoccidioidomycosis. Read More

Med Mycol 2018 Apr;56(3):332-343

Department of Morphology and Basic Pathology, Faculty of Medicine of Jundiaí (FMJ), Jundiaí, SP, Brazil.

Besides interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, the newly described cytokines of IL-1 family IL-33 and IL-37 can contribute to the differentiation and maintenance of different population of T cells. IL-33 acts as an allarmin and promotes a predominant Th2 inflammatory response, whereas IL-37 plays an important role as an antagonist of inflammation. In paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), caused by the dimorphic fungi Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and P. Read More

Front Microbiol 2017 20;8:1803. Epub 2017 Sep 20.

Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São PauloRibeirão Preto, Brazil.

and are fungi causing paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), an autochthonous systemic mycosis found in Latin America. These microorganisms contain a multitude of molecules that may be associated with the complex interaction of the fungus with the host. Here, we identify the enzyme dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (DLD) as an exoantigen from (Pb18_Dld) by mass spectrometry. Read More

IDCases 2017 14;10:71-74. Epub 2017 Sep 14.

Hospital Universitário Gaffrée e Guinle, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic granulomatous disease caused by or . It is a neglected tropical infectious disease that poses a major public health burden in endemic areas of Latin America. Mucosae of the upper digestive and respiratory tracts are commonly involved and many patients have disease at multiple mucosal sites, with or without lung involvement. Read More

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2017 Jul-Aug;50(4):568-570

Ambulatório das Manifestações Cutâneas das Imunodeficiência Primárias, Departamento de Dermatologia, Hospital das Clinicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

Myeloperoxidase (MOP) is present in monocyte and neutrophil lysosomes, catalyzing hydrogen peroxide and chloride ion conversion to hypochlorous acid. MOP seems to destroy pathogens during phagocytosis by neutrophils and is considered an important defense against innumerous bacteria. We present a patient who had MOP deficiency, who presented with a subacute form of paracoccidioidomycosis and later with peritoneal tuberculosis. Read More

Microbes Infect 2018 Jan 23;20(1):48-56. Epub 2017 Sep 23.

Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address:

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis with lymphatic dissemination that is caused by Paracoccidioides species. Treatment of PCM consists of chemotherapeutics such as itraconazole, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole or amphotericin B. However, several studies are aiming to develop therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of fungal infection using new molecules as adjuvants. Read More

PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017 Sep 22;11(9):e0005927. Epub 2017 Sep 22.

Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is an infectious disease endemic to South America, caused by the thermally dimorphic fungi Paracoccidioides. Currently, there is no effective human vaccine that can be used in prophylactic or therapeutic regimes. We tested the hypothesis that the immunogenicity of the immunodominant CD4+ T-cell epitope (P10) of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis gp43 antigen might be significantly enhanced by using a hepatitis B virus-derived particle (VLP) as an antigen carrier. Read More

Clin Vaccine Immunol 2017 Nov 6;24(11). Epub 2017 Nov 6.

Department of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are highly conserved biomolecules that are constitutively expressed and generally upregulated in response to various stress conditions (biotic and abiotic). Hsps have diverse functions, categorizations, and classifications. Their adaptive expression in fungi indicates their significance in these diverse species, particularly in dimorphic pathogens. Read More

Mycopathologia 2017 Dec 12;182(11-12):1095-1099. Epub 2017 Sep 12.

Department of Otolaryngology, Lagoa's Hospital, 501 Jardim Botânico Street, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22470-050, Brazil.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis that represents an important public health problem in Latin America due to its life-threatening character. It is considered occupational disease of agricultural workers. In this report, we present a rare and serious case of the acute form of the disease in a 40-year-old man with no history of contact with the rural environment. Read More

J Neurovirol 2017 Dec 11;23(6):913-918. Epub 2017 Sep 11.

Medical Pathology Department, Medicine School, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, is the most prevalent systemic mycosis among immunocompetent patients in Latin America; it is rare in immunocompromised patients. The estimated frequency of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in the HIV/PCM population was 2.5%. Read More

Photochem Photobiol 2018 Jan 3;94(1):88-94. Epub 2017 Nov 3.

Department of Morphological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brasil.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb) can disseminate through the lymphatic and hematogenic pathways. As a result the spleen and other lymphoid organs are targets of paracoccidioidomycosis. There are few studies describing this disease in the spleen and more detailed descriptions are required. Read More

Front Immunol 2017 21;8:949. Epub 2017 Aug 21.

Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a chronic granulomatous disease caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus and , has the highest mortality rate among systemic mycosis. The T helper 1-mediated immunity is primarily responsible for acquired resistance during infection, while susceptibility is associated with Th2 occurrence. Th17 is a population of T CD4 cells that, among several chemokines and cytokines, produces IL-17A and requires the presence of IL-1, IL-6, and TGF-β for differentiation in mice and IL-23 for its maintenance. Read More