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Stone NRH. Social Mycology: Using Social Media Networks in the Management of Aspergillosis and Other Mycoses. Mycopathologia 2023; 188:597-601. [PMID: 37022621 PMCID: PMC10078039 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-023-00726-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Online social media networks are an integral part of modern life. Microblogging sites such as Twitter have hundreds of millions of active users globally and have been enthusiastically adopted by many in the medical profession. For advancing a relatively neglected field such as fungal infection, this can be especially advantageous. Education, research networking, case discussions and public and patient engagement can all be greatly enhanced through the use of social media networks. This review highlights the ways in which this can work successfully in the case of aspergillosis and fungal infection in general, as well as highlighting the dangers and pitfalls of social media medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil R H Stone
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK.
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2
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Chandler DJ, Bonifaz A, van de Sande WWJ. An update on the development of novel antifungal agents for eumycetoma. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1165273. [PMID: 37274106 PMCID: PMC10232793 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1165273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Eumycetoma, a chronic subcutaneous mycosis, responds poorly to the available antifungal treatments and patients often require extensive surgical resection or amputation of the affected limb. More effective treatments are needed for eumycetoma. This article will describe some of the approaches being used to develop and evaluate new treatments for eumycetoma, summarise the latest developments and discuss the challenges that lie ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Chandler
- Department of Global Health and Infection, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, United Kingdom
- Dermatology Department, Brighton General Hospital, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandro Bonifaz
- Hospital General de México “Dr. Eduardo Liceaga”, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Wendy W. J. van de Sande
- Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Aboul-Ella H, Sayed RH, Abo-Elyazeed HS. Development, preparation, and evaluation of a novel dotted lateral flow immunochromatographic kit for rapid diagnosis of dermatophytosis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:248. [PMID: 36604481 PMCID: PMC9816107 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27443-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Dermatophytosis is a widely spread contagious zoonotic disease, affecting both man (tinea) and animals (ringworm). This disease is caused by a group of closely related keratinophilic fungi known collectively as the dermatophytes group. Although the wide distribution of dermatophytosis cases throughout the whole world and its adverse clinical effect on human health, economical effect on productive animals, and pet animal welfare, there is no rapid accurate diagnostic tool for such disease. The current conducted study tries to accomplish the difficult equation by achieving an accurate, sensitive, specific, user-friendly, rapid, robust, device-less, deliverable to end-users, and economic cost for the development and production of diagnostic kits. Through the development of a rapid diagnostic kit based on immunochromatographic assay with three major affordable reproducible production stages; preliminary stage, developmental and standardization stage, and evaluation stage. Obtaining dermatophytes-specific polyclonal antibodies against criteria-based selected dermatophytes strains associating proper gold nanoparticle preparation, characterization, and conjugation, with proper loading of the different bio-reactants on the efficiently laminated and fabricated lateral flow strips were the main challenge and control points through the whole process. Also, as a result of examining 100 animal samples using the new kit, the κ coefficients of the kit with the direct microscopy while the kit with the culture were 0.44 and 0.76, respectively. Therefore, the newly designated and developed kit showed a very promising competitive diagnostic result within 5-7 min through easy-to-be-performed three steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Aboul-Ella
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
| | - Rafik Hamed Sayed
- grid.418376.f0000 0004 1800 7673Department of Microbiology, Central Laboratory for Evaluation of Veterinary Biologics (CLEVB), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Cairo, Egypt
| | - Heidy Shawky Abo-Elyazeed
- grid.7776.10000 0004 0639 9286Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
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Shang Y, Wu X, Wang X, Dou H, Wei Q, Ma S, Sun G, Wang L, Sha W, Zhang H. Environmental factors and stochasticity affect the fungal community structures in the water and sediments of Hulun Lake, China. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9510. [PMID: 36415879 PMCID: PMC9674472 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Aquatic fungi form both morphologically and ecologically diverse communities. However, lake ecosystems are frequently overlooked as fungal habitats, despite the potentially important role of fungi in matter cycling and energy flow. Hulun Lake is a typical example of a seasonal glacial lake; however, previous studies have only focused on bacteria in this ecosystem. Therefore, in the current study, internal transcribed spacer ribosomal RNA (ITS rRNA) gene high-throughput sequencing was used to investigate the fungal communities in paired water and sediment samples from the Hulun Lake Basin in China. A significant difference was found between the fungal communities of the two sample types. Across all samples, we identified nine phyla, 30 classes, 78 orders, 177 families, and 307 genera. The dominant phyla in the lake were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Chytridiomycota. Our results show that both water and sediments have very high connectivity, are dominated by positive interactions, and have similar interaction patterns. The fungal community structures were found to be significantly affected by environmental factors (temperature, chemical oxygen demand, electrical conductivity, total phosphorus, and pH). In addition, the dispersal limitations of the fungi affected the structure of the fungal communities, and it was revealed that stochasticity is more important than deterministic mechanisms in influencing the structure and function of fungal communities. This study provides unique theoretical support for the study of seasonally frozen lake fungal communities and a scientific basis for the future management and protection of Hulun Lake.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xiaoyang Wu
- College of Life SciencesQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Xibao Wang
- College of Life SciencesQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Huashan Dou
- Hulunbuir Academy of Inland Lakes in Northern Cold & Arid AreasHulunbuirChina
| | - Qinguo Wei
- College of Life SciencesQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Shengchao Ma
- College of Life SciencesQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Guolei Sun
- College of Life SciencesQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Lidong Wang
- College of Life SciencesQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Weilai Sha
- College of Life SciencesQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
| | - Honghai Zhang
- College of Life SciencesQufu Normal UniversityQufuChina
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5
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K. Hussain K, Malavia D, M. Johnson E, Littlechild J, Winlove CP, Vollmer F, Gow NAR. Biosensors and Diagnostics for Fungal Detection. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 6:E349. [PMID: 33302535 PMCID: PMC7770582 DOI: 10.3390/jof6040349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Early detection is critical to the successful treatment of life-threatening infections caused by fungal pathogens, as late diagnosis of systemic infection almost always equates with a poor prognosis. The field of fungal diagnostics has some tests that are relatively simple, rapid to perform and are potentially suitable at the point of care. However, there are also more complex high-technology methodologies that offer new opportunities regarding the scale and precision of fungal diagnosis, but may be more limited in their portability and affordability. Future developments in this field are increasingly incorporating new technologies provided by the use of new format biosensors. This overview provides a critical review of current fungal diagnostics and the development of new biophysical technologies that are being applied for selective new sensitive fungal biosensors to augment traditional diagnostic methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalil K. Hussain
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK; (D.M.); (E.M.J.)
| | - Dhara Malavia
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK; (D.M.); (E.M.J.)
| | - Elizabeth M. Johnson
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK; (D.M.); (E.M.J.)
- UK National Mycology Reference Laboratory (MRL), Public Health England South-West, Science Quarter Southmead Hospital, Southmead, Bristol BS10 5NB, UK
| | - Jennifer Littlechild
- Biocatalysis Centre, University of Exeter, The Henry Wellcome Building for Biocatalysis, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK;
| | - C. Peter Winlove
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK;
| | - Frank Vollmer
- Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK;
| | - Neil A. R. Gow
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK; (D.M.); (E.M.J.)
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Ghosh PN, Brookes LM, Edwards HM, Fisher MC, Jervis P, Kappel D, Sewell TR, Shelton JM, Skelly E, Rhodes JL. Cross-Disciplinary Genomics Approaches to Studying Emerging Fungal Infections. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:E315. [PMID: 33260763 PMCID: PMC7761180 DOI: 10.3390/life10120315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging fungal pathogens pose a serious, global and growing threat to food supply systems, wild ecosystems, and human health. However, historic chronic underinvestment in their research has resulted in a limited understanding of their epidemiology relative to bacterial and viral pathogens. Therefore, the untargeted nature of genomics and, more widely, -omics approaches is particularly attractive in addressing the threats posed by and illuminating the biology of these pathogens. Typically, research into plant, human and wildlife mycoses have been largely separated, with limited dialogue between disciplines. However, many serious mycoses facing the world today have common traits irrespective of host species, such as plastic genomes; wide host ranges; large population sizes and an ability to persist outside the host. These commonalities mean that -omics approaches that have been productively applied in one sphere and may also provide important insights in others, where these approaches may have historically been underutilised. In this review, we consider the advances made with genomics approaches in the fields of plant pathology, human medicine and wildlife health and the progress made in linking genomes to other -omics datatypes and sets; we identify the current barriers to linking -omics approaches and how these are being underutilised in each field; and we consider how and which -omics methodologies it is most crucial to build capacity for in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pria N. Ghosh
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, St Mary’s Campus, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK; (L.M.B.); (H.M.E.); (M.C.F.); (P.J.); (D.K.); (T.R.S.); (J.M.G.S.); (E.S.); (J.L.R.)
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Lola M. Brookes
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, St Mary’s Campus, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK; (L.M.B.); (H.M.E.); (M.C.F.); (P.J.); (D.K.); (T.R.S.); (J.M.G.S.); (E.S.); (J.L.R.)
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, UK
- Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Herts AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Hannah M. Edwards
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, St Mary’s Campus, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK; (L.M.B.); (H.M.E.); (M.C.F.); (P.J.); (D.K.); (T.R.S.); (J.M.G.S.); (E.S.); (J.L.R.)
| | - Matthew C. Fisher
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, St Mary’s Campus, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK; (L.M.B.); (H.M.E.); (M.C.F.); (P.J.); (D.K.); (T.R.S.); (J.M.G.S.); (E.S.); (J.L.R.)
| | - Phillip Jervis
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, St Mary’s Campus, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK; (L.M.B.); (H.M.E.); (M.C.F.); (P.J.); (D.K.); (T.R.S.); (J.M.G.S.); (E.S.); (J.L.R.)
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, UK
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, London WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - Dana Kappel
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, St Mary’s Campus, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK; (L.M.B.); (H.M.E.); (M.C.F.); (P.J.); (D.K.); (T.R.S.); (J.M.G.S.); (E.S.); (J.L.R.)
| | - Thomas R. Sewell
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, St Mary’s Campus, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK; (L.M.B.); (H.M.E.); (M.C.F.); (P.J.); (D.K.); (T.R.S.); (J.M.G.S.); (E.S.); (J.L.R.)
| | - Jennifer M.G. Shelton
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, St Mary’s Campus, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK; (L.M.B.); (H.M.E.); (M.C.F.); (P.J.); (D.K.); (T.R.S.); (J.M.G.S.); (E.S.); (J.L.R.)
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Emily Skelly
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, St Mary’s Campus, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK; (L.M.B.); (H.M.E.); (M.C.F.); (P.J.); (D.K.); (T.R.S.); (J.M.G.S.); (E.S.); (J.L.R.)
| | - Johanna L. Rhodes
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, St Mary’s Campus, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK; (L.M.B.); (H.M.E.); (M.C.F.); (P.J.); (D.K.); (T.R.S.); (J.M.G.S.); (E.S.); (J.L.R.)
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Lockhart DEA, Stanley M, Raimi OG, Robinson DA, Boldovjakova D, Squair DR, Ferenbach AT, Fang W, van Aalten DMF. Targeting a critical step in fungal hexosamine biosynthesis. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:8678-8691. [PMID: 32341126 PMCID: PMC7324522 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.012985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a human opportunistic fungal pathogen whose cell wall protects it from the extracellular environment including host defenses. Chitin, an essential component of the fungal cell wall, is synthesized from UDP-GlcNAc produced in the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway. As this pathway is critical for fungal cell wall integrity, the hexosamine biosynthesis enzymes represent potential targets of antifungal drugs. Here, we provide genetic and chemical evidence that glucosamine 6-phosphate N-acetyltransferase (Gna1), a key enzyme in this pathway, is an exploitable antifungal drug target. GNA1 deletion resulted in loss of fungal viability and disruption of the cell wall, phenotypes that could be rescued by exogenous GlcNAc, the product of the Gna1 enzyme. In a murine model of aspergillosis, the Δgna1 mutant strain exhibited attenuated virulence. Using a fragment-based approach, we discovered a small heterocyclic scaffold that binds proximal to the Gna1 active site and can be optimized to a selective submicromolar binder. Taken together, we have provided genetic, structural, and chemical evidence that Gna1 is an antifungal target in A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah E A Lockhart
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom; Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.
| | - Mathew Stanley
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Olawale G Raimi
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - David A Robinson
- Drug Discovery Unit, Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | - Dominika Boldovjakova
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Foresterhill, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel R Squair
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
| | | | - Wenxia Fang
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, United Kingdom
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Chakrabarti A. 'Medical Mycology' - a new section in the Journal of Medical Microbiology. J Med Microbiol 2020; 68:1697-1698. [PMID: 31609199 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Arunaloke Chakrabarti
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Researchh, Chandigarh, India
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C-Type Lectin Receptors in Antifungal Immunity. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1204:1-30. [PMID: 32152941 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-1580-4_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Most fungal species are harmless to humans and some exist as commensals on mucocutaneous surfaces. Yet many fungi are opportunistic pathogens, causing life-threatening invasive infections when the immune system becomes compromised. The fungal cell wall contains conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), which allow the immune system to distinguish between self (endogenous molecular patterns) and foreign material. Sensing of invasive microbial pathogens is achieved through recognition of PAMPs by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). One of the predominant fungal-sensing PRRs is the C-type lectin receptor (CLR) family. These receptors bind to structures present on the fungal cell wall, eliciting various innate immune responses as well as shaping adaptive immunity. In this chapter, we specifically focus on the four major human fungal pathogens, Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus neoformans and Pneumocystis jirovecii, reviewing our current understanding of the CLRs that are involved in their recognition and protection of the host.
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Ghosh PN, Fisher MC, Bates KA. Diagnosing Emerging Fungal Threats: A One Health Perspective. Front Genet 2018; 9:376. [PMID: 30254662 PMCID: PMC6141620 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging fungal pathogens are a growing threat to global health, ecosystems, food security, and the world economy. Over the last century, environmental change and globalized transport, twinned with the increasing application of antifungal chemical drugs have led to increases in outbreaks of fungal diseases with sometimes catastrophic effects. In order to tackle contemporary epidemics and predemic threats, there is a pressing need for a unified approach in identification and monitoring of fungal pathogens. In this paper, we discuss current high throughput technologies, as well as new platforms capable of combining diverse data types to inform practical epidemiological strategies with a focus on emerging fungal pathogens of wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pria N. Ghosh
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Matthew C. Fisher
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kieran A. Bates
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
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Rodrigues ML, Albuquerque PC. Searching for a change: The need for increased support for public health and research on fungal diseases. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006479. [PMID: 29902170 PMCID: PMC6001980 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas (ICC), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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12
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Predicting Invasive Aspergillosis in Hematology Patients by Combining Clinical and Genetic Risk Factors with Early Diagnostic Biomarkers. J Clin Microbiol 2017; 56:JCM.01122-17. [PMID: 29118175 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01122-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Personalized medicine provides a strategic approach to the management of IA. The incidence of IA in high-risk hematology populations is relatively low (<10%), despite unavoidable Aspergillus exposure in patients with a potentially similar clinical risk. Nonclinical variables, including genetic mutations that increase susceptibility to IA, could explain why only certain patients develop the disease. This study screened for mutations in 322 hematology patients classified according to IA status and developed a predictive model based on genetic risk, established clinical risk factors, and diagnostic biomarkers. Genetic markers were determined by real-time PCR and, with clinical risk factors and Aspergillus PCR results, subjected to multilogistic regression analysis to identify a best-fit model for predicting IA. The probability of IA was calculated, and an optimal threshold was determined. Mutations in dectin-1 (rs7309123) and DC-SIGN (rs11465384 and rs7248637), allogeneic stem cell transplantation, respiratory virus infection, and Aspergillus PCR positivity were all significant risk factors for developing IA and were combined in a predictive model. An optimal threshold requiring three positive factors generated a mean sensitivity/specificity of 70.4%/89.2% and a probability of developing IA of 56.7%. In patients with no risk factors, the probability of developing IA was 2.4%, compared to >79.1% in patients with four or more factors. Using a risk threshold of 50%, preemptive therapy would have been prescribed for 8.4% of the population. This pilot study shows that patients can be stratified according to risk of IA, providing personalized medicine based on strategic evidence for the management of IA. Further studies are required to confirm this approach.
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Fisher MC, Gow NAR, Gurr SJ. Tackling emerging fungal threats to animal health, food security and ecosystem resilience. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 371:rstb.2016.0332. [PMID: 28080997 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging infections caused by fungi have become a widely recognized global phenomenon. Their notoriety stems from their causing plagues and famines, driving species extinctions, and the difficulty in treating human mycoses alongside the increase of their resistance to antifungal drugs. This special issue comprises a collection of articles resulting from a Royal Society discussion meeting examining why pathogenic fungi are causing more disease now than they did in the past, and how we can tackle this rapidly emerging threat to the health of plants and animals worldwide.This article is part of the themed issue 'Tackling emerging fungal threats to animal health, food security and ecosystem resilience'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Fisher
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Neil A R Gow
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Sarah J Gurr
- University of Exeter School of Biosciences, Rothamsted at North Wyke, Okehampton EX4 4QD, UK
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14
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Head MG, Fitchett JR, Nageshwaran V, Kumari N, Hayward A, Atun R. Research Investments in Global Health: A Systematic Analysis of UK Infectious Disease Research Funding and Global Health Metrics, 1997-2013. EBioMedicine 2015; 3:180-190. [PMID: 26870829 PMCID: PMC4739409 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2015.12.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infectious diseases account for a significant global burden of disease and substantial investment in research and development. This paper presents a systematic assessment of research investments awarded to UK institutions and global health metrics assessing disease burden. METHODS We systematically sourced research funding data awarded from public and philanthropic organisations between 1997 and 2013. We screened awards for relevance to infection and categorised data by type of science, disease area and specific pathogen. Investments were compared with mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and years lived with disability (YLD) across three time points. FINDINGS Between 1997-2013, there were 7398 awards with a total investment of £3.7 billion. An increase in research funding across 2011-2013 was observed for most disease areas, with notable exceptions being sexually transmitted infections and sepsis research where funding decreased. Most funding remains for pre-clinical research (£2.2 billion, 59.4%). Relative to global mortality, DALYs and YLDs, acute hepatitis C, leishmaniasis and African trypanosomiasis received comparatively high levels of funding. Pneumonia, shigellosis, pertussis, cholera and syphilis were poorly funded across all health metrics. Tuberculosis (TB) consistently attracts relatively less funding than HIV and malaria. INTERPRETATION Most infections have received increases in research investment, alongside decreases in global burden of disease in 2013. The UK demonstrates research strengths in some neglected tropical diseases such as African trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis, but syphilis, cholera, shigellosis and pneumonia remain poorly funded relative to their global burden. Acute hepatitis C appears well funded but the figures do not adequately take into account projected future chronic burdens for this condition. These findings can help to inform global policymakers on resource allocation for research investment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Head
- University College London, Farr Institute for Health Informatics, 222 Euston Road, London NW1 2DA, United Kingdom; Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental Sciences Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, United Kingdom.
| | - Joseph R Fitchett
- London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London, United Kingdom; Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Nina Kumari
- Imperial College London, School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Hayward
- University College London, Farr Institute for Health Informatics, 222 Euston Road, London NW1 2DA, United Kingdom
| | - Rifat Atun
- Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
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15
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Dixon EF, Hall RA. Noisy neighbourhoods: quorum sensing in fungal-polymicrobial infections. Cell Microbiol 2015; 17:1431-41. [PMID: 26243526 PMCID: PMC4973845 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Revised: 06/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/17/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Quorum sensing was once considered a way in which a species was able to sense its cell density and regulate gene expression accordingly. However, it is now becoming apparent that multiple microbes can sense particular quorum-sensing molecules, enabling them to sense and respond to other microbes in their neighbourhood. Such interactions are significant within the context of polymicrobial disease, in which the competition or cooperation of microbes can alter disease progression. Fungi comprise a small but important component of the human microbiome and are in constant contact with bacteria and viruses. The discovery of quorum-sensing pathways in fungi has led to the characterization of a number of interkingdom quorum-sensing interactions. Here, we review the recent developments in quorum sensing in medically important fungi, and the implications these interactions have on the host's innate immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily F Dixon
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, and School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Rebecca A Hall
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, and School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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16
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Slavin MA, Chen SCA. Clinical and Translational Mycology on the southern shores: perspective from the Australia and New Zealand Mycoses Interest Group. MICROBIOLOGY AUSTRALIA 2015. [DOI: 10.1071/ma15020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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17
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ken Haynes
- University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
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