Medical Mycology 

About: Medical Mycology is an academic journal published by Oxford University Press. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Candida albicans & Medicine. It has an ISSN identifier of 1369-3786. Over the lifetime, 5477 publications have been published receiving 141369 citations.

An amino acid liquid synthetic medium for the development of mycelial and yeast forms of Candida Albicans

Abstract: A chemically defined medium composed of 6 amino acids, biotin, inorganic salts and glucose for the growth of yeast and mycelial phases of Candida albicans at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees of C respectively was developed based on the aminopeptidase(s) profile of the fungus. This medium has proved successful in maintaining the growth characteristics of both phases during serial transfers. The relative pathogenicity, virulence, invasiveness and immunogenicity of the yeast and mycelial phases are discussed.

Nosocomial fungal infections: epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment

Abstract: Invasive fungal infections are increasingly common in the nosocomial setting Furthermore, because risk factors for these infections continue to increase in frequency, it is likely that nosocomial fungal infections will continue to increase in frequency in the coming decades The predominant nosocomial fungal pathogens include Candida spp, Aspergillus spp, Mucorales, Fusarium spp, and other molds, including Scedosporium spp These infections are difficult to diagnose and cause high morbidity and mortality despite antifungal therapy Early initiation of effective antifungal therapy and reversal of underlying host defects remain the cornerstones of treatment for nosocomial fungal infections In recent years, new antifungal agents have become available, resulting in a change in standard of care for many of these infections Nevertheless, the mortality of nosocomial fungal infections remains high, and new therapeutic and preventative strategies are needed

Plate method for detection of phospholipase activity in Candida albicans

Abstract: Intracellular phospholipase activity has previously been detected in Candida albicans. A plate method is described which allows rapid detection and measurement of the extracellular activity in a number of clinical isolates. The ratio of colony diameter to diameter of the dense white zone of precipitation around phospholipase positive colonies, (Pz value), correlates with hydrolysis of [14C]phosphatidylcholine by concentrated culture filtrates of selected test isolates. A large variation in phospholipase activity is found between different isolates of C. albicans, however the Pz value is constant for any one isolate regardless of the site from which it is recovered in the patient. Fifty five % of fresh blood isolates are positive and these are also the most potent phospholipase producers. Fifth % of wound isolates and 30% of urine isolates are also positive. A larger sample group must be studied, however, before it can be determined whether these differences are highly significant.

Antifungal drug resistance in pathogenic fungi.

Abstract: Failures of drug treatment in fungal infections combined with improvements in performances and standardization of antifungal susceptibility testing have drawn attention to the problem of antifungal resistance and its underlying mechanisms. Resistance of Candida species and Cryptococcus neoformans to flucytosine (5FC) develops during monotherapy. Acquired resistance results from a failure to metabolize 5FC to 5FUTP and 5FdUMP, or from the loss of feedback control of pyrimidine biosynthesis. A combination of 5FC and amphotericin B (AmB) reduces the appearance of resistant C. albicans isolates. Resistance to AmB is unusual. C. lusitaniae is the most susceptible to AmB resistance. C. neoformans with decreased AmB susceptibility has been isolated from an HIV-infected patient. Acquired resistance to AmB is often associated with alteration of membrane lipids, especially ergosterol. Concomitant with the widespread use of fluconazole there have been increasing reports of fluconazole resistance in Candida species and C. neoformans. Fluconazole resistance was mostly associated with prior use of fluconazole as intermittent therapy or prophylactic continuous treatment for recurrent thrush. In contrast to fluconazole, itraconazole is active against C. krusei. Decreased susceptibility to itraconazole is observed over time in C. albicans isolates becoming resistant to fluconazole. Decreased susceptibility to itraconazole and SCH-56592 was also observed in a few Aspergillus fumigatus isolates. Failure to accumulate azole antifungals has been identified as a cause of resistance in several post-treatment C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. krusei isolates. In azole-resistant C. albicans isolates from AIDS patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis, multidrug efflux transporters of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily and of the class of major facilitators (MF) have been shown to be responsible for the low level of accumulation of azole antifungal agents. Two genes for these transporters, the ABC-transporter gene CDR1 and the MF gene, CaMDR1 (BEN) were shown to be overexpressed in resistant C. albicans isolates. Overexpression of BEN in Saccharomyces cerevisiae conferred resistance to fluconazole and terbinafine. CDR1 overexpression in S. cerevisiae conferred cross-resistance to fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole and terbinafine. C. albicans clinical isolates resistant to azole antifungal agents over-expressing the ABC-transporter genes CDR1 and CDR2 were less susceptible to the morpholine derivative amorolfine. In C. glabrata isolates azole resistance is based on over-expression of the CgCDR gene. A reduced susceptibility of ergosterol biosynthesis is another mechanism of resistance described in a number of post-treatment C. albicans, C. neoformans and Histoplasma capsulatum isolates. Mutations have been reported in the CYP51A1 genes of resistant C. albicans isolates. Over-expression of CYP51A1 in C. albicans and C. glabrata may also account for a decreased susceptibility to azole antifungal agents.

Consensus multi-locus sequence typing scheme for Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii.

Abstract: This communication describes the consensus multi-locus typing scheme established by the Cryptococcal Working Group I (Genotyping of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii) of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) using seven unlinked genetic loci for global strain genotyping. These genetic loci include the housekeeping genes CAP59,GPD1, LAC1, PLB1, SOD1, URA5 and the IGS1 region. Allele and sequence type information are accessible at http://www.mlst.net/ .