Insights into Persian Gulf Beach Sand Mycobiomes: Promises and Challenges in Fungal Diversity.

Beach Sand Mycobiome is currently among the most important health challenges for viticulture in the world. Remarkably, the study of fungal communities in coastal beach sand and recreational waters remains underexplored despite their potential implications for human health. This research aimed to assess the prevalence of fungal species and the antifungal susceptibility profiles of fungi recovered from the beaches of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

Molecular epidemiology, diversity, and antifungal susceptibility profiles of clinical and environmental mucorales: a five-year multicenter study in Iran (2018-2023).

Purpose: The incidence of Mucormycosis has increased during the last decades globally due to more patients being at risk for these life-threatening infections. Early diagnosis and proper selection of appropriate antifungal therapy are vital in enhancing patient outcomes. Mucorales species present a significant challenge due to their resistance to many drugs, so investigations for new therapies and strategies must be undertaken.

Pathogenicity Evaluation on Fluconazole-Resistant Candida auris Clade V in Murine Model.

Background: Candida auris, a medically multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen, has recently emerged as the primary one that poses a global public health threat. Although C. auris was first described in Japan, numerous cases of C.

A Double-Blind Randomised Clinical Trial of Terbinafine-Nanostructured Lipid Carriers: Should We Anticipate This Strategy for Effective Topical Treatment of Onychomycosis?

Background: Oral terbinafine (TBF) is the drug of choice for onychomycosis management. To treat and heal the rough and thick nail tissue affected by fungal agents, a high dose and plasma concentration of this drug is necessary. This, however, poses a life-threatening risk due to the cytotoxic side effects, drug-drug interactions, and adverse physical and chemical properties associated with oral medications.

Deciphering Fluconazole Resistance in Candida auris clade V: The Role of Efflux Pump Gene Expression and Ergosterol Pathway Mutations.

Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast pathogen that poses a serious global health threat. In particular, fluconazole resistance is common in C. auris, posing challenges for treating invasive infections.

A Novel Niosomal Gel for Topical Delivery of Miltefosine Against Trichophyton indotineae Dermatophytosis in Animal Model.

Introduction: Dermatophytosis, a cutaneous fungal infection worldwide, is generally localised to the skin's superficial layers and keratinised structures. Although most agents are susceptible to current antifungal drugs available in clinical settings, frequent relapses and failures, especially in cases due to Trichophyton indotineae, have been frequently reported. Therefore, alternative targets and therapeutic approaches are highly required.

Thymol inhibits ergosterol biosynthesis in Nakaseomyces glabratus, but differently from azole antifungals.

Introduction: Nakaseomyces glabratus is considered a high priority of attention according to WHO, and also is an important yeast species due to its high rate of intrinsic/acquired resistance against fluconazole. This study aimed at the possible mechanisms of action of thymol, as the promising new antifungal agent, in N. glabratus.

Metabolic Patterns of Fluconazole Resistant and Susceptible Clade V and I.

, an emerging non- multidrug-resistant yeast, has become a significant cause of invasive candidiasis in healthcare settings. So far, data on the metabolites of in different clades are minimal, and no studies have focused on clade V metabolites. Therefore, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for the metabolomic profiling of clade I compared with fluconazole-resistant and susceptible in clade V strains.

An Unusual High Prevalence of Cryptococcus (Naganishia) diffluens Colonization in Neonates Hospitalized in a Referral Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Background: Although the Candida species continue to be the most frequent colonizer of neonatal skin, a clear increase of colonization due to rare yeast-like fungi has been reported. In this study, we report an unusual high prevalence of Cryptococcus diffluens colonization in neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) over a 1-month period.

Methods: From January 2020 to June 2021, the study included all neonates who were admitted to the NICU of Bu Ali Sina Hospital at least 28 days old.

Molecular Epidemiology and Antifungal Susceptibility Profile in Nakaseomyces glabrata Species Complex: A 5-Year Countrywide Study.

Background: The current study aimed to identify Iranian Nakaseomyces (Candida) glabrata complex species in the clinical isolates and determine their antifungal susceptibility profile.

Methods: In total, 320 N. glabrata clinical isolates were collected from patients hospitalized in different geographical regions of Iran.

Evaluation of colonization index, molecular identification, and antifungal susceptibility pattern of species isolated from critically ill pediatric patients: A single-center study in Iran.

Background And Purpose: Given the high mortality rate of invasive candidiasis in hospitalized pediatric patients, it is crucial to establish a predictive system to achieve early diagnosis and treatment of patients who are likely to benefit from early antifungal treatment. This study aimed to assess the colonization index, species distribution, and antifungal susceptibility pattern of strains isolated from pediatric patients with high colonization index (CI).

Materials And Methods: This study was carried out at the Children's Medical Center in Tehran-Iran.

Azole-Containing Agar Plates and Antifungal Susceptibility Testing for the Detection of Azole-Resistant Species in Hospital Environmental Samples.

The indoor environment of hospitals should be considered as an important reservoir of azole resistant species. In this study, we evaluated azole-containing agar plates (ACAPs) and antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) for the detection of azole-resistant species in hospital environmental samples. Between September 2021 and January 2022, environmental samples (108 instruments and 12 air) were collected from different wards of 4 educational hospitals in Mazandaran province, Iran.

High frequency of colonization in critically ill pediatrics: A cross-sectional study in children's medical center, Tehran, Iran.

Background And Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the species distribution and susceptibility pattern of the strains isolated from Candida colonization in pediatric patients staying at pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) and infant ICU of Children's Medical Center in Tehran, Iran.

Materials And Methods: This study was conducted in the Children's Medical Center in Tehran, Iran. In total, 440 samples from 56 patients with oral cavity, skin surrounded catheters, and ear, throat, nasal, and urine cultures were collected.

Antifungal activity of miltefosine against both azole-susceptible and -resistant Aspergillus strains.

Miltefosine, an alkylphosphocholine, has been approved recently for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis. Miltefosine has shown promise as a treatment for paracoccidioidomycosis, and has mixed activity against other fungi and yeast. There are limited data on the in-vitro activity of miltefosine against azole-resistant and -susceptible Aspergillus spp.

Caspian Sea Mycosands: The Variety and Abundance of Medically Important Fungi in Beach Sand and Water.

Samples from a total of 67 stations, distributed amongst 32 cities along the Caspian Sea coastline, were collected during the summer of 2021 on sunny days. The samples were collected from each station, including both dry/wet sand and shoreline water. The grown samples were primarily analyzed for the macro/microscopic morphologic features of the fungi.

In Vitro Combination of Terbinafine with Ketoconazole Against Aspergillus Species with Terbinafine High MIC Values Isolated From Otomycosis.

Otomycosis is a common mycotic infection of the external auditory canal, and Aspergillus species are one of the most frequent causative agents worldwide. The limited antifungal arsenal, the high toxicity and side effects of antifungal agents, and the growing resistance to the currently available antifungals underscore the need for new therapeutic strategies. The present study aimed to evaluate the combined in vitro efficacy of terbinafine and ketoconazole against Aspergillus species with terbinafine high MIC values isolated from patients with otomycosis.

Comparative analysis of galactomannan lateral flow assay, galactomannan enzyme immunoassay and BAL culture for diagnosis of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis.

Background: Galactomannan Enzyme Immunoassay (GM-EIA) is proved to be a cornerstone in the diagnosis of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA), its use is limited in middle and low-income countries, where the application of simple and rapid test, including Galactomannan Lateral Flow Assay (GM-LFA), is highly appreciated. Despite such merits, limited studies directly compared GM-LFA with GM-EIA. Herein we compared the diagnostic features of GM-LFA, GM-EIA and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) culture for CAPA diagnosis in Iran, a developing country.

In vitro activity of 23 antifungal drugs against 54 clinical and environmental Aspergillus oryzae isolates.

The treatment of invasive aspergillosis caused by cryptic species remains a challenge due to the lack of randomised clinical trials and investigation of the efficacy and safety of different therapeutic strategies. We aimed to evaluate the in vitro activity of 23 conventional and new antifungal drugs against 54 clinical and environmental Aspergillus oryzae isolates by using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) standard M38-A3. The lowest geometric mean MIC values were found for luliconazole and lanoconazole (0.

A Convenient and Sensitive kDNA-PCR for Screening of Leishmania infantum Latent Infection Among Blood Donors in a Highly Endemic Focus, Northwestern Iran.

Background: Recent global evidences showed that asymptomatic blood donor carriers of Leishmania infection will appear as a threat for blood transfusions recipients in endemic areas. As yet, there is no appropriate diagnostic procedure for detecting infection of blood donors in blood banks.

Subjects And Methods: The present study was aimed to apply various current diagnostic tests among blood donors in an endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), Ardabil Province, northwestern Iran.

Molecular typing of clinical and environmental Aspergillus fumigatus isolates from Iran using microsatellites.

Background And Purpose: Because of the growing incidence of infection, typing methods of species are increasingly being used. Accordingly, studying the spread and population dynamics of strains isolating from clinical and environment, from a single host to large-scale ecosystems is definitely needed. In the current study, we carried out a genetic analysis of nine microsatellite loci in isolates from different regions of Iran to compare and explore the genetic diversity between environmental and clinical strains.

Hazard of agricultural triazole fungicide: Does cyproconazole induce voriconazole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus isolates?

Background And Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of cyproconazole, the most used fungicide in Iranian wheat farms, on the induction of voriconazole resistance in isolates.

Materials And Methods: A collection of 20 clinical and environmental isolates were selected for investigation of the in vitro activity of fungicides. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by the documented broth microdilution method M38-A2 (CLSI, 2008).

Pervasive but Neglected: A Perspective on COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Mold Infections Among Mechanically Ventilated COVID-19 Patients.

Recent studies from multiple countries have shown a high prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) among severely ill patients. Despite providing valuable insight into the clinical management of CAPA, large-scale prospective studies are limited. Here, we report on one of the largest multicenter epidemiological studies to explore the clinical features and prevalence of COVID-19-associated pulmonary mold infections (CAPMIs) among mechanically ventilated patients.

In vitro interaction between glabridin and voriconazole against Aspergillus fumigatus isolates.

Background: Voriconazole (VRC) is widely recommended as the first-line therapy for invasive aspergillosis. However, surveillance studies have demonstrated that there is an increase in the frequency of azole resistance among Aspergillus fumigates isolates. In recent years, more studies on effective synergisms between natural agents and antifungal drugs have been published.