The
Aspergillus
species are main causative agents of various infections such as invasive aspergillosis (IA) in immunocompromised patients and these infections have high mortality rates. In this ...study, we provide insight in the species causing aspergillosis in Iran based on morphology and sequence data. Clinical (
n
= 117) and environmental isolates (
n
= 54) collected during 2010–2016 from University hospitals in Mashhad and Tehran (Iran) were identified both morphologically and molecularly using partial calmodulin (
CaM
) gene sequences. Clinical cases were identified based on EORTC/MSG criteria.
Aspergillus flavus
(
n
= 96, 55%) was the most prevalent species among the clinical and environmental isolates while
A. fumigatus
(
n
= 13, 7.5%) ranked fourth after
A. tubingensis
(
n
= 23, 13%) and
A. welwitchiae
(
n
= 18, 10%). Species such as
A. tubingensis
,
A. welwitschiae
,
A. fumigatus
,
A. sydowii
,
A. neoniger
and
A. terreus
were present in both clinical and environmental samples indicating the possible environmental source of infections. Interestingly,
A. niger
was isolated only once. Furthermore, 13 other rare and cryptic
Aspergillus
species were detected. Pulmonary and respiratory disorders (
n
= 33), followed by transplantation (
n
= 23), invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (
n
= 14), and haematological malignancies (
n
= 12) were major predisposing factors. According to EORTC/MSG criteria, there were 43 probable cases identified followed by 36 cases for each of proven and possible ones. Correct molecular identification will be useful for further epidemiological studies.
Introduction: Although, Rhizopus species, are the main causative agents of mucormycosis, we know a little about these pathogens. We investigated the virulence potential of Rhizopus arrhizus and R. ...microsporus strains, obtained from a wide selection of clinical and environmental sources, in Galleria mellonella larvae and a mice model.
Methods: In this experiment, a total of 26 strains, 13 for each species of R. microsporus, R. arrhizus were tested in larvae with final concentration of 106/ml per strain. Eight strains were tested in mice model. Inoculated samples were monitored in insect larvae for 6 days and in mice for 14 days. Statistical data were performed using Graphpad Prism software (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA). Survival data of the samples were plotted using Kaplen-Meyer diagrams and analyzed using log rank test P value was considered 0.05%.
Results: R. arrhizus showed higher virulence compare to R. microsporus in both models. No specific difference was seen in pathogenicity between the two varieties of R. arrhizus. Virulence was not affected by source of isolation or production of toxin in some strains of R. microsporus. Virulence pattern was similar in both models.
Conclusion: Considering the mortality rate which was happened with strains from environmental sources, we conclude that these fungi have an opportunistic nature, which make them pathogen in susceptible hosts in favorite conditions. Larvae model showed reliable results compare to mice model.
During 2017–2018, leaf spots were observed on Japanese privet plants in commercial greenhouses and ornamental nurseries in Tehran, Fars and Bushehr provinces, Iran. Due to the high severity of the ...symptoms, this study was conducted to identify the causal agents. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular analyses of six loci (ITS,
act
,
tef1
,
gapdh
, LSU, and
rpb2
), the strains isolated were identified as
Phyllosticta capitalensis.
Pathogenicity was verified with Koch’s postulates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of
P. capitalensis
causing leaf spot on Japanese privet in Iran.
Background: In natural conditions, inhaled fungi are considered a part of the microflora of nasal cavities and sinuses. However, subsequent to the protracted use of corticosteroids and antibacterial ...agents, suppression of the immune system by chemotherapy, and poor ventilation, these fungi can become pathogens. Fungal colonization in the nose and paranasal sinuses is a prevalent medical issue in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients. In this study, we aimed to categorize fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS) among immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients and identified the etiologic agents of disease by molecular methods. Materials and Methods: A total of 74 cases were evaluated for FRS. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery was performed for sampling. The clinical samples were examined by direct microscopy with potassium hydroxide 20% and subcultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar with chloramphenicol. Polymerase chain reaction sequencing was applied to identify causative agents. Results: Thirty-three patients (44.6%) had FRS. Principal predisposing factors were antibiotic consumption (n = 31, 93.9%), corticosteroid therapy (n = 22, 66.6%), and diabetes mellitus (n = 21, 63.6%). Eyesore (n = 22, 66.6%), proptosis (n = 16, 48.5%), and headache (n = 15, 45.4%) were the most common clinical manifestations among patients. Rhizopus oryzae (n = 15, 45.4%) and Aspergillus flavus (n = 10, 30.3%) were the most prevalent fungal species. Conclusion: Diagnosis and classification of FRS are crucial, and a lack of early precise diagnosis can lead to a delay in any surgical or medical management. Since there are a variety of treatments for FRS, accurate identification of etiologic agents should be performed based on phenotypic and molecular methods.
Despite the increasing occurrence of
and
in clinical settings, little is known about their microbiological and clinical properties. Herein, we conducted a national retrospective study (2014-2019) ...from multiple centers in Iran. Among the 1,770
isolates collected, we identified 600
species complex isolates. Isolate identification was performed by 9-plex PCR, matrix-assisted laser desorption-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and rDNA sequencing, and antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) followed CLSI M27-A3/S4; genotyping was performed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis; and clinical information was mined. Thirty-one isolates of
from various clinical sources, one mixed sample (blood) concurrently containing
and
and one isolate of
from a nail sample were identified. Although both 9-plex PCR and MALDI-TOF successfully identified all isolates, only 9-plex PCR could identify the agents in a mixed sample. For the
isolates, resistance (non-wild type) was noted only for itraconazole (
= 4; 12.5%). Anidulafungin and fluconazole showed the highest and voriconazole had the lowest geometric mean values. AFLP analysis showed three main and four minor genotypes. Interestingly, 90% of nail isolates clustered with 80% of the blood isolates within two clusters, and four blood isolates recovered from four patients admitted to a hospital clustered into two genotypes and showed a high degree of similarity (>99.2%), which suggests that
disseminates horizontally. Supported by our data and published case studies,
and
can be linked to challenging clinical failures, and successful outcomes are not always mirrored by
susceptibility. Accordingly, conducting nationwide studies may provide more comprehensive data, which is required for a better prognosis and clinical management of patients.
Phylogenomic approaches have the potential to improve confidence about the inter-relationships of species in the order Mucorales within the fungal tree of life.
species are especially important as ...plant and animal pathogens and bioindustrial fermenters for food and metabolite production. A dataset of 192 orthologous genes was used to construct a phylogenetic tree of 21
strains, classified into four species isolated from habitats of industrial, medical and environmental importance. The phylogeny indicates that the genus
consists of three major clades, with
as the basal species and the sister lineage to
and two closely related species
and
A comparative analysis of the mating type locus across
reveals that its structure is flexible even between different species in the same genus, but shows similarities between
and other mucoralean fungi. The topology of single-gene phylogenies built for two genes involved in mating is similar to the phylogenomic tree. Comparison of the total length of the genome assemblies showed that genome size varies by as much as threefold within a species and is driven by changes in transposable element copy numbers and genome duplications.
Fungi of the genus
Fusarium
are well known as major plant pathogens but also cause a broad spectrum of human infections. Sixty-three clinical isolates, collected during 2014–2017, were identified ...using a part of the
TEF1
gene as barcoding marker.
Fusarium fujikuroi
species complex (FFSC,
n
= 41, 65%) showed to be the dominant etiological agent, followed by
F. solani
species complex (FSSC,
n
= 14, 22%) and
F. oxysporum
species complex (FOSC,
n
= 7, 11%). There was one strain belonging to
F. lateritium
species complex (FLSC,
n
= 1, 1.5%). For final identification, a phylogenetic tree was constructed including the type strains of each species complex. Most cases of fusariosis were due to nail infection (
n
= 38, 60.3%), followed by keratitis (
n
= 22, 34%).
Fusarium
infections are difficult to be treated due to their intrinsic resistance to different azoles; however, accurate and fast identification of etiological agents may enhance management of the infection. We present the first phylogenetic study on clinical
Fusarium
spp. from Iran.
Background and objectives: Mycotic keratitis is a fungal infection of the cornea that can cause blindness. Its incidence, risk factors, and the etiological agents vary worldwide and nationwide. ...Therefore, proper documentation of these data is essential for better disease management. In this review, we aimed to make a clear picture of this infection in the Middle East. Methods: Data on fungal keratitis from 1986 to 2018 in the Middle East were systematically collected from five English databases (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) and four Persian databases (Magiran, Scientific Information Database, IranMedex, and Irandoc). A total of 35 studies were included in the review. Result: The pooled prevalence of fungal keratitis in the Middle East was estimated at 26% (95% confidence interval: 19-32%; I2=98.88%, p<0.001) using random-effect model, with considerable variation among the countries. The prevalence of fungal keratitis was highest in Egypt (36%) and Iran (34%) and lowest in Oman (9%). Aspergillus and Fusarium spp. were the most common causative agents (28%) among filamentous fungi, and Candida (13%) was the predominant yeast species causing fungal keratitis. Based on the data, fungal keratitis was more prevalent in males (39%) than in females (23%). Conclusion: Our study is the first systematic review on mycotic keratitis among the Middle Eastern countries. These epidemiological estimates can be used by policy makers to improve treatment strategies, especially in this part of the world. Background and objectives: Mycotic keratitis is a fungal infection of the cornea that can cause blindness. Its incidence, risk factors, and the etiological agents vary worldwide and nationwide. Therefore, proper documentation of these data is essential for better disease management. In this review, we aimed to make a clear picture of this infection in the Middle East. Methods: Data on fungal keratitis from 1986 to 2018 in the Middle East were systematically collected from five English databases (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) and four Persian databases (Magiran, Scientific Information Database, IranMedex, and Irandoc). A total of 35 studies were included in the review. Result: The pooled prevalence of fungal keratitis in the Middle East was estimated at 26% (95% confidence interval: 19-32%; I2=98.88%, p<0.001) using random-effect model, with considerable variation among the countries. The prevalence of fungal keratitis was highest in Egypt (36%) and Iran (34%) and lowest in Oman (9%). Aspergillus and Fusarium spp. were the most common causative agents (28%) among filamentous fungi, and Candida (13%) was the predominant yeast species causing fungal keratitis. Based on the data, fungal keratitis was more prevalent in males (39%) than in females (23%). Conclusion: Our study is the first systematic review on mycotic keratitis among the Middle Eastern countries. These epidemiological estimates can be used by policy makers to improve treatment strategies, especially in this part of the world.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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