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Autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis, which is usually linked to mutations in the TGM1 gene, includes a more frequent lamellar form and a more severe erythrodermic form. At birth, the patient has thickened, shiny skin resembling a collodion membrane; this then detaches and turns into ichthyotic hyperkeratosis. Ichthyotic skin predisposes to fungal infections, sometimes extensive and persistent. A patient suffering from lamellar ichthyosis who underwent extensive and persistent for 13 years tinea corporis caused by Trichophyton rubrum was presented and a review of the cases present in the literature was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We aimed to study and define "difficult dermatophytosis" encountered frequently; as well as examine demography, patient practices and clinico-etiological pattern among these patients. Methods A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted to include 93(n) cases (after informed consent) from the patients attending the outpatient department in the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology between August 2019 and August 2020. The inclusion criteria were: - age >12 years and fulfilling one or more criteria defining "difficult dermatophytosis" i.e. multiple/large lesions, multifocal, recurrent therapy, multiple relapses, clustering and chronicity. The clinico-demographic data was recorded in a pre-designed pro forma, a KOH examination for skin scraping and fungal culture was done for all cases. Data was analysed with SPSS version 20. Results Males outnumbered females (M: F =1.2:1) and majority (67.8%) of patients were <40 years (Mean=34.13±11.5; Median=31yrs.). Body Mass Index (BMI) was higher than 25 in 55.9% cases; mean BMI seen in the study was 25.17±4.60. Multiple/large lesion (90.3%) was most common inclusion criteria followed by multifocal lesions (84.9%). All patients had tinea cruris; tinea corporis was most commonly associated followed by tinea faciei lesions. A significant proportion (76.3%) of cases had =4 family members cohabiting with them (Mean=5.07±0.03); more than half (56.98%) had an affected family member (Mean=0.90±1.00). The most common co-morbid condition seen was atopy seen in 16 (17.2%) patients. Presentation for dermatology consult was delayed by >1 month in 81.7% cases; >6 months in 47.3% cases and >1 year in 26.9% cases. A strong statistical association was found of multiple relapses with „delay in dermatology consults" (p value=0.002). A significant association of delay was also seen with chronicity (p value=0.046) was also seen. Nearly three-fourth study participants (72%) reported prior use of topical corticosteroid; oral (11.8%) and parental (20.4%) use were also reported. Prior use of luliconazole (40.8%) was most commonly reported among topical drugs, whereas itraconazole was used by 46% patients previously. Irrational use of anti-fungals was seen in 75%; including inappropriate doses (18%), inappropriate duration (34%), poly-pharmacy (6%) and non-compliance (1%). A statistically significant association of irrational use was found with multiple/large lesions (p value=0.008). Conclusion We propose this definition for the unusual presentations of the disease, particularly in the Indian sub-continent. Better access to clinical dermatology services and rational use of systemic anti-fungals as a means to mitigate difficult dermatophytosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Dermatophytoses spread world wide and caused by pathogenic filamentous fungi which infect skin, hair, and nails. The study aimed to determine the frequency and state of skin fungal infections in Nasiriyah city/South of Iraq. Methods The samples under study were including: hair, Skin and nail fragments that collected from 500 patients with suspected dermatophytosis from private clinics during 2021, Fungal infections were detected according to standard diagnostic techniques. Results Dermatophytes infection was detected in 51 patients (10.2%), the frequency of dermatophytes was higher in males (68.63%) than females (31.37%), the incidence of fungal infection was 64.71% in urban areas, when compared with rural areas, fungal infection in the scalp (tinea capitis) was more frequent, followed by face and arm of the patient's body. Conclusion Fungal skin infections have high frequency among dermatological diseases especially in male and urban area with high frequency of tinea capitis infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Tinea corporis and Tinea cruris is one of the chief infection seen in dermatology clinics affecting every age and gender. The rapidly rising prevalence of superficial fungal infection in our population warrants mycological analysis to establish any change in the causative dermatophytic specie responsible for ticking up the number of the cases. Objective To isolate and identify the fungal species in patients of recalcitrant tinea corporis and/or tinea cruris attending tertiary care hospital in Karachi. Methods This Cross-sectional study was conducted in the Outpatient Department of Dermatology, Dow University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan from 11th April 2022 till 10th October 2022. It comprised of 60 patients who had either received one complete course of oral antifungal treatment and had responded poorly to the therapy (identified on the basis of clinical response) and had a recurrence of disease after cure. The skin scrapings were collected from these patients and then microscopy and cultures were performed. Results Out was 60 patients of Recalcitrant Tinea Corporis and/or T. cruris KOH mount was positive in 43 (71.6%) patients and the culture isolated and identified the causative species in 53 (88.3%) patients. T. Tonsurans account for about 33.3% of the cases followed by T. Mentagrophytes accounting for 15% of the patients. In 11.6 % of the patients isolated specie was T. Rubrum. Conclusion Rise in the number of recalcitrant dermatophytosis could possibly due to change in the species causing dermatophytosis. Mycological analysis can help in identifying such species and facilitate in the treatment of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The most prevalent fungus infections that adversely affect people of all ages are called dermatophytoses. It is brought on by a particular class of fungus called ringworms, sometimes known as tineas, which includes the species Microsporum, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton. About 20–25% of people worldwide have dermatophytosis. Direct contact with sick people can spread the disease, as can indirect contact with contaminated fomites. To determine the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical trends, and treatment profile of Superficial Fungal Infections, the current investigation was conducted (SFIs). Materials and Methods: A hospital-based prospective observational cross-sectional study was carried out at RIMS, Kadapa for six months, from November 2021 to April 2022. Based on the inclusion criteria, 120 patients were chosen. Data was gathered, examined, and summarized as averages. Microsoft Excel was used to represent the data using the graph pad prism programme. Results: In a total of 120 patients with tinea infections, we discovered that 45 were men and 75 were women; 64 patients are in the middle age group; 51 had BMI values below 18.5; 73 are illiterate; 15 have social habits; 60 are housewives; and 93 got Tinea as a result of towel sharing. In 87 patients with Tinea corporis, the upper and lower limbs were frequently afflicted; Trichophyton rubrum was isolated in 97 cases. There were 527 prescriptions total, of which 315 were for oral treatments and 212 were for topical treatments. Conclusion: Tinea corporis was the most common superficial fungal infection found in the GGH-RIMS. The most frequent species of Trichophyton isolated from patients with tinea was Trichophyton rubrum. Both the antifungal drug miconazole and the antihistamine drug CPM were widely prescribed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feline dermatophytosis is a commonly encountered fungal skin disease in cats. Skin scrapings from cats with varying degrees of clinical signs were collected and subjected to microscopic and cultural examination. The clinical samples were stained with three different stains, lactophenol cotton blue (LPCB), Chicago sky blue (CSB) and Calcofluor white (CW) and were subjected to microscopic examination for fungal spores. The results of this microscopic examination were analysed and compared with growth of dermatophytes in Dermatophyte test medium (DTM). Based on cultural isolation, dermatophytosis was confirmed in 36 out of 82 cases tested. Comparison of staining techniques revealed that CW staining had better sensitivity (97.22 per cent), specificity (65.22 per cent) and overall agreement with cultures in DTM. Occurrence was found to be higher in kittens less than six months of age and long-haired breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichophyton verrucosum is the most commonly dermatophyte involved in cattle ringworm. This work reported a case of bovine dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton verrucosum detected from the clinical sample by SYBR-Green real-time PCR. The strategy was based on the DNA extraction directly from the infected hair followed by real‐time PCR and melting‐point analysis. A faster and differential diagnosis was observed when compared to the conventional mycological methodology for detection and identification of Trichophyton verrucosum.

Abstract Background Dermatophytes have the ability to invade the keratin layer of humans and cause infections. The aims of this study were the accurate identification of dermatophytes by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism method and sequencing and comparison between the in vitro activities of newer and established antifungal agents against them. Methods Clinical specimens of patients from five Iranian university laboratories were entered in this study. Samples were cultured on sabouraud dextrose agar medium. For molecular identification, extracted DNAs were amplified by the universal fungal primers ITS1 and ITS4, and digested with MvaI enzymes. The antifungal susceptibility test for each isolate to terbinafine, griseofulvin, caspofungin, fluconazole, itraconazole, luliconazole, and isavuconazole was performed, according to the microdilution CLSI M38-A2 and CLSI M61 standard methods. Results Two hundred and seven fungi species similar to dermatophytes were isolated of which 198 (95.6%) were dermatophytes by molecular assay. The most commonly isolated were Trichophyton mentagrophytes (76/198), followed by Trichophyton interdigitale (57/198), Trichophyton rubrum (34/198), Trichophyton tonsurans (12/198), Microsporum canis (10/198), Trichophyton simii (3/198), Epidermophyton floccosum (3/198), Trichophyton violaceum (2/198), and Trichophyton benhamiae (1/198). The GM MIC and MIC90 values for all the isolates were as follows: terbinafine (0.091 and 1 μg/ml), griseofulvin (1.01 and 4 μg/ml), caspofungin (0.06 and 4 μg/ml), fluconazole (16.52 and 32 μg/ml), itraconazole (0.861 and 8 μg/ml), isavuconazole (0.074 and 2 μg/ml), and luliconazole (0.018 and 0.25 μg/ml). Conclusion Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton interdigitale, and Trichophyton rubrum were the most common fungal species isolated from the patients. luliconazole, terbinafine, and isavuconazole in vitro were revealed to be the most effective antifungal agents against all dermatophyte isolates.

Background: Onychomycosis (OM) is the most common nail disorder accounting for 40–50% of all onychopathies. Onychomycosis is caused by dermatophytes in majority, mostly Trichophyton (T.) rubrum followed by T. mentragrophytes var. interdigitale. However, there is a variation in the etiological profile with the subset of population, time, and geographical location. In immunocompromised hosts, non-dermatophytic molds (NDMs) and yeasts like Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis are the main causative agents. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-established risk factor for OM. Aim and Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the clinical and mycological characteristics of OM in diabetic patients and to evaluate the clinico-etiological correlation, if any. Materials and Methods: Three hundred consecutive diabetic patients were screened, of whom 102 (34%) patients were diagnosed with OM based on clinical, mycological, dermoscopic, and histological criteria. Results: Distal lateral subungual onychomycosis was the most common clinical variant seen in 80 (78.43%) patients. Fungal culture was positive in 57 (55.88%) of which NDMs constituted approximately half (47.61%) of the isolates, followed by Candida species (30.15%) and dermatophytes (22.22%). The clinico-mycological correlation was performed to look for the association of various fungi with the clinical type of OM. Distal lateral subungual onychomycosis was majorly caused by NDMs (51.02%), followed by Candida species (28.57%), and dermatophytes (20.40%). Conclusion: Non-dermatophytic molds are increasingly incriminated as the causative organisms for OM in DM and must be considered as potential pathogens in the present scenario, thus necessitating the change in the treatment options accordingly.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Dermatophytosis is a superficial fungal infection of keratinized tissue caused by dermatophytes. The dermatophytes are included in three fungal genera: Epidermophyton, Microsporum, and Trichophyton. The infections caused by dermatophytes are known as ringworm or tinea infections. Although there are increasing numbers of antifungals available for the treatment of dermatophytes, some cases and relapses have been unresponsive to treatment. The aim and objectives of the present study are to identify the dermatophyte species causing superficial fungal infections and study their susceptibility to antifungals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 clinically diagnosed cases of dermatophytosis of patients attending the dermatology outdoor patient department were studied. The samples of these patients were collected and processed for microscopic examination and fungal culture. The causative dermatophytes were isolated and identified. Antifungal susceptibility testing of dermatophytes was done by Epsilometer strip minimum inhibitory concentration method against antifungal agents – fluconazole, itraconazole, and terbinafine. RESULTS: The most common clinical presentation in patients found was tinea corporis. Maximum dermatophyte isolates obtained on culture were Trichophyton rubrum. On antifungal susceptibility testing, terbinafine showed good results compared to azoles. CONCLUSION: Antifungal susceptibility testing of dermatophytes could be performed to study response and assist clinicians in choosing an effective therapy for patients.

Background: Onychomycosis is increasingly found in tropical populations. Objectives: To investigate the incidence and etiology of onychomycosis in a group of patients presented to the Teaching Hospital, Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. Methods: A total of 47 patients (8 males, 39 females clinically diagnosed with onychomycosis were randomly selected as study participants. After obtaining written informed consent from the participants, demographics and onychomycosis-associated factors were recorded using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Nail specimens were subjected to direct microscopy (DM) after 20% KOH digestion and were cultured on Sabourauds Dextrose Agar (SDA) containing chloramphenicol alone and SDA with chloramphenicol and cycloheximide. Fungi were identified macroscopically and microscopically. Results: Out of 47 patients clinically diagnosed with onychomycosis, only 30 (63.8%) were confirmed as onychomycosis mycologically. Overall, 93.4% of confirmed onychomycosis patients (28/30) aged between 20-69 years. Onychomycosis was common among housewives 36.7% (11/30), health care workers 23.3% (7/30) and farmers 16.7% (5/30). Further, 53.3% (16/30) had onychomycosis only in toe nails, 30% (9/30) had only in finger nails. Both toe and finger nails were affected in 16.7% (5/30). Commonest etiology of onychomycosis was dermatophytes 12 (40%) followed by nondermatophytic moulds (NDM) 10 (33%) and Candida 8 (27%). Leading pathogenic dermatophytes were T. mentagrophytes (41.7%; 5/12) and T. rubrum (25%; 3/12). Commonest NDM was Fusarium species 60% (6/10). Conclusions: Onychomycosis was common in adults (20-69 years) particularly among housewives, health care workers and farmers in our sample. Toe nails were the most affected. Etiology of onychomycosis was mainly dermatophytes followed by NDMs and Candida. Common dermatophytes associated with onychomycosis were T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum. Fusarium species was the leading NDM associated with onychomycosis.

This study aimed to diagnose the skin lesions in cattle that were suspected to be ringworm in order to determine the species causing these lesions. A total of 40 samples of skin desquamation and hair lesions were collected from cattle in a farm located in the Wasit province during the period from October 2021 to March 2022. Diagnosis used to be carried out the usage of direct microscopy of potassium hydroxide, isolation of the fungus through the use of Sabouraud dextrose agar supplemented with chloramphenicol and cycloheximide, as well as by way of detecting those fungi through staining with Lactophenol cotton blue. The diagnosis results revealed that infection of cattle with ringworm represented 20/40 (50%) of skin lesions and the majority of the common dermatophytes spp was identified as Trichophyton mentagrophytes 15/20 (75%) and Microsporum canis5/20 (25%) depending on the fungal growth. In conclusion, the most common skin lesions of cattle in Wasit province were identified as ringworm.

The enormous burden of the COVID-19 pandemic in economic and healthcare terms has cast a shadow on the serious threat of antimicrobial resistance, increasing the inappropriate use of antibiotics and shifting the focus of drug discovery programmes from antibacterial and antifungal fields. Thus, there is a pressing need for new antimicrobials involving innovative modes of action (MoAs) to avoid cross-resistance rise. Thiosemicarbazones (TSCs) stand out due to their easy preparation and polypharmacological application, also in infectious diseases. Recently, we reported a small library of TSCs (1–9) that emerged for their non-cytotoxic behaviour. Inspired by their multifaceted activity, we investigated the antibacterial, antifungal, and antidermatophytal profiles of derivatives 1–9, highlighting a new promising research line. Furthermore, the ability of these compounds to inhibit selected microbial and human carbonic anhydrases (CAs) was assessed, revealing their possible involvement in the MoA and a good selectivity index for some derivatives.

Objective Dermatophytoses, one of the most ancient diseases, is becoming a menace in recent times. This has made the knowledge of antifungal susceptibility a priority in today's times. Material and Methods This is a prospective study conducted over 18 months including all dermatophytes isolated during the period. Dermatophytes were identified by routine phenotypic methods. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed for griseofulvin, terbinafine, and itraconazole as per the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute M38 A2, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were read after 5 days. Results Patient details and associated risk factors were recorded. Fixed dose combinations with steroids were associated with 79.3% (46 out of 58) of patients with dermatophytosis of skin. Among the 72 dermatophytes isolated during the study period, 58 (80.5%) were isolated from skin scrapings and 14 (19.4%) from nail samples. Tinea corporis with cruris was the most common presentation. The most common dermatophyte isolated from skin scrapings was Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex (70.6%, 41 out of 58), while from nail samples it was Trichophyton rubrum complex (78.57%, 11 out of 14). Based on the MIC50 and MIC90 results, itraconazole showed the lowest MICs, followed by terbinafine and then griseofulvin. Conclusion With the changing epidemiology of species distribution and antifungal resistance, there is a need for continuous surveillance of these parameters of dermatophytes.

Background: Dermatophytosis is caused by a homogenous group of keratinophilic fungi called dermatophytes that have the capacity to invade keratinized tissue i.e. skin, hair and nails of humans and animals. Fungal infections do not receive much attention and are diagnosed very late as they are not notifiable, unlike viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases. Aim and Objectives: To identify and characterize different species of dermatophytes from clinically diagnosed cases of ringworm infections. Material and Methods: Characterization was based upon the morphological features in direct Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) mount, growth on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) and Dermatophyte Test Medium (DTM) for primary isolation of dermatophytes from clinical samples. Results: In the present study, total of 176 samples were collected. Causative agents were identified macroscopically and microscopically from the growth obtained from SDA. Out of the 176 patients from whom samples were collected, males were found to be more common, with the male to female ratio being 2:1. Most common clinical type was Tinea cruris (39.20%) followed by Tinea corporis (30.11%). Most common fungal isolate was Trichophyton rubrum followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Thus, it was observed that although mycological culture gives a definitive diagnosis, it is time consuming. Conclusion: Combined use of KOH mount and culture growth should be used for proper and definitive diagnosis of dermatophytosis.

Background: The skin is the first line of defence against communities of resident viruses, bacteria and fungi. The composition of the microbiome might change with factors related to the environment and host. The microbiome is dominated by bacteria. Dermatophytes and yeasts are the predominant fungi that are also involved in opportunistic infections of skin, hair and nails. Among environmental fungi, Chaetothyriales (black yeasts and relatives) are enriched by hydrocarbon pollution in domesticated habitats and comprise numerous species that cause mild‐to‐severe disease. Methods: We investigated the presence of black fungi in the skin microbiome by conducting an analysis in the publicly available metagenomic SRA database (NCBI). We focused on the causative agents of chromoblastomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis and used barcodes and padlock probe sequences as diagnostic tools. Results: A total of 132,159,577 MB was analysed and yielded 18,360 reads that matched with 24 species of black fungi. Exophiala was the most prevalent genus, and Cyphellophora europaea was the most abundant species. Conclusion: This study reveals the abundant presence of Chaetothyriales on the skin without necessarily being associated with infection. Most of the detected causal agents are known from mild skin diseases, while also species were revealed that had been reported from CARD9‐deficient patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Dermatomycoses are superficial fungal infections of the skin, hair and nails. The fungi responsible for dermatomycoses include dermatophytes, yeasts and non-dermatophytic molds (NDM). Onychomycosis is the most common nail disease caused by dermatophytes, NDMs, and yeasts with a worldwide. This study was under taken to investigate the current distribution of aetiological agents of dermatomycoses. Materials and Methods: In this study, we evaluated the microscopic examination and culture results of the samples taken from the patients who applied to our clinic for two year. Species were identification on the basis of combined clinical pictures, culture and microscopic morphology characters of together. Results: During the study period, 592 samples were examined. The distribution of isolates was found to be 47.2% (n=118) NDM, 26.4% (66) dermatophytes and 26.4% (66) yeasts, respectively. Tinea unguium was the most prevalent type of dermatophytoses. Trichophyton rubrum was most frequent aetiological agents of detected in patients. According to our study, 22% of non-dermatophyte hyaline molds are Fusarium spp. and 21% are Aspergillus spp. species. Conclusion: Several studies have shown that both the prevalence and aetiology of dermatomycoses can change according to geographical location, climatic conditions, and personal factors. The objective of our study was to analyse 2 years of epidemiological data regarding dermatological mycology testing performed in a large tertiary care teaching hospital in Eskişehir, This report represents the most comprehensive analysis of this type from Eskişehir, and it is hoped that its findings will be of interest to, and inform, researchers and clinicians focused on mycoses and international epidemiology. To the best of our knowledge, we provide the first analysis from Eskisehir of fungal detections from all external body site (skin, hair and nail). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous fungal infection of the skin and nails poses a significant global public health challenge. Dermatophyte infection, mainly caused by Trichophyton spp., is the primary pathogenic agent responsible for skin, hair, and nail infections worldwide. The epidemiology of these infections varies depending on the geographic location and specific population. However, epidemiological pattern changes have occurred over the past decade. The widespread availability of antimicrobials has led to an increased risk of promoting resistant strains through inappropriate treatment. The escalating prevalence of resistant Trichophyton spp. infections in the past decade has raised serious healthcare concerns on a global scale. Non-dermatophyte infections, on the other hand, present even greater challenges in terms of treatment due to the high failure rate of antifungal therapy. These organisms primarily target the nails, feet, and hands. The diagnosis of cutaneous fungal infections relies on clinical presentation, laboratory investigations, and other ancillary tools available in an outpatient care setting. This review aims to present an updated and comprehensive analysis of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic testing methods for cutaneous fungal infections caused by dermatophytes and non-dermatophytes. An accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management and minimizing the risk of antifungal resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal infections represent a relevant issue in agri-food and biomedical fields because they could compromise quality of food and humans' health. Natural extracts represent a safe alternative to synthetic fungicides and in the green chemistry and circular economy scenario, agro-industrial wastes and by-products offer an eco-friendly source of bioactive natural compounds. In this paper, phenolic-rich extracts from Olea europaea L. de-oiled pomace, Castanea sativa Mill. wood, Punica granatum L. peel, and Vitis vinifera L. pomace and seeds were characterized by HPLC-MS-DAD analysis. Finally, these extracts were tested as antimicrobial agents against pathogenic filamentous fungi and dermatophytes such as Aspergillus brasiliensis, Alternaria sp., Rhizopus stolonifer, and Trichophyton interdigitale. The experimental results evidenced that all extracts exhibited a significant growth inhibition for Trichophyton interdigitale. Punica granatum L., Castanea sativa Mill., and Vitis vinifera L. extracts showed a high activity against Alternaria sp. and Rhizopus stolonifer. These data are promising for the potential applications of some of these extracts as antifungal agents in the food and biomedical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthroderma is the most diverse genus of dermatophytes, and its natural reservoir is considered to be soil enriched by keratin sources. During a study on the diversity of dermatophytes in wild small rodents in the Czech Republic, we isolated several strains of Arthroderma. To explore the diversity and ecological significance of these isolates from rodents (n = 29), we characterised the strains genetically (i.e., sequenced ITS, tubb and tef1a), morphologically, physiologically, and by conducting mating experiments. We then compared the rodent-derived strains to existing ITS sequence data from GenBank and the GlobalFungi Database to further investigate biogeography and the association of Arthroderma species with different types of environments. In total, eight Arthroderma species were isolated from rodents, including four previously described species (A. crocatum, A. cuniculi, A. curreyi, A. quadrifidum) and four new species proposed herein, i.e., A. rodenticum, A. simile, A. zoogenum and A. psychrophilum. The geographical distribution of these newly described species was not restricted to the Czech Republic nor rodents. Additional isolates were obtained from bats and other mammals, reptiles, and soil from Europe, North America, and Asia. Data mining showed that the genus has a diverse ecology, with some lineages occurring relatively frequently in soil, whereas others appeared to be more closely associated with live animals, as we observed in A. rodenticum. Low numbers of sequence reads ascribed to Arthroderma in soil show that the genus is rare in this environment, which supports the hypothesis that Arthroderma spp. are not soil generalists but rather strongly associated with animals and keratin debris. This is the first study to utilise existing metabarcoding data to assess biogeographical, ecological, and diversity patterns in dermatophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coriandrum sativum L. is a most important essential oil-bearing spice (belonging to family Apiaceae) as well as medicinal plant extensively refined all over the world. The C. sativum seed essential oil was extracted through the hydrodistillation method using Clevenger's apparatus. GC and GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of 35 compounds among 99.9% of essential oil. Linalool was the major component (81.83%) followed by geranyl acetate (5.59%), α-pinene (3.55%), estragole (1.53%), trans-anethole (1.18%) and fenchone (1.17%). MIC and MFC of essential oil and its fractions were determined through semi solid agar antifungal susceptibility method. MIC ranged from 0.2±0.000 μl/ml to 0.4±0.577 μL/mL while MFC was found to be 0.23±0.033 μL/mL to 0.567±0.047 μL/mL. Candida albicans (MTCC 3018) was found to be the most resistant strain for present investigation. Trichophyton mentagrophytes (MTCC 7687) was found to be most susceptible fungus while Microsporum gypseum was found to be most resistant fungus. Essential oil was further subjected to glass oven equipment for the separation of fractions at different boiling temperature. Five fractions were separated and labeled as CI-CV. Due to very less amount, CV fraction could not be used for the screening of antidermatophytic activity. Among all these fractions, CII was found to be most effective fraction against all selected fungi. Toxicological properties of essential oil were determined tropically on swiss albino mice. Low concentration of upto 3% did not show any irritation on mice's skin. At 5% concentration, 1 mice showed mild erythema, which was disappeared on 48 hours observation. While on 7% concentration, all five mice exhibited well defined erythema up to 24 hours of the observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superficial fungal infections (SFIs) are characterized by diverse etiologies, complex pathogenesis, and marked geographical differences in patient symptoms. Conventional management of SFIs is associated with complications such as hepatotoxicity, skin problems, severe headaches, and clinical difficulties including intractable relapses and drug-drug interactions in patients with chronic diseases remain to be addressed. Moreover, in topical treatment, low penetration of antifungal drugs in hard tissues such as finger (toe) nails and drug-resistant fungi are emerging concerns in current antifungal therapy. Nanotechnology has been a leading research topic in recent years for new dosing forms of antifungal drugs, chemical modification of traditional drugs, and pharmacokinetic improvement, providing potential opportunities for the effective treatment of SFIs. The present study reviewed the direct use of nanoparticles in SFIs and the use of nanoparticles as carriers in SFIs and discussed their future medicinal applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Onychomycosis is commonly studied in Africa but not in patients with diabetics despite having a significant number of her population living with diabetes mellitus (DM). Our review highlights a total of 15 studies with only two from Africa over the past two decades; 8 (53.3%) from Asia, 4 (26.7%) from Europe, 2 (13.3%) from Africa and 1 (6.7%) from North America. A total number of 4321 participants were involved with onychomycosis prevalence of 35.3% (1527/4321). Seven studies documented preponderance of onychomycosis in males, one showed preponderance in females, one showed no statistically significant difference in gender, while correlation with gender was unclear in the remainder. The risk factors identified were duration of diabetes, increasing age, occupation (agriculture), subclinical atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, obesity, triglyceride levels, and glycosylated haemoglobin. Three case control studies showed a statistically significant correlation between onychomycosis and individuals with DM. Diagnosis was mainly by microscopy and culture with Trichophyton (T) rubrum as the predominant isolate. Fungal nail infections are grossly underdiagnosed and/or underreported in Africa and hence the need for improved awareness and diagnosis especially in patients with DM. Although focused on Africa, this study also revealed paucity of data on onychomycosis in diabetic patients living in the Americas despite evidence from the literature showing a significant number of individuals from that region are living with diabetes. The need to evaluate this at-risk population for onychomycosis cannot be over emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in vitro activity of Cinnamomum cassia, Melaleuca alternifolia, and Cymbopogon citratus essential oils and antimycotics clotrimazole, fluconazole, and ketokonazole against T. mentagrophytes was evaluated by the disc-diffusion method. The essential oils were tested at 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, and 100 % concentration. It was found that Cymbopogon, commonly called lemongrass, and cinnamon show stable results independent of the concentration used, whereas the efficacy of tea tree oil, significantly decreases with the decreasing concentration. When comparing the efficacy of antimycotics the largest zone of inhibition was obtained with clotrimazole, while fluconazole proved to be ineffective. We found that cinnamon and lemongrass are more effective than the antimycotics that we have used. Our study confirmed that some essential oils can be used for the treatment of dermatophytoses caused by Trichophyton mentagrophytes and some of them are more effective than the commercial drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermatophytoses are caused by fungi in the genera Microsprum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton. Africans use extracts of medicinal plants to treat dermatophytosis. This study aimed to determine the in vitro antifungal activity of crude leaf extract of Cassia alata on fungal isolates from dermatophytosis lesions. Subjects with suspected lesions of dermatophytosis were recruited for the study. Skin scrapings were obtained from lesions for microscopy and culture. Isolates were identified macroscopically and microscopically. Fresh Cassia alata leaves were plucked and authenticated by a Botanist. Aqueous and alcohol extraction was done using the Soxhlet extractor. Isolates were subjected to in vitro leave extracts antifungal testing using disc diffusion methods. A total of 50 subjects were recruited for the study comprising 28(56.0%) males and 22(44.0%) females with a male to female ratio of 2.5: 1. The prevalence of dermatophytes infection in the study was 14(28.0%). Trichophyton rubrum was the most encountered isolates (42.8%). Males 10(71.4%) were more infected than females 4(28.5%). The susceptibility rates of dermatophytes to anfungals range between 0 -100% with 30(78.6%) susceptibility to Griseofulvin. The aqueous extract was more effective with susceptibility rates 33.3% - 83.3% than ethanolic extract 16.7% - 50.0%. The dermatophytes were more susceptible to the 50µg/mL aqueous extract with rates between 50% - 83.3% while the range for the 50µg/mL ethanolic extract was 25.0% - 50.0%. Trichophyton veruccosum and E. floccosum were resistant to extracts. Cassia alata leaf extracts had antifungal activities against dermatophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin diseases pose a significant threat to animals. We obtained 35 adult annulated sea snakes (Hydrophis cyanocinctus) and 30 adult Shaw's sea snakes (Hydrophis curtus) collected as fishing bycatch from the coastal waters of Sanya, Hainan, South China. Nearly 2/3 of these snakes had signs of skin ulcer and were therefore assigned as sick ones. Of these sea snakes, 21 (14 sick and 7 healthy) adults of each species were used to conduct this study. Specifically, we used high-throughput 16S rRNA and ITS gene sequencing technology to characterize the skin bacteria and fungi and identify the possible pathogens responsible for skin disease by comparing the skin microbiota between the two sea snakes with versus without skin ulcer. The bacterial alpha diversity indices were higher in H. curtus than in H. cyanocinctus, and were higher in healthy snakes than in sick ones. None of fungal alpha diversity indices differed between species and between sick and healthy snakes. Skin microbial communities differed between H. curtus and H. cyanocinctus and between sick and healthy snakes. Skin ulcer was caused by combined bacterial and fungal infection, with bacteria of the genus Arcobacter being the common pathogen in both species. Bacteria of the genera Maritalea, Pseudomonas and Paracoccus formed an important pathogen group in H. curtus, and so did bacteria of the genera Tenacibaculum, Maritalea and Vibrio in H. cyanocinctus. Fungi of the genus Aspergillus were the pathogen in H. cyanocinctus, and so were fungi of the genus Verticillium in H. curtus. Future work could usefully find more information on the pathogen of skin diseases and thereby optimize treatment protocols for these diseases in sea snakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For at least two decades, European amphibians have been affected by the ‘salamander plague’, an emerging infectious disease caused by the invasive chytrid skin fungus Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) that originated from Asia. Resulting dramatic declines are well known from the European Fire Salamander, while the impact of Bsal on other European amphibians in the wild is less clear. We here focus on the Northern Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) in Germany. This species is susceptible to Bsal and strictly protected under Annex II of the EC Habitats Directive. While T. cristatus is declining in the Bsal-hotspot Germany, it remains to be answered if the salamander plague is one of the leading drivers. By asking five key questions we review the available information with the goal of providing a baseline for further research. In two investigated newt communities, Bsal-prevalence was found to be considerably high, with 75–89% of newts being infected, reaching the highest peaks in spring. Later in the year, some T. cristatus were apparently able to clear their Bsal infection, even when individual infection load was previously high. Although we observed mortality of infected specimens and declines in populations with Bsal, declines are also seen outside known Bsal regions. Thus, it appears that the Bsal epidemic is not exclusively responsible for the species’ current status. With this, Bsal poses a yet poorly-understood threat to Northern Crested Newt survival, making further research on pathogen/host interactions and long-term survival indispensable to fulfil our legal responsibility of conserving this emblematic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that natural polyacetylene alcohols, such as falcarindiol (FADOH), have good antifungal effects on plant fungi. While its effect on fungi that infect humans remains to be explored. In our study, checkerboard microdilution, drop-plate assay, and time-growth method were employed to analyze the interactions between FADOH and itraconazole (ITC) in vitro against dermatophytes, including 12 Trichophyton rubrum (T. rubrum), 12 Trichophyton mentagrophytes (T. mentagrophytes), and 6 Microsporum canis (M. canis). The results showed that the combination of FADOH and ITC exhibited synergistic and additive activity against 86.7% of all tested dermatophytes. FADOH had an excellent synergistic effect on ITC against T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes; the synergistic rates were 66.7% and 58.3%, respectively. On the contrary, FADOH combined with ITC showed poor synergistic inhibitory activity (16.7%) against M. canis. Moreover, the additive rates of these two drugs against T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, and M. canis were 25%, 41.7%, and 33.3%, respectively. No antagonistic interactions were observed. The drop-plate assay and time-growth curves confirmed that the combination of FADOH and ITC had a potent synergistic antifungal effect. The in vitro synergistic effect of FADOH and ITC against dermatophytes is reported here for the first time. Our findings suggest the potential use of FADOH as an effective antifungal drug in the combined therapy of dermatophytoses caused especially by T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tinea capitis and tinea corporis are highly prevalent fungal skin infections, which globally are mainly caused by Microsporum canis and Trichophyton rubrum, respectively. While in the United States and Great Britain Trichophyton tonsurans is widely prevalent as a causative pathogen, it so far only plays a minor role in Germany. Objectives: Since the frequency of pathogenic species varies regionally and temporally, this study assesses the proportion of Trichophyton tonsurans infections in the dermatology department of a large university hospital in Germany from 2019 to 2022 and thoroughly characterises the affected patient population. Patients/Methods: This retrospective study at the Technical University of Munich analyses mycological culture results regarding the identified dermatophyte and infection site. Detailed patient and disease‐related information on Trichophyton tonsurans positive patients was obtained. Results: In 2022, 23 patients of 111 dermatophyte culture‐positive patients tested positive for Trichophyton tonsurans. This accounted for 20.7% and represented a tenfold increase from 2.1% in 2019. Contact sports were only practiced by 21.7% of patients, and no common hotspot or other linkage could be identified between the cases. Additionally, 47.8% of the patients received a systemic treatment, with 30.4% visiting the clinic more than three times. In 2022, 21.7% were diagnosed with a simultaneous infection of the capillitium and body, whereas this was only observed in 7.1% of cases in 2019 to 2021. Conclusions: This study suggests an increase of Trichophyton tonsurans infections via several routes of transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although most mycoses are superficial, the dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum can cause systemic infections in patients with a weakened immune system, resulting in serious and deep lesions. The aim of this study was to analyze the transcriptome of a human monocyte/macrophage cell line (THP-1) co-cultured with inactivated germinated T. rubrum conidia (IGC) in order to characterize deep infection. Analysis of macrophage viability by lactate dehydrogenase quantification showed the activation of the immune system after 24 h of contact with live germinated T. rubrum conidia (LGC). After standardization of the co-culture conditions, the release of the interleukins TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-12 was quantified. The greater release of IL-12 was observed during co-culturing of THP-1 with IGC, while there was no change in the other cytokines. Next-generation sequencing of the response to T. rubrum IGC identified the modulation of 83 genes; of these, 65 were induced and 18 were repressed. The categorization of the modulated genes showed their involvement in signal transduction, cell communication, and immune response pathways. In total, 16 genes were selected for validation and Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.98, indicating a high correlation between RNA-seq and qPCR. Modulation of the expression of all genes was similar for LGC and IGC co-culture; however, the fold-change values were higher for LGC. Due to the high expression of the IL-32 gene in RNA-seq, we quantified this interleukin and observed an increased release in co-culture with T. rubrum. In conclusion, the macrophages-T. rubrum co-culture model revealed the ability of these cells to modulate the immune response, as demonstrated by the release of proinflammatory cytokines and the RNA-seq gene expression profile. The results obtained permit to identify possible molecular targets that are modulated in macrophages and that could be explored in antifungal therapies involving the activation of the immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ganoderma lucidum is an extensively famous medicinal mushroom distributed worldwide. Despite being widely grown in Moroccan forests, there are no studies on its nutritional, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical values. Herein, the objective of this study was to investigate the chemical characterization and antimicrobial properties of G. lucidum methanolic extract. Total phenolic, flavonoid, tannin, ascorbic acid and carotenoid contents were determined by spectrophotometry. The results revealed that the most prevalent bioactive compounds were phenolics and flavonoids, with total values of 154.60 mg GAE/g of dry methanolic extract (dme) and 60.55 mg CE/mg of dme, respectively. A GC–MS analysis identified 80 biologically active molecules, which were mainly divided into the following major groups: sugars (49.49%), organic acids (8.89%), fatty acids (7.75%), amino acids (7.44%), steroids (7.32%), polyphenols (5.92%), and others (13.16%). Additionally, 22 individual phenolic compounds were identified and quantified using HPLC–MS, with emphasis on kaempferol (1714 µg/g of dry weight (dw)), apigenin (1955 µg/g dw) and quercetin (947.2 µg/g dw). The methanolic extract of G. lucidum indicated strong antioxidant capacity by means of the following: DPPH radical-scavenging activity (53.7 µg/mL), β-carotene/linoleate assay (43.75 µg/mL), and reducing power assay (76.62 µg/mL). Furthermore, the extract exhibited potent antimicrobial properties against seven human pathogenic microorganisms, including two bacteria and five fungal strains, at concentrations ranging from 1 to 16 mg/mL. The most sensitive pathogen was Epidermophyton floccosum (MIC = MFC = 1 mg/mL), while Aspergillus fumigatus was the most resistant one (MIC = 16 mg/mL and MFC ≥ 16 mg/mL). Overall, our findings demonstrated valuable nutritional and bioactive compound attributes, and potent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, of G. lucidum growing in Moroccan forests. Moreover, these findings suggest that the Moroccan mushroom can be extremely useful for the food and medicinal industries to positively affect socioeconomic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of dermatophytes to live in communities and resist antifungal drugs may explain treatment recurrence, especially in onychomycosis. Therefore, new molecules with reduced toxicity that target dermatophyte biofilms should be investigated. This study evaluated nonyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (nonyl) susceptibility and mechanism of action on planktonic cells and biofilms of T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes. Metabolic activities, ergosterol, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were quantified, and the expression of genes encoding ergosterol was determined by real-time PCR. The effects on the biofilm structure were visualized using confocal electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes biofilms were susceptible to nonyl and resistant to fluconazole, griseofulvin (all strains), and terbinafine (two strains). The SEM results revealed that nonyl groups seriously damaged the biofilms, whereas synthetic drugs caused little or no damage and, in some cases, stimulated the development of resistance structures. Confocal microscopy showed a drastic reduction in biofilm thickness, and transmission electron microscopy results indicated that the compound promoted the derangement and formation of pores in the plasma membrane. Biochemical and molecular assays indicated that fungal membrane ergosterol is a nonyl target. These findings show that nonyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate is a promising antifungal compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three fungi were identified as mummified skin biodeteriogens. • Volatile EOs showed antifungal activity against the skin biodeterioration fungi. • Oregano showed to be the most effective antifungal volatile EO. The study of the potential use of essential oils in the field of Cultural Heritage has increased in the last decade due to their demonstrated antimicrobial potential and absence of toxicity. This work aimed at assessing, for the first time, the volatile antifungal activity of two essential oils (EOs) (Origanum vulgare and Syzygium aromaticum) against fungi isolated from biodeteriorated archaeological mummified skin. The object of study was a mummified Mustela frenata from the Tiahuanaco culture of Bolivia. The fungi found on the archaeological animal's skin were preliminarily isolated and identified by DNA-based analysis. Subsequently, the volatile essential oil biocidal activity was evaluated on parchments inoculated with the isolated fungi (Aspergillus tabacinus, Aspegillus tennesseensis, and Trichoderma longibrachiatum). Vapour tests were conducted in Petri dishes and parchment specimens to assess the fungicidal effect of volatile components of EOs. The volatile EOs used in this study showed antifungal activity against the tested fungi. The oregano showed to be the most effective EO in the in vitro and parchment tests for the three fungal strains. The use of EOs, particularly oregano EO, represents a promising green strategy for the sustainable conservation of organic-based cultural assets. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infections affecting the superficial keratinized layer of the skin, nails, and hair are referred to as dermatophytosis and dermatomycoses, which constitute the most common type of fungal infection that affects people. This clinical ailment has a prevalence of between 30 and 60% and is more common in India's hot, muggy, tropical climate. Examining the prevalence of superficial mycoses (SM), their clinical symptoms, and the fungal species that were identified as the disease-causing agents were the main objectives of the current study. This study comprised 250 clinically confirmed patients with SM who visited our dermatology department over the course of a year. Skin scrapings, nail clippings, and hair samples were gathered, mounted, and cultured using KOH. Macroscopic examination of culture, tease mount, and phenotypic tests were used to identify the species. The age group of 11–20 years (29%) had the highest prevalence of SM out of the 250 clinically verified cases of the condition that were included in our study, followed by 21–30 years (20%) and 31–40 years (18%). Candida albicans, dermatophytes, and non-dermatophytic moulds were the three most prevalent fungal isolates. The most typical dermatophyte isolate was T. rubrum, which was primarily found in Tinea corporis (TCo), Tinea cruris (TCr), and Tinea faciei (TFa). T. mentagrophytes was the second most frequent isolate. According to our investigation, it was determined that non-dermatophytic moulds constitute a significant contributor to the development of SM in addition to dermatophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Dermatophytes are the most common skin infections mainly treated with itraconazole. However, the persistent nature of the disease has emerged as the major concern over the last few years. Oral isotretinoin, a keratolytic drug is also used along with itraconazole in the management of dermatophytosis. Aim: To evaluate safety and efficacy of oral itraconazole versus combination with oral isotretinoin in the treatment and recurrence prevention of superficial dermatophytosis. Materials and Methods: The randomised clinical trial was conducted in the Dermatology Outpatient Department (OPD) of Hind Institute of Medical Sciences, Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh over 12 months period. A total of 180 adult patients clinically diagnosed with superficial dermatophytosis were recruited and randomised into group A and B. Patients in group A were treated with oral itraconazole 200 mg daily and patients allotted in group B received oral itraconazole 200 mg plus oral isotretinoin 20 mg daily. Both groups were evaluated after every 15 days for two months and followed-up for next two months to assess relapse rate. Treatment efficacy was assessed by potassium hydroxide (KOH) test done on skin scrapings, erythema score, scaling score and 5D pruritus scale and safety by evaluating for adverse reactions noticed at each sequential visit during study period of two months. The data were analysed by using Chi-square tests and unpaired t-tests and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 26.0. A p-value <0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Out of 180 patients enrolled, 162 patients (83 in group A and 79 in group B) completed the trial. The patients in group B had early and complete mycological cure, seen in 77/79 (97.5%) patients as compared with 74/83 (89.2%) group A patients (p=0.06) with significantly low recurrence rate (p=0.01). At each follow-up, both groups were assessed on the clinical signs of erythema and scaling rated on 4 points scale (0, 1, 2, 3) and clinical symptom of itching on 5D pruritus scale ranging from 5-25. There was statistically significant difference in the treatment response between studied groups (p<0.05). Hepatic derangements were the most common adverse effects observed in both groups. Conclusion: Oral isotretinoin can be an effective add on therapy in superficial dermatophytosis management as it induces early remission with significantly less recurrence rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aims: Dermatophytosis is an emerging health problem in all age group people. The treatment is very challenging due to the high side effects of oral anti-fungal drugs and the increased resistance pattern against drugs and ointments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and resistance pattern of isolated and characterized dermatophytes to find the sensitive essential oil as a natural source of medicine to inhibit dermatophytosis. Methodology and results: A total of 50 dermatophytes were isolated from different age groups and further sensitivity testing was performed against anti-fungal drugs, ointments, and essential oils. The best sensitivity was observed against anti-fungal cream and three essential oils. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: From 50 dermatophytes, the highest percentage of dermatophytes were obtained by the male patient under the age group of 19-64. In all, Trichophyton were the highly isolated species and showed high sensitivity against essential oil. Anti-fungal susceptibility testing is also vital for resistance surveillance and for comparing the in vitro activity of new and existing agents. The present study shows that natural essential oil can be a good alternative source of medication against these dermatophytes with no side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermatophytoses are caused by fungi in the genera Microsprum, Trichophyton and Epidermophyton. Africans use extracts of medicinal plants to treat dermatophytosis. This study aimed to determine the in vitro antifungal activity of crude leaf extract of Cassia alata on fungal isolates from dermatophytosis lesions. Subjects with suspected lesions of dermatophytosis were recruited for the study. Skin scrapings were obtained from lesions for microscopy and culture. Isolates were identified macroscopically and microscopically. Fresh Cassia alata leaves were plucked and authenticated by a Botanist. Aqueous and alcohol extraction was done using the Soxhlet extractor. Isolates were subjected to in vitro leave extracts antifungal testing using disc diffusion methods. A total of 50 subjects were recruited for the study comprising 28(56.0%) males and 22 (44.0%) females with a male to female ratio of 2.5:1. The prevalence of dermatophytes infection in the study was 14(28.0%). Trichophyton rubrum was the most encountered isolates (42.8%). Males 10 (71.4%) were more infected than females 4 (28.5%). The susceptibility rates of dermatophytes to anfungals range between 0-100% with 30 (78.6%) susceptibility to Griseofulvin. The aqueous extract was more effective with susceptibility rates 33.3% - 83.3% than ethanolic extract 16.7% - 50.0%. The dermatophytes were more susceptible to the 50µg/mL aqueous extract with rates between 50% - 83.3% while the range for the 50µg/mL ethanolic extract was 25.0% - 50.0%. Trichophyton veruccosum and E. floccosum were resistant to extracts. Cassia alata leaf extracts had antifungal activities against dermatophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify and assess the antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi found in the endemic plant Abies numidica. Among all isolates, the ANT13 isolate demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity in the preliminary screening, particularly Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Candida albicans ATCC 1024, with inhibition zones of 22 and 21.5 mm, respectively. Based on its morphological and molecular features, this isolate was identified as Penicillium brevicompactum. The maximum activity was observed in the ethyl acetate extract, followed by the dichloromethane extract; however, the n-hexane extract exhibited no activity. The ethyl acetate extract demonstrated very significant activity against the five strains of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus used, with average zones of inhibition ranging from 21 to 26 mm, in contrast to more resistant Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 49452 and Bacillus cereus ATCC 10876. The ethyl acetate extract was also very active against dermatophytes, where the zones of inhibition for Candida albicans, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, and Epidermophyton floccosum were 23.5, 31, 43, 47, and 53.5 mm, respectively. The MIC values for dermatophytes ranged between 100 and 3200 µg/mL. The wild isolate of Penicillium brevicompactum ANT13 discovered as an endophyte in Abies numidica may be a distinctive source of novel compounds and drug discovery to trait dermatophytes and multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tinea capitis, atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis are the most common disorders endured by prepubescent children. Dermatophyte infections have been linked to allergic disorders, such as increased sensitivity to dermatophytes in patients with atopic dermatitis. Objectives: To explore the correlation between tinea capitis and allergic diseases in children and to analyse their risk factors. Methods: This study monitored epidemiological changes in childhood tinea capitis and risk factors for whom with allergic disease in a single centre in three consecutive five‐year intervals by reviewing clinical data and multivariate logistic data analysis. Results: Between 2007 and 2022, there were 127 children patients with tinea capitis, the mean age was 4.83 years, and the male‐to‐female ratio was 1.76:1. Zoophilic Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes were the most prevalent pathogens, and the proportions remained relatively constant every 5 years. There were 34 (26.8%) children with tinea capitis complicated with allergic disease, among them 14 children with atopic dermatitis/eczema, 13 with allergic rhinitis, 8 urticaria, 6 food allergies and 1 allergic asthma. Male, kerion, zoophilic species infections and animal contact history were prevalent features in allergic disease combined with tinea capitis. Patients with tinea capitis plus allergic disease mostly had a family history with similar complications. Conclusion: M. canis and T. mentagrophytes were the most prevalent pathogens of tinea capitis in the last 15 years; atopic dermatitis/eczema and allergic rhinitis were the most frequently associated allergic diseases. Male, kerion, zoophilic pathogen and animal contact history are risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermatophytes are fungi included in the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum, Epidermophyton, Nannizzia, Paraphyton, Lophophyton, and Arthroderma. Molecular techniques have contributed to faster and more precise identification, allowing significant advances in phylogenetic studies. This work aimed to identify clinical isolates of dermatophytes through phenotypic (macro- and micromorphology and conidia size) and genotypic methods (sequences of ITS regions, genes of β tubulin (BT2), and elongation factor α (Tef-1α)) and determine the phylogenetic relationships between isolates. Ninety-four dermatophyte isolates from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic were studied. The isolates presented macro- and micromorphology and conidia size described for the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. Genotypic analysis classified the isolates into the genera Trichophyton (63.8%), Nannizzia (25.5%), Arthroderma (9.6%), and Epidermophyton (1.1%). The most frequent species were T. rubrum (26 isolates, 27.6%), T. interdigitale (26 isolates, 27.6%), and N. incurvata (11 isolates, 11.7%), N. gypsea and A. otae (nine isolates, 9.6%), among others. The genotypic methods clarified the taxonomic status of closely related species. For instance, the ITS and BT2 markers of T. rubrum/T. violaceum did not differ but the Tef-1α gene did. On the other hand, the three markers differed in T. equinum/T. tonsurans. Therefore, the ITS, BT2, and Tef-1α genes are useful for typing in phylogenetic analyses of dermatophytes, with Tef-1α being the most informative locus. It should be noted that isolate MM-474 was identified as T. tonsurans when using ITS and Tef-1α, but when using BT2, it was identified as T. rubrum. On the other hand, no significant difference was found when comparing the methods for constructing phylogenies, as the topologies were similar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dermatophytosis is mainly caused by Trichophyton rubrum. The use of presently available conventional antifungal agents is limited due to various side-effects, requirement of long-term application, emergence of resistant organisms and cost-effectiveness. In the present study, methanolic extract of 12 medicinal plants was screened for antifungal activity against T. rubrum. To identify the phytochemicals in the extract qualitative and quantitative analysis was performed along with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). By analysing the samples using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the chemicals that were present were identified. Among the various plants studied, the methanolic extracts of Aegle marmelos leaves (AML-ME) and Pimpinella anisum seed (PMS-ME) showed high zone of inhibition of 16 and 22 mm, respectively. MIC of both the extracts was found to be 100 µg/ml. Some major compounds identified in AML-ME with alkaloids are N, N,-dimethyl-o-(1-methyl-butyl)-hydroxylamine, 13-tetradece-11-yn-1-ol (15.21%), n-hexadecanoic acid, Propanal, 2,3-dihydroxy-, (s)-(5.22%) and 1,3-butanediol, and in PAS-ME, hexamethylene chloroiodide, cyclopentene, 3-hexyl, E-2-octadecadecen-1-ol, n-hexadecanoic acid and 2-cyclopentene-1-undecanoic acid, ethyl ester. Both AML-ME and PAS-ME showed dose-dependent in vitro antioxidant activity against the radicals such as DPPH and ABTS. Also, FRAP activity was found in both the extracts. Altogether, the presence of antifungal and antioxidant activity in the AML-ME and PAS-ME might be advantageous in exploring these extracts as either alternative or complementary therapy to the available antifungal agents further. The phytochemicals present in these extracts has acted synergistically against the T. rubrum and affected its viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The predisposing factors and clinical presentations of fungal foot infections caused by non-dermatophytes and dermatophytes are challenging to differentiate. Definite diagnoses of non-dermatophyte infections at first visits facilitate their treatment. Objectives: This study aimed to develop diagnostic criteria to differentiate fungal foot infections caused by Neoscytalidium dimidiatum and dermatophytes. Methods: Diagnostic prediction research based on a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional study. The reviewed patients were aged ≥18 and underwent a mycological examination for fungal foot infections. A fungal culture at the initial visit was the gold standard for determining causative organisms. Results: Analyses were carried out on the data from 371 patients. N. dimidiatum accounted for 184 (49.6%) infections, and dermatophytes caused the remaining 187 (50.4%) cases. Five significant predefined predictors were used to develop the diagnostic criteria and score. They were immunocompetence status, no family history of fungal infections, the absence of pruritus, the absence of other concurrent fungal skin infections, and agricultural work. The lower score cutoff was 11 (sensitivity 83.7% and specificity 57.8%). The score showed an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.755 and was well calibrated. Conclusions: The criteria and score show promise for clinical use, with acceptable discriminative performance and good calibration. They will help physicians differentiate the causative organisms in patients with fungal foot infections at the first visit, enabling the determination of appropriate antifungal treatment.

Dermatophytes associated with bacteria can lead to severe, difficult-to-treat infections and contribute to chronic infections. Trichophyton rubrum, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis can form biofilms influenced by nutrient availability. This study investigated biofilm formation by these species by utilizing diverse culture media and different time points. These biofilms were studied through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), biomass, metabolic activity, and colony-forming units (CFUs). The results revealed that mixed biofilms exhibited high biomass and metabolic activity when cultivated in the brain heart infusion (BHI) medium. Both bacterial species formed mature biofilms with T. rubrum within 72 h, irrespective of media. The timing of bacterial inoculation was pivotal in influencing biomass and metabolic activity. T. rubrum’s development within mixed biofilms depended on bacterial addition timing, while pre-adhesion influenced fungal growth. Bacterial communities prevailed initially, while fungi dominated later in the mixed biofilms. CLSM revealed 363 μm thick T. rubrum biofilms with septate, well-developed hyphae; S. aureus (177 μm) and S. epidermidis (178 μm) biofilms showed primarily cocci. Mixed biofilms matched T. rubrum’s thickness when associated with S. epidermidis (369 μm), with few hyphae initially. Understanding T. rubrum and Staphylococcal interactions in biofilms advances antimicrobial resistance and disease progression knowledge.