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The vast land of Iran, with its diverse climate and geographical location, is known as a suitable habitat for different types of thyme. Thyme (Thymus spp.), a plant of great nutritional and medicinal value, holds a special place among pasture plants. Consequently, investigating the factors that threaten the survival of this plant is important. Two species of thyme, T. kotschyanus (Boiss. & Hohen) and T. pubescens (Boiss. & Kotschy ex Čelak) have significant habitats in the pastures of Alborz province. In this research, pests and diseases of these two species were investigated in 14 different stations in Alborz province. The samples were collected at three time points (May, July and September) and the collected insects were taken to the laboratory for identification. The results indicated the presence of six types of pests on thyme species: Aphis serpylli, Haplothrips reuteri, Tetranychus urticae, Aeolothrips mongolicus, a mite of the genus Bryobia, and also Cuscuta spp. as a parasitic plant. Alternaria leaf spot was also detected on thyme leaves. The results of this research are reported for the first time It can be used by regional managers and stakeholders and help in the protection of Thymus species in the rangelands of Alborz province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant increase in cases of mucormycosis was observed in COVID-19 patients, especially in India, but not exclusively. The presented cases highlight the heterogeneous nature of mucormycosis, emphasizing the importance of recognizing predisposing factors, such as immunosuppression, due to comorbidities or medication. Diagnosing mucormycosis poses a challenge due to nonspecific clinical manifestations, requiring a multidisciplinary approach for accurate diagnosis. Treatment involves a multi-pronged approach centered around the early initiation of antifungal therapy alongside surgical intervention and the management of underlying conditions, with an emphasis on controlling immunosuppression. Understanding the relationship between COVID-19 and predisposing factors for mucormycosis is fundamental for developing prevention and treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burkholderia gladioli pv. cocovenenans is a serious safety issue in black fungus due to the deadly toxin, bongkrekic acid. This has triggered the demand for an efficient toxigenic phenotype recognition method. The objective of this study is to develop an efficient method for the recognition of toxin-producing B. gladioli strains. The potential of multilocus sequence typing and a back propagation neural network for the recognition of toxigenic B. cocovenenans was explored for the first time. The virulent strains were isolated from a black fungus cultivation environment in Qinba Mountain area, Shaanxi, China. A comprehensive evaluation of toxigenic capability of 26 isolates were conducted using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography for determination of bongkrekic acid and toxoflavin production in different culturing conditions and foods. The isolates produced bongkrekic acid in the range of 0.05–6.24 mg/L in black fungus and a highly toxin-producing strain generated 201.86 mg/L bongkrekic acid and 45.26 mg/L toxoflavin in co-cultivation with Rhizopus oryzae on PDA medium. Multilocus sequence typing phylogeny (MLST) analysis showed that housekeeping gene sequences have a certain relationship with a strain toxigenic phenotype. We developed a well-trained, back-propagation neutral network for prediction of toxigenic phenotype in B. gladioli based on MLST sequences with an accuracy of 100% in the training set and an accuracy of 86.7% in external test set strains. The BP neutral network offers a highly efficient approach to predict toxigenic phenotype of strains and contributes to hazard detection and safety surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term "black fungus" is referred to fulminating, dreadful fungus mucormycosis infection, so-called because of the black-colored necrotic areas it causes due to the black-colored colonies of the fungus, which thrives in infected tissues. Recently, in this COVID-19 pandemic, it has emerged as a new threat to the world. This article enlightens us with the predisposing factors, pathogenesis, types, clinical features, diagnostic modalities, and treatment of Mucormycosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, the diagnosis of mucormycosis co-infection has become challenging as it is sometimes misdiagnosed or even undiagnosed. Many factors contribute to acquiring such infections. These factors vary but their main reason for getting such infections is being immunocompromised. Thus, it results in weak host immunity to fight and prevent such co-infection. Objectives: This study aims to assess the knowledge perception among the general population in Saudi Arabia regarding black fungus and its relationship with the global pandemic COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A prospective, qualitative, questionnaire-based cross-sectional study took place. The obtained data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: The study included 1138 participants, 31.5% from southern region, 27.8% from Eastern region, 22.2% from north region, 12.2% from Western region, and 6.3% from Central region. The participant's mean age was 27.1 ± 11.9 years old. A good knowledge level was detected among 35% of female respondents compared to 28.9% of males with reported statistical significance (P =0.036). All other factors including age, education, and work were insignificantly associated with public knowledge level. Conclusions: A considerable percentage of the current study population had poor knowledge level of perception and awareness regarding mucormycosis in relation to COVID-19.

This study aimed to explore the optimal conditions for the preparation of β-glucan/nanosized selenium (Se NPs) complexes (DNT-Se) and determining the safety of DNT-Se. The concentration of polysaccharides (DNTs), the ratio of vitamin C (VC) to Na2SeO3, the concentration of Na2SeO3, the reaction time, and the reaction temperature were used as experimental factors. The dual-wavelength colorimetric method and the Malvern particle-size assay method were used to characterize changes in the particle size of Se NPs in DNT-Se, and the single-factors and orthogonal experimental design were used to investigate the preparation process of DNT-Se, and the toxicity of DNT-Se to 293T human embryonic kidney cells and normal liver cells of AML-12 mice was evaluated by using CCK-8. The results showed that the optimal conditions for DNT-Se preparation were list as follows: 1.0 mg/mL of DNTs, and 1.0 mg/mL of Na2SeO3 with the ratio of vitamin C to Na2SeO3 6:1. Moreover, the reaction time was 12 h, and the reaction temperature was 25 ℃. The mean diameter of DNT-Se prepared under such conditions was around 34.50 nm. Cell proliferation experiment results showed that DNT-Se was non-toxic to 293T human embryonic kidney cells and normal liver cells of AML-12 mice, but it could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells, and the IC50 value of DNT-Se for HepG2 cells at 72 h was 42.54 μg/mL. The synthesis process of DNT-Se was fixed in this work, and the obtained nanoparticles were with smaller size and uniform distribution. Moreover, the DNT-Se could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 hepatoma cells without toxicity to normal cells, which was of good biosafety.

Background: The black fungus, mucormycosis, is on the list of lethal complications reported in recent times in COVID patients. Methodology: This cross-sectional study included all cases of post-COVID-19 mucormycosis. Patients' demographics, clinical presentations, and general health information were collected using a pre-designed form. Results: The study included 171 participants with the mean (SD) age as 49 (10) years with the sex distribution as 71% (122/171) male and 29% (49/122) females. About half of the admitted patients (47%) were known cases of Diabetes Mellitus type II with a median (IQR) Glycosylated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) of 9.1% (7–11.1%). Only 28% (48/171) had received the first COVID vaccination, and 2.9% (5/171) were fully vaccinated with two doses. During COVID-19, 76% (130/171) required hospitalisation for a mean (SD) stay of 11 (6.4) days. Eighty percent of the patients (136/171) received steroids during therapy, while 87% (150/171) and 51% (88/171) received antibiotics and antivirals, respectively. Oxygen was administered to 71% of hospitalised patients (120/171), with 39.1% (47/120) receiving it for more than 7 days. About the development of the first symptoms of mucormycosis (headache, nasal congestion, black crusts in the nose, facial pain, swelling in cheeks and eyes, and loss of vision) after being diagnosed with COVID-19, 16% (28/171) reported it within 7 days, 75% (127/171) between 8 and 30th days and 9% (16/171) after a month. On examination, 20% of mucor patients had hard palate findings, eschars, fistulas, and perforations, 38% had periodontal abscesses, and 5% reported tenderness to percussion. Conclusion: Generally, oral manifestations involved the palate and included varying degrees of mucosal discolouration, swelling, ulcers, superficial necrotic areas, and bone exposure and necrosis with dark eschars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic, the diagnosis of mucormycosis co-infection has become challenging as it is sometimes misdiagnosed or even undiagnosed. Many factors contribute to acquiring such infections. These factors vary but their main reason for getting such infections is being immunocompromised. Thus, it results in weak host immunity to fight and prevent such co-infection. Objectives: This study aims to assess the knowledge perception among the general population in Saudi Arabia regarding black fungus and its relationship with the global pandemic COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A prospective, qualitative, questionnaire-based cross-sectional study took place. The obtained data were statistically analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: The study included 1138 participants, 31.5% from southern region, 27.8% from Eastern region, 22.2% from north region, 12.2% from Western region, and 6.3% from Central region. The participant's mean age was 27.1 ± 11.9 years old. A good knowledge level was detected among 35% of female respondents compared to 28.9% of males with reported statistical significance (P =0.036). All other factors including age, education, and work were insignificantly associated with public knowledge level. Conclusions: A considerable percentage of the current study population had poor knowledge level of perception and awareness regarding mucormycosis in relation to COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black fungus is a rare and dangerous mycology that usually affects the brain and lungs and could be life-threatening in diabetic cases. Recently, some COVID-19 survivors, especially those with co-morbid diseases, have been susceptible to black fungus. Therefore, recovered COVID-19 patients should seek medical support when they notice mucormycosis symptoms. This paper proposes a novel ensemble deep-learning model that includes three pre-trained models: reset (50), VGG (19), and Inception. Our approach is medically intuitive and efficient compared to the traditional deep learning models. An image dataset was aggregated from various resources and divided into two classes: a black fungus class and a skin infection class. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first that is concerned with building black fungus detection models based on deep learning algorithms. The proposed approach can significantly improve the performance of the classification task and increase the generalization ability of such a binary classification task. According to the reported results, it has empirically achieved a sensitivity value of 0.9907, a specificity value of 0.9938, a precision value of 0.9938, and a negative predictive value of 0.9907. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract Background Black fungus (mycoses) is an opportunistic invasive infection that predominantly occurred among immunosuppressed persons. It has been recently detected in COVID-19 patients. The pregnant diabetic woman is susceptible to such infections and needs recognition for protection. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the nurse-led intervention on the knowledge and preventive practice of diabetic pregnant women regarding fungal mycosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method This quasi-experimental study was conducted at maternal health care centers in Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. The study recruited 73 diabetic pregnant women through a systematic random sampling of pregnant women attending the maternity clinic during the period of the study. A structured interview questionnaire was used to measure their knowledge regarding Mucormycosis and COVID-19 manifestations. The preventive practices were assessed through an observational checklist of hygienic practice, insulin administration, and blood glucose monitoring for the prevention of Mucormycosis infection. Results The study revealed a statistically significant increment in the participants’ knowledge, preventive practice, personal hygiene, and diabetes self-care scores (9.56 ± 1.75 ,3.6 ± 1.18, 3.18 ± 1.29 post-intervention) comparable to (6.19 ± 1.66, 1.97 ± 1.35, 0.89 ± 1.38 pre-intervention) respectively. There was a significant improvement in the overall COVID-19 protective score against Mucormycosis (from 2.66 ± 1.74 to 4.53 ± 1.43). Conclusion Nursing educational sessions had a positive effect on pregnant women’s awareness and preventive behavior. Hence, it is recommended to integrate nurse-led intervention targeting the preventive practice against COVID-19-associated Mucormycosis infection (CAM) as routine services for diabetic pregnant women during antenatal care.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant increase in cases of mucormycosis was observed in COVID-19 patients, especially in India, but not exclusively. The presented cases highlight the heterogeneous nature of mucormycosis, emphasizing the importance of recognizing predisposing factors, such as immunosuppression, due to comorbidities or medication. Diagnosing mucormycosis poses a challenge due to nonspecific clinical manifestations, requiring a multidisciplinary approach for accurate diagnosis. Treatment involves a multi-pronged approach centered around the early initiation of antifungal therapy alongside surgical intervention and the management of underlying conditions, with an emphasis on controlling immunosuppression. Understanding the relationship between COVID-19 and predisposing factors for mucormycosis is fundamental for developing prevention and treatment strategies.

Rationale: Mucormycosis is a rare, life-threatening, invasive fungal infection often referred to as black fungus. It has gained significant attention due to its increasing incidence during the coronavirus pandemic of 2019. Patient Concern: An 8-month-old child, whose identity is being withheld, arrived at our clinic with her parents with the chief complaint of swelling in the upper lip and cheek. Diagnosis: Various laboratory procedures, including blood cultures and imaging scans were performed to determine the presence of mucormycosis. Treatment: Under general anaesthesia, decortication and resection was done surgically, followed by an intraoral elastomeric impression made over the resected region. Soft silicone splints as oral seals for the suckling reflex were made postoperatively within a week. Immediate post-operative therapeutic low-level laser therapy was done. Outcome: Wound healing has been achieved. Take-away Lessons: Multidisciplinary intervention provides the best outcomes for the successful treatment and rehabilitation of paediatric patients with mucormycosis of the facial region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nitrogen–sulfur dual-doped black fungus porous carbon (NS-FPC) matrix was prepared with natural black fungus as the carbon source and cysteine as the nitrogen–sulfur source. A black fungus-based solution was obtained by hydrothermal treatment. After further carbonization activation and combination with sulfur processing, the NS-FPC/S positive electrode materials were prepared. The uniform recombination of biomass carbon provides an efficient conductive framework for sulfur. The porous structure is conducive to the transport of electrolytes. Heteroatom doping can provide a more active site. The structure and composition analyses of the materials were carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The electronic binding energy and bonding state were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The specific surface area and pore size distribution were analyzed using an N2 adsorption–desorption experiment. Sulfur loading was determined through thermogravimetric analysis. The electrochemical performance of NS-FPC/S in Li–S batteries was systematically investigated. The result shows that the NS-FPC/S electrode maintains more than 1,000 mAh g-1 reversible capacity after 100 cycles at 0.2 C current density, with a capacity retention of 85%. The cycle and rate performance are both considerably superior to those of traditional activated carbon materials.

Background: Mucormycosis (black fungus) is an aggressive, life-threatening infectious disease-causing infiltration and by destroying the surrounding bone and soft tissue through vascular thrombosis and subsequent tissue infarction that may reach the brain with fatal complications. Its outbreak has been assessed around the clock during the recent pandemic as post COVID-19 sequelae. Aims: To assess the risk factors, oral signs and symptoms, investigations, treatment and rehabilitation strategies amongst COVID-19 associated mucormycosis patients in a tertiary care hospital. Methods and Material: An observational, pilot study was carried out amongst 30 active or recent COVID-19 associated mucormycosis patients reporting in the Department of Dentistry of a tertiary care hospital in Bhopal over a period of 6 months. Statistical analysis was done using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Version 16 software. Results: Study was done on 30 patients (80% males and 20% females) and their median age was 46 years. Predominant risk factor present was diabetes mellitus (90%) and steroid therapy (60%). Prime oral manifestations were toothache (90%), mobile teeth (83%), draining sinus (53%), palatal ulceration (43%) and para-sinusal pain (37%). Conclusions: Mucormycosis can cause serious oro-facial morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients. The current management strategy requires early diagnosis, prompt treatment and oral rehabilitation.

Abstract Purpose Our study aims to compile data on the clinical presentation, pathological and radiological findings in cases of post-COVID mucormycosis, and present the management strategy used in our center. Methods This is a retrospective cohort observational study based at a tertiary healthcare institution in Northern India. All COVID-positive patients presenting with clinical features of mucormycosis were included in the study. They underwent complete otorhinolaryngeal, medical, and ophthalmological examination after thorough history taking. Biochemical tests, biopsy and imaging studies were done for all the patients. The treatment strategy included a multidisciplinary team approach, that is, intravenous antifungals as well as surgical debridement of necrotic tissue via Modified Denker’s approach or open maxillectomy, and orbital exenteration, if required. Patients were followed up for six months to look for recurrence. Results Twenty-three patients were studied, out of which 14 were males and 9 were females. Pathological findings of 13 out of 15 patients, who underwent surgical debridement revealed mucormycosis as a causative agent, received Amphotericin. Aspergillus was found in two cases which received Voriconazole. Eleven out of 20 patients who were treated in our hospital survived. Three patients were lost to follow up. The average hospital stay of discharged patients was 14 days. Conclusion Post-COVID mucormycosis was reported at an alarming rate after the second COVID wave in India especially after steroid therapies in diabetic patients. Thus a timely, aggressive, team approach using Modified Denkers or open maxillectomy along with proper intravenous antifungals is the key to survival in such patients.

The black fungus is a SARS-CoV-2-associated fungal co-infection. Mechanisms by which antifungal drugs act against Mucormycosis are by inhibition of enzymes implicated in ergosterol biosynthesis or cell wall formation or the drug interaction directly with ergosterol. Since it has been shown that the reduction of ergosterol biosynthesis prevents this infection, we carried out a virtual screening with molecular docking analysis and tested a dataset of 880 molecules for its effects on an enzyme involved in ergosterol biosynthesis (CYP51) and fungal infection (lipase), as well as ADMET and toxicity properties of the studied molecules. We calculated the stability of the complex’s inhibitor-enzyme throughout the time using molecular dynamics simulations. From this, initial screening indicated that 600 out of a total of 880 compounds have a good affinity towards sterol 14α-demethylase. The two compounds ZINC95486139 and ZINC33833639 were determined as safe and have good drug-likeness properties, and have binding energies of −75.07 and −83.89 kcal/mol, respectively by MMGBSA and create strong and stable interactions with the residues of the active site of the enzyme. To the best of our knowledge, ZINC95486139 and ZINC33833639 have not yet been described in the literature as anti-sterol 14α-demethylase inhibitors or evaluated for their anti-fungal activity.

Abstract Objective Mucormycosis is a rare yet devastating fungal disease with a frequently fatal outcome. The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of mucormycosis, evaluate its risk factors, and assess the patients' outcomes in pre‐COVID‐19 and COVID‐19 era. Methods In this retrospective observational study, clinical data of 158 patients with confirmed histopathological diagnosis of mucormycosis were collected from the medical records departments of Imam Reza and Ghaem hospitals, Mashhad, Iran during 2018–2021. The collected data were risk factors associated with mucormycosis including age, gender, underlying diseases, details of corticosteroid administration, and complications such as blindness and mortality. Results Of 158 studied patients, 48 patients were diagnosed in the pre‐pandemic period whereas 110 cases were admitted during the pandemic era. COVID‐19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) was observed in 58.1% of the pandemic cases. In the pre‐pandemic period, cancer (89.5% vs. 39%, p

Background: Black fungus (mycoses) is an opportunistic invasive infection that predominantly occurred among immunosuppressed persons. It has been recently detected in COVID-19 patients. The pregnant diabetic woman is susceptible to such infections and needs recognition for protection. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the nurse-led intervention on the knowledge and preventive practice of diabetic pregnant women regarding fungal mycosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This quasi-experimental study was conducted at maternal health care centers in Shebin El-Kom, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. The study recruited 73 diabetic pregnant women through a systematic random sampling of pregnant women attending the maternity clinic during the period of the study. A structured interview questionnaire was used to measure their knowledge regarding Mucormycosis and COVID-19 manifestations. The preventive practices were assessed through an observational checklist of hygienic practice, insulin administration, and blood glucose monitoring for the prevention of Mucormycosis infection. Results: The study revealed a statistically significant increment in the participants' knowledge, preventive practice, personal hygiene, and diabetes self-care scores (9.56 ± 1.75 ,3.6 ± 1.18, 3.18 ± 1.29 post-intervention) comparable to (6.19 ± 1.66, 1.97 ± 1.35, 0.89 ± 1.38 pre-intervention) respectively. There was a significant improvement in the overall COVID-19 protective score against Mucormycosis (from 2.66 ± 1.74 to 4.53 ± 1.43). Conclusion: Nursing educational sessions had a positive effect on pregnant women's awareness and preventive behavior. Hence, it is recommended to integrate nurse-led intervention targeting the preventive practice against COVID-19-associated Mucormycosis infection (CAM) as routine services for diabetic pregnant women during antenatal care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the second phase of SARS-CoV-2, an unknown fungal infection, identified as black fungus, was transmitted to numerous people among the hospitalizedCOVID-19 patients and increased the death rate. The black fungus is associated with the Mycolicibacterium smegmatis, Mucor lusitanicus, and Rhizomucor miehei microorganisms. At the same time, other pathogenic diseases, such as the Monkeypox virus and Marburg virus, impacted global health. Policymakers are concerned about these pathogens due to their severe pathogenic capabilities and rapid spread. However, no standard therapies are available tomanage and treat those conditions. Since the coptisine has significant antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties; therefore, the current investigation has been designed by modifying coptisine to identify an effective drug molecule against Black fungus, Monkeypox, and Marburg virus. After designing the derivatives of coptisine, they have been optimized to get a stable molecular structure. These ligands were then subjected to molecular docking study against two vital proteins obtained from black fungal pathogens: Rhizomucor miehei (PDB ID: 4WTP) and Mycolicibacterium smegmatis (PDB ID 7D6X), and proteins found in Monkeypox virus (PDB ID: 4QWO) and Marburg virus (PDB ID 4OR8). Followingmolecular docking, other computational investigations, such as ADMET, QSAR, drug-likeness, quantum calculation and molecular dynamics, were also performed to determine their potentiality as antifungal and antiviral inhibitors. The docking score reported that they have strong affinities against Black fungus, Monkeypox virus, and Marburg virus. Then, the molecular dynamic simulation was conducted to determine their stability and durability in the physiological system with water at 100 ns, which documented that the mentioned drugs were stable over the simulated time. Thus, our in silico investigation provides a preliminary report that coptisine derivatives are safe and potentially effective against Black fungus, Monkeypox virus, and Marburg virus. Hence, coptisine derivatives may be a prospective candidate for developing drugs against Black fungus, Monkeypox and Marburg viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mucormycosis (black fungus) is an aggressive, life‑threatening infectious disease‑causing infiltration and by destroying the surrounding bone and soft tissue through vascular thrombosis and subsequent tissue infarction that may reach the brain with fatal complications. Its outbreak has been assessed around the clock during the recent pandemic as post COVID‑19 sequelae. Aims: To assess the risk factors, oral signs and symptoms, investigations, treatment and rehabilitation strategies amongst COVID‑19 associated mucormycosis patients in a tertiary care hospital. Methods and Material: An observational, pilot study was carried out amongst 30 active or recent COVID‑19 associated mucormycosis patients reporting in the Department of Dentistry of a tertiary care hospital in Bhopal over a period of 6 months. Statistical analysis was done using Kolmogorov‑Smirnov test using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, Version 16 software. Results: Study was done on 30 patients (80% males and 20% females) and their median age was 46 years. Predominant risk factor present was diabetes mellitus (90%) and steroid therapy (60%). Prime oral manifestations were toothache (90%), mobile teeth (83%), draining sinus (53%), palatal ulceration (43%) and para‑sinusal pain (37%). Conclusions: Mucormycosis can cause serious oro‑facial morbidity and mortality in COVID‑19 patients. The current management strategy requires early diagnosis, prompt treatment and oral rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burkholderia gladioli pv. cocovenenans is a serious safety issue in black fungus due to the deadly toxin, bongkrekic acid. This has triggered the demand for an efficient toxigenic phenotype recognition method. The objective of this study is to develop an efficient method for the recognition of toxin-producing B. gladioli strains. The potential of multilocus sequence typing and a back propagation neural network for the recognition of toxigenic B. cocovenenans was explored for the first time. The virulent strains were isolated from a black fungus cultivation environment in Qinba Mountain area, Shaanxi, China. A comprehensive evaluation of toxigenic capability of 26 isolates were conducted using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography for determination of bongkrekic acid and toxoflavin production in different culturing conditions and foods. The isolates produced bongkrekic acid in the range of 0.05–6.24 mg/L in black fungus and a highly toxin-producing strain generated 201.86 mg/L bongkrekic acid and 45.26 mg/L toxoflavin in co-cultivation with Rhizopus oryzae on PDA medium. Multilocus sequence typing phylogeny (MLST) analysis showed that housekeeping gene sequences have a certain relationship with a strain toxigenic phenotype. We developed a well-trained, back-propagation neutral network for prediction of toxigenic phenotype in B. gladioli based on MLST sequences with an accuracy of 100% in the training set and an accuracy of 86.7% in external test set strains. The BP neutral network offers a highly efficient approach to predict toxigenic phenotype of strains and contributes to hazard detection and safety surveillance.

During the second phase of SARS-CoV-2, an unknown fungal infection, identified as black fungus, was transmitted to numerous people among the hospitalized COVID-19 patients and increased the death rate. The black fungus is associated with the Mycolicibacterium smegmatis, Mucor lusitanicus, and Rhizomucor miehei microorganisms. At the same time, other pathogenic diseases, such as the Monkeypox virus and Marburg virus, impacted global health. Policymakers are concerned about these pathogens due to their severe pathogenic capabilities and rapid spread. However, no standard therapies are available to manage and treat those conditions. Since the coptisine has significant antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal properties; therefore, the current investigation has been designed by modifying coptisine to identify an effective drug molecule against Black fungus, Monkeypox, and Marburg virus. After designing the derivatives of coptisine, they have been optimized to get a stable molecular structure. These ligands were then subjected to molecular docking study against two vital proteins obtained from black fungal pathogens: Rhizomucor miehei (PDB ID: 4WTP) and Mycolicibacterium smegmatis (PDB ID 7D6X), and proteins found in Monkeypox virus (PDB ID: 4QWO) and Marburg virus (PDB ID 4OR8). Following molecular docking, other computational investigations, such as ADMET, QSAR, drug-likeness, quantum calculation and molecular dynamics, were also performed to determine their potentiality as antifungal and antiviral inhibitors. The docking score reported that they have strong affinities against Black fungus, Monkeypox virus, and Marburg virus. Then, the molecular dynamic simulation was conducted to determine their stability and durability in the physiological system with water at 100 ns, which documented that the mentioned drugs were stable over the simulated time. Thus, our in silico investigation provides a preliminary report that coptisine derivatives are safe and potentially effective against Black fungus, Monkeypox virus, and Marburg virus. Hence, coptisine derivatives may be a prospective candidate for developing drugs against Black fungus, Monkeypox and Marburg viruses.

A qualitative and quantitative detection method for Fusarium in black fungus based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was established. Autoclaved black fungus samples were inoculated with five common Fusarium species (F. proliferatum 189975, F. moniliforme 340687, F. oxysporum 120618, F. equiseti 124121, F. solani 121547) at 28 °C and 80% relative humidity. The infrared spectra of the samples at different storage periods were obtained at 1 800~900 cm-1. The rapid identification and detection model of Fusarium in black fungus was established using principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and partial least squares regression analysis (PLSR). The results showed that the LDA model correctly identified 87.50% of the black fungus samples infected with different Fusarium species and 82.50% of the black fungus samples infected with a single Fusarium species. The PLSR model achieved good quantitative results in predicting the total number of colonies in the samples (Rp² p=0.842 8, RMSEP=0.292 log CFU/g, RPD=2.81). Validation analysis of the actual samples showed that Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy could achieve rapid identification and detection of Fusarium in black fungus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Most risks increasing the susceptibility to black fungus are related to COVID-19. • Diabetes and steroid use can make COVID-19 patients prone to mucormycosis. • Vulnerability to black fungus needs to be probed beyond traditional risk factors. • Holistic study of causative factors is needed to streamline black fungus diagnosis. The deadly second wave of COVID-19 has seen an unprecedented surge in mucormycosis associated mortality in India, overwhelming the heath authorities with challenges beyond measure. Also known as black fungus, this life-threatening fungal infection usually manifests in the nose, spreads to the eyes, and in some cases also to the brain. Immune suppression, pre-existing conditions, prolonged and indiscriminate use of steroids, and unhygienic environments are some of the widely recognized risk factors for contracting black fungus in individuals recovered from COVID-19. However, diagnosis of the infection remains insufficient due to the lack a holistic understanding of the possible risks, symptoms, and exposure pathways and therefore no definite protocol exists for managing this fatal infection. Here, we synthesize the current state of knowledge on black fungus outbreak in India and identify key gaps in its understanding with respect to potential risk factors leading to the widespread infection. We looked at 3354 black fungus cases in India, enlisting ailment history (particularly diabetes) and steroid usage in COVID-19 patients as the key factors responsible for exacerbating risks associated with the disease. However, we also press on the possibilities that other less studied non-traditional risk factors may also have a role in causing the infection. Black fungus is therefore a reality of COVID-19, with or without diabetes or steroid use needs to be investigated. We believe such a review is imperative for making informed decisions specially around timely diagnosis and channelizing efforts in controlling the spread of COVID-19 associated mucormycosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the catastrophic wave of Coronavirus disease 2019, health agencies started to report an infrequent but lethal mucormycosis or black fungal infection. Primarily, it causes sinusitis by affecting nasal, oral, lung, brain, ocular, and other body tissues. It becomes more fatal, especially in diabetic, cancer, and immune‐compromised patients. Before 2020, the prevalence of mucormycosis was very rare but it has rapidly emerged globally from late 2020 to mid‐2021. Recently, the mucormycosis got worse and epidemic with more than 30,000 cases reported across India. The etiology of infection can be diagnosed by molecular, serological, microscopic, and clinical methods. However, early diagnosis of this ailment is still a challenging task due to no standalone diagnostic tool available along with clinical manifestations of the ailment resembling other fungal diseases. The treatment of mucormycosis is also challenging and frequently requires long‐term treatment. Amphotericin B was found to be an effective antifungal for preventing mucormycosis but it failed if infection disseminated to necrotizing tissues or adjacent organs. Removal of infected tissue/organ by surgery is an alternative treatment to control mucormycosis. In addition, reversal of underlying predisposing conditions based on therapy is also in practice for its prevention. This review highlights different aspects of mucormycosis such as pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and their challenges and so on. We also emphasized the epidemiological shift during the recent outbreak and its influence on the different regions of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 disease has been identified to cause remarkable increase of mucormycosis infection cases in India, with the majority of cases being observed in individuals recovering from COVID-19. Mucormycosis has emanated as an outcome of the recent COVID-19 pandemic outbreak as rapidly developing fatal illness which was acquired by Mucorales fungus which is a subcategory of molds known as mucormycetes. Mucormycosis is one of the serious, sporadic mycotic illnesses which is a great threat to immunocompromised COVID-19 patients and affects people of all ages, including children with COVID-19 infections. This is associated with tissue damaging property and, therefore, causes serious clinical complications and elevated death rate. The COVID-19-associated mucormycosis or "black fungus" are the terms used interchangeably. The rapid growth of tissue necrosis presenting as "rhino-orbital-cerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and disseminated disease" are various clinical forms of mucormycosis. The patient's prognosis and survival can be improved with proper surgeries using an endoscopic approach for local tissue protection in conjunction with course of appropriate conventional antifungal drug like Amphotericin-B and novel drugs like Rezafungin, encochleated Amphotericin B, Orolofim, and SCY-078 which have been explored in last few years. This review provides an overview of mucormycosis including its epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, its clinical forms, and therapeutic approaches for disease management like antifungal therapy, surgical debridement, and iron chelators. The published patents and ongoing clinical trials related to mucormycosis have also been mentioned in this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black fungus, with high nutritional and medicinal value, has been cultivated in China for a long time, and Heilongjiang alone accounts for about 40% of the global output. At present, the cultivation of black fungus derives mainly from the inheritance of relatively primitive practices and experience of farmers, resulting in inconsistent quality of fungus. In this study, a smart control system for the precision cultivation of black fungus was designed by using intelligent detection and control technology. The system includes a precision culture test environment and remote control system. The precision cultivation environment contains four sub-independent environments. The key parameters such as temperature, humidity, and light behavior were collected and can be adjusted individually, according to the precision cultivation stages. The intelligent remote control system included a controller cabinet, sensors unit, temperature control unit, humidity control unit, light control unit, and information transmitting unit. The controller cabinet includes a key controller which can auto-control the temperature, humidity, and lightly adjust components according to the precision cultivation conditions and processing. The temperature sensors were installed in a 3D array close to the fungus bags about 5 cm in rooms. The light tape was installed on the six walls and also had three colors (Red, Blue, and Green) which could be controlled independently in each room. The control strategy through the analysis of the data collected by all sensors, the current cultivate situation of the cultivation environment was obtained, and the heater, fan, light, and nozzle were regulated according to the strategy to maintain a suitable precision cultivation environment for fungus. To verify the feasibility of the precision cultivation processing and control system, the test result shows that the error of temperature control was about 0°C-1°C, the error of humidity control was about 1%-4%, and the error of illuminance control was about 0-50 lx; All the verification results show that the control system for precision cultivation has high precision and can meet the needs of exploring the "Black 29" fungus cultivation experiment environment. Based on the orthogonal experiment, the best combination of the temperature and humidity for each growth stage was also investigated in this study, further proving the reliability and feasibility of the control system for the precision cultivation of Auricularia auricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo investigate a black fungus poisoning incident in Shenzhen and identify the specie of pathogen. Meanwhile， the toxogenic strains， the distribution and metabolism of bongkrekic acid （BA） in vivo were also studied to provide references for treatments of similar incidents.MethodsIsolation and identification of pathogenic bacteria were carried out according to GB/T 4789.29-2003. MALDI-TOF MS was also used. UPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS was used for determination of BA in Black Fungus， blood， liver， urine， bacterial suspension and other samples.ResultsDifferent concentrations of BA were found in soaked Black Fungus， blood and urine samples. BA was also found in necrotic liver acquired from liver transplant 5 days after BA intake. Continuous surveillance showed that certain concentration of BA still exist in patient’s blood and urine even 9 days after BA intake. Burkholderia gladioli were isolated from both dried and soaked Black Fungus， and both two strains produced abundant BA after bacilli-culture.ConclusionBurkholderia gladioli in the Black Fungus produced large amount of BA during the soaking process. Then BA was ingested by the patient and widely distribute in vivo. Consequently， the patient died of multiple organ failure.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a global pandemic of the century. The disease is wreaking havoc on human health, the world economy, society, and the environment. It has already caused the loss of millions of lives. Because of the mutation, the virus is constantly evolving itself, changing its nature including the disease transmission rate, virulence, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations. It was recently reported that certain COVID-19 patients are also suffering from a fungal infection as co-infection commonly known as mucormycosis (black fungus). In India, the outbreak of black fungus in COVID-19 patients has already been declared an epidemic. Only a few reports are noticed in other countries. The focus must now be put toward better management and control of the COVID-19-associated fungal infection. In this review, we have discussed various aspects of black fungus particularly the etiology, taxonomy, risk factors, transmission, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and line of treatment to keep up to date on how to manage this fungal infection better. [ J Adv Biotechnol Exp Ther 2022; 5(1.000): 198-217]

Yuji Watanabe,1,2 Hirohito Sano,3 Shuichi Konno,3 Yasuhiro Kamioka,1,4 Maya Hariu,1,2 Kazuki Takano,1,2 Mitsuhiro Yamada,3 Masafumi Seki1 1Division of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Faculty of Medicine, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai City, Miyagi, Japan; 2Laboratory for Clinical Microbiology, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital, Sendai City, Miyagi, Japan; 3Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai City, Miyagi, Japan; 4Division of Pharmacy, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital, Sendai City, Miyagi, JapanCorrespondence: Masafumi Seki, Division of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Faculty of Medicine, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 1-15-1 Fukumuro, Miyagino-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi, 983-8612, Japan, Tel +81-22-259-1221, Fax +81-22-290-8956, Email m-seki@tohoku-mpu.ac.jp; seki@hosp.tohoku-mpu.ac.jpBackground: Exophiala dermatitidis is an environmental black fungus that rarely causes respiratory infections, yet its pathophysiological features and treatment regimens have not been established.Case Series: Two cases of exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and sinusitis due to E. dermatitidis infection in Japan are presented. Both patients were women, and non-tuberculous Mycobacterium (NTM) infection was suspected based on chest radiological findings, but E. dermatitidis was detected from bronchial lavage fluid and nasal mucus, respectively. Both cases were successfully treated by antifungal agents such as liposomal amphotericin B, voriconazole, and itraconazole, but clarithromycin, rifampicin, ethambutol, and sitafloxacin for NTM were not effective.Conclusion: E. dermatitidis can become a respiratory pathogen, especially in patients with chronic sinobronchial syndrome.Keywords: black fungus, bronchiectasis, rheumatoid arthritis, bronchoscope

A pandemic named SARS-COV2 COVID 19 affected many people's life in different ways globally. The normal life is still far away, lockdown rules have been relaxed in many countries. Morbidity and mortality increased a lot after the first wave. COVID-19 has affected medical education in a significant way. Most of the patients were asymptomatic during the second wave and some had symptoms such as myalgia, fever, and cough, which complicated to pneumonia, respiratory distress, and thromboembolic complications. There have been the development of many vaccines such as Covaxin, Pfizer–BioNTech, Covishield, Sputnik V, and Moderna, and these vaccinations have been given to frontline medical workers, people with comorbidities, aged people, etc., with high priority and then the general population. Many pregnant and peripartum women were put on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in severe to critical cases. A new black fungus was found in post-COVID 19 infections. It was named mucormycosis which usually affected immunocompromised people. There is a high importance in the examination of all the different epidemiological variables of all the places in all the regions across the world, to understand the mutations, and severity of the disease and also to be prepared. Many studies done on COVID-19 in first and the second wave was reviewed in detail and were compared for this review.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been associated with a wide range of opportunistic bacterial and fungal infections. Recently, several cases of mucormycosis in people with COVID-19 have been increasingly reported worldwide, in particular in India. 1. To study the total prevalence of mucormycosis and other fungal species in patients' samples. 2. To elaborate on the associated underlying risk factors and their presentations with COVID-19. The study was conducted at the Department of Microbiology, Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College from April 2021 to July 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both outpatient and admitted cases were included in the study suspected of mucormycosis with underlying COVID-19 infection or post-recovery phase. In total, 906 nasal swab samples were collected at the time of the visit from suspected patients and were sent to the microbiology laboratory of our institute for processing. Both microscopic examinations by preparing a wet mount with KOH and lactophenol cotton blue stain and culture using Sabouraud's dextrose agar (SDA) were done. Subsequently, we analyzed the patient's clinical presentations at a hospital, associated comorbidities, site of mucormycosis infection, past history for use of steroids or oxygen therapy, admissions required, and its outcome in patients with COVID-19. In total, 906 nasal swabs from suspected cases of mucormycosis in people with COVID-19 were processed. In all, 451 (49.7%) fungal positivity was seen, out of which 239 (26.37%) were mucormycosis. Other fungi such as Candida (175, 19.3%), Aspergillus 28 (3.1%), Trichosporon (6, 0.66%) and Curvularia (0.11%) were also identified. Out of the total, 52 were mixed infections. The total percentage of patients having underlying active COVID-19 infection or in the post-recovery phase was 62%. Most cases (80%) were of rhino-orbital origin, 12% were Pulmonary and the rest 8% where no primary site of infection was confirmed. Among risk factors, pre-existing diabetes mellitus (DM), or acute hyperglycemia was present in 71% of cases. Corticosteroid intake was recorded in 68% of cases, chronic hepatitis infection in 4%, two cases of chronic kidney disease, and only one case with triple infection of COVID-19, underlying HIV, and pulmonary tuberculosis. Death from fungal infection was reported in 28.7% of the cases. Even with rapid diagnosis, treatment of underlying disease, and aggressive medical and surgical intervention, the management is often not effective, leading to an extension of the infection and ultimately death. So, early diagnosis and prompt management of this suspected new emerging fungal infection with COVID-19 should be considered.

Background: The term mucormycosis refers to any fungal infection caused by fungi belonging to the Mucorales order. The disease often manifests in the skin and also affects the lungs and the brain. A large number of Mucormycosis cases were detected in Delhi, Maharashtra and Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. Objectives: (1) To describe the epidemiology, management, and outcome of individuals with mucormycosis. (2) To evaluate the risk factors associated with cases and control. Methodology: A case–control study, conducted in Hamidia Hospital, Bhopal, for 5 weeks. One hundred and sixty-eight patients diagnosed clinically with radiological or pathological findings was considered a case of Mucormycosis. Control was taken from March 2020 to May 28, 2021, the list of COVID-19-positive patients obtained from IDSP, MP. Results: Majority of the study participants were among the age group of 51–60 years and comprising 69.6% of males. Diabetes mellitus is the major comorbidity found in both cases (87.58%) and in controls (20.0%). Conclusion: There is a need to stress to control hyperglycemia, and monitor blood glucose levels after discharge following COVID-19 treatment.

Purpose: To study the awareness on mucormycosis among outpatients who visited six tertiary eye care hospitals at Madurai, Pondicherry, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Chennai, and Tirupati. Methods: This was a telephone-based survey conducted using questionnaires consisting of 38 questions in five sections from July 5 to 25, 2021. Patients visiting the eye hospitals for an examination were contacted over their phones and responses were directly entered onto the Google forms platform. Results: A total of 4573 participants were included in the study. Among all participants, a cumulative 83% of participants had some knowledge of mucormycosis. More than 80% of them reported that their prime source of information was through mass communication like television or radio. Around 34.8% of the respondents were aware that it can occur after treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, only half of them (54.3%) knew that systemic steroids were the main risk factor. The knowledge scores were higher for participants who were diabetics (n = 1235) or had been affected by COVID-19 earlier (n = 456) or whose friends had mucormycosis earlier (n = 312). Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) scores of nonprofessional health-care workers (n = 103) were much better compared to patients. Conclusion: Such KAP studies give us an idea of the impact of the measures taken for educating the public. In this study, a cumulative 83% of participants had some knowledge of mucormycosis and 86% knew that this was an emergency. More than 50% of the participants were not aware that diabetes is a risk factor for mucormycosis.

Abstract Background During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, an unusual increase in cases of mucormycosis was observed in India, owing to immunological dysregulation caused by the SARS-CoV-2 and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, particularly in patients with poorly controlled diabetes with ketoacidosis to have contributed to the rise, and it has been declared an epidemic in several states of India. Because of the black colouring of dead and dying tissue caused by the fungus, it was dubbed "black fungus" by several Indian media outlets. In this study, attempts were taken to unmask novel therapeutic options to treat mucormycosis disease. Rhizopus species is the primary fungi responsible for 70% of mucormycosis cases. Results We chose three important proteins from the Rhizopus delemar such as CotH3, Lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase and Mucoricin which plays a crucial role in the virulence of Mucorales. Initially, we explored the physiochemical, structural and functional insights of proteins and later using AutoDock Vina, we applied computational protein–ligand binding modelling to perform a virtual screening around 300 selected compounds against these three proteins, including FDA-approved drugs, FDA-unapproved drugs, investigational-only drugs and natural bioactive compounds. ADME parameters, toxicity risk and biological activity of those compounds were approximated via in silico methods. Our computational studies identified six ligands as potential inhibitors against Rhizopus delemar, including 12,28-Oxamanzamine A, vialinin B and deoxytopsentin for CotH3; pramiconazole and saperconazole for Lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase; and Hesperidin for Mucoricin. Interestingly, 12,28-Oxamanzamine A showed a maximum binding affinity with all three proteins (CotH3: − 10.2 kcal/mol Lanosterol 14 alpha-demethylase: − 10.9 kcal/mol Mucoricin: − 8.6 kcal/mol). Conclusions In summary, our investigation identified 12,28-Oxamanzamine A, vialinin B, deoxytopsentin, pramiconazole, saperconazole and hesperidin as potent bioactive compounds for treating mucormycosis that may be considered for further optimisation techniques and in vitro and in vivo studies.

Mucormycosis is a fungal infection caused by members of Mucorales and zygomycotic species. These are saprophytes known as Mucormycotina that grow from rotten matter or soils during the decomposition of soil. It has been seen affecting many COVID-19-affected patients recently in India. Mucormycosis can be diagnosed in six different sites depending on the immunological status and the site of the body affected. The six manifestations are rhinocerebral, pulmonary, cutaneous, gastrointestinal, and central nervous system or disseminated forms. Here, we present a dental case of mucormycosis or black fungus disease that has affected an immune-compromised patient who had suffered from COVID-19 2 months ago. Surgical debridement was done and the histopathologic study revealed fungal hyphae. Systemic antifungal therapy was administered that helped the patient to recover in 7-week time.

Background: Mucormycosis, often referred to as black fungus is being recognized as post treatment complication in COVID-19. A complex interaction of immune compromised state may lead to secondary fungal infections. Rhino-orbital mucormycosis, a rare fungal disease, involves the orbit, nose, and sinuses. If not intervened early it might progress with a fatal outcome. The present case report is a Rhino-orbital mucormycosis presentating as a secondary infection in COVID-19 patient and its management. A 51-year-old male patient diagnosed with COVID-19, developed periorbital odema of the left eye along with tooth pain. Nasal endoscopy, computed tomography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging suggested Rhino-orbital mucormycosis. Surgical debridement followed by intravenous Amphotericin B was prescribed. After a week of follow-up, complete resolution of symptoms was noticed. Conclusion: An early diagnosis and prompt management is the key to reduce morbidity and mortality in these patients. Prophylactic measures and judicious use of drugs may reduce the incidence of this opportunistic infection.

Introduction: Mucormycosis is opportunistic fungal infection characterized by extensive inflammation, necrosis and infarction of the involved tissues. It is associated with rise in levels of inflammatory markers [Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) , C-reactive protein (CRP)]. This study was done to know the role of ESR, CRP as prognostic indicators in the treatment of covid-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM). Materials and Methods: : A retrospective descriptive study was conducted between May 2021 and December 2021 at a tertiary centre. 315 patients with post-covid ROCM (Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis) were included in study. ESR and CRP were sent for all patients at the time of admission. Postoperatively the same were repeated on post-op (POD) day 7, day 14, and day 30 during follow-up. Results: 243 (77.14%) patients were male and 72 (22.86%) were female. 6 patients with stage IV ROCM had recurrence of the disease in the postoperative period. Mean ESR values in these patients at the time of admission, POD-7, 14, 30 were 98.17, 68.17, 44.00, 80.33 respectively. Mean CRP values in these patients at the time of admission, POD-7, 14, 30 were 58.50, 48.17, 26.33,37.83 respectively. Conclusion: Serial measurements of inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP) levels helps in the diagnosis and prognostication of ROCM along with clinical evaluation and imaging.

The black fungus is a SARS-CoV-2-associated fungal co-infection. Mechanisms by which antifungal drugs act against Mucormycosis are by inhibition of enzymes implicated in ergosterol biosynthesis or cell wall formation or the drug interaction directly with ergosterol. Since it has been shown that the reduction of ergosterol biosynthesis prevents this infection, we carried out a virtual screening with molecular docking analysis and tested a dataset of 880 molecules for its effects on an enzyme involved in ergosterol biosynthesis (CYP51) and fungal infection (lipase), as well as ADMET and toxicity properties of the studied molecules. We calculated the stability of the complex's inhibitor-enzyme throughout the time using molecular dynamics simulations. From this, initial screening indicated that 600 out of a total of 880 compounds have a good affinity towards sterol 14α-demethylase. The two compounds ZINC95486139 and ZINC33833639 were determined as safe and have good drug-likeness properties, and have binding energies of −75.07 and −83.89 kcal/mol, respectively by MMGBSA and create strong and stable interactions with the residues of the active site of the enzyme. To the best of our knowledge, ZINC95486139 and ZINC33833639 have not yet been described in the literature as anti-sterol 14α-demethylase inhibitors or evaluated for their anti-fungal activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]