فهرست مطالب

Current Medical Mycology
Volume:3 Issue: 3, Sep 2017

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1396/07/30
  • تعداد عناوین: 6
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  • Ali Kamali, Sareh Mehni, Mohadeseh Kamali, Mehdi Taheri Sarvtin * Pages 1-4
    Background and
    Purpose
    Breastfeeding plays an important role in the growth and development of infants. However, breast milk may be contaminated with various mycotoxins. Ochratoxin A is one of the most important mycotoxins with nephrotoxic, carcinogenic, teratogenic, genotoxic, and immunotoxic properties. Thus, we carried out this study to determine the concentration of ochratoxin A in human breast milk in Jiroft, Kerman Province, south of Iran.
    Materials And Methods
    Eighty-four human breast milk samples were collected from mothers visiting the number one clinic in Jiroft city. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect ochratoxin A in the samples.
    Results
    Ochratoxin A was found in all the tested samples at a concentration ranging from 0.11 to 7.34 ng/ml. The mean concentration of ochratoxin A in the samples was 1.99±1.34 ng/ml. Fourteen samples contained ochratoxin A at concentrations exceeding the quantitation limit (3 ng/ml).
    Conclusion
    The results of this study showed that infants are exposed to ochratoxin A in our region. In cases exceeding the quantitation limit, the infant's body cannot detoxify the toxin. Therefore, the infant can be affected by various illnesses such as nephropathy, immune system deficiency, and different types of cancer.
    Keywords: Breastfeeding, Breast milk, Ochratoxin A
  • Mohammad Javad Najafzadeh, Karim Jalaeian Samani, Jos Houbraken, Majid Alizadeh, Abdolmajid Fata, Ali Naseri, Hossein Zarrinfar, Mehdi Bakhshaee * Pages 5-9
    Background and
    Purpose
    Rhinosinusitis is a common disorder, influencing approximately 20% of the population at some time of their lives. It was recognized and reported with expanding recurrence over the past two decades worldwide. Undoubtedly, correct diagnosis of fungi in patients with fungal rhinosinusitis affects the treatment planning and prognosis of the patients. Identification of the causative agents using the standard mycological procedures remains difficult and time-consuming.
    Materials And Methods
    Based on clinical and radiological parameters, 106 patients suspected of fungal rhinosinusitis were investigated in this cross-sectional prospective study from April 2012 to March 2016 at an otorhinolaryngology department. In this study, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and calmodulin (CaM) sequencing were respectively validated as reliable techniques for the identification of Mucorales and Aspergillus to species level (both agents of fungal rhinosinusitis).
    Results
    Of these, 63 (59.4%) patients were suspected of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS), 40 (37.7%) patients suspected of acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFRS), and 3 (2.8%) patients suspected of fungus ball. In patients suspected of AFRS, AIFRS, and fungus ball only 7, 29, and 1 had positive fungal culture, respectively. After ITS and CaM sequencing, Aspergillus flavus was the most common species isolated from non-invasive forms, and A. flavus and Rhizopus oryzae were more frequently isolated from invasive forms.
    Conclusion
    Aspergillus flavus is the most common agent of fungal rhinosinusitis in Iran, unlike most other reports from throughout the world stating that A. fumigatus is the most frequent causative agent of this disease.
    Keywords: Calmodulin, Identification, ITS, Fungal rhinosinusitis, Molecular technique
  • Zahra Jafari, Marjan Motamedi *, Nilufar Jalalizand, Gholam Reza Shokoohi, Arezu Charsizadeh, Hossein Mirhendi Pages 10-15
    Background and
    Purpose
    The epidemiological alteration in the distribution of Candida species, as well as the significantly increasing trend of either intrinsic or acquired resistance of some of these fungi highlights the need for a reliable method for the identification of the species. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the methods facilitating the quick and precise identification of Candida species. The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of CHROMagar, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and PCR-fragment size polymorphism (PCR-FSP) assays in the identification of Candida species to determine the benefits and limitations of these methods.
    Materials And Methods
    This study was conducted on 107 Candida strains, including 20 standard strains and 87 clinical isolates. The identification of the isolates was accomplished by using CHROMagar as a conventional method. The PCR-RFLP assay was performed on the entire internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA), and the consequent enzymatic digestion was compared with PCR-FSP results in which ITS1 and ITS2 regions were separately PCR amplified. In both molecular assays, yeast identification was carried out through the specific electrophoretic profiles of the PCR products.
    Results
    According to the results, the utilization of CHROMagar resulted in the identi-fication of 29 (33.3%) Candida isolates, while the PCR-RFLP and PCR-FSP facilitated the identification of 83 (95.4%) and 80 (91.9%) isolates, respectively. The obtained concordances between CHROMagar and PCR-RFLP, between CHROMagar and PCR-FSP, as well as between PCR-RFLP and PCR-FSP were 0.20, 0.23, and 0.77, respectively.
    Conclusion
    The recognition of the benefits and limitations of PCR methods allows for the selection of the most efficient technique for a fast and correct differentiation. The PCR-RFLP and PCR-FSP assays had satisfactory concordance. The PCR-FSP provides a rapid, technically simple, and cost-effective method for the identification of Candida species. Nevertheless, to accurately differentiate among the taxonomically related species, PCR-RFLP should be implemented.
    Keywords: Candida species, Identification, PCR, fragment size polymorphism, PCR, restriction fragment length polymorphism
  • Nasrin Parsamehr, Sasan Rezaie, Sadegh Khodavaisy, Samira Salari, Sanaz Hadizadeh, Mohammad Kord, Seyed Amin Ayatollahi Mousavi * Pages 16-20
    Background and
    Purpose
    Candida albicans is the most common Candida species (spp.) isolated from fungal infections. Azole resistance in Candida species has been considerably increased in the last decades. Given the toxicity of the antimicrobial drugs, resistance to antifungal agents, and drug interactions, the identification of new antifungal agents seems essential. In this study, we assessed the antifungal effects of biogenic selenium nanoparticles on C. albicans and determined the expression of ERG11 and CDR1 genes.
    Materials And Methods
    Selenium nanoparticles were synthesized with Bacillus sp. MSH-1. The ultrastructure of selenium nanoparticles was evaluated with a transmission electron microscope. The antifungal susceptibility test was performed according to the modified Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M27-A3 standard protocol. The expression levels of the CDR1 and ERG11 genes were analyzed using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay.
    Results
    The azole-resistant C. albicans and wild type C. albicans strains were inhibited by 100 and 70 µg/mL of selenium nanoparticle concentrations, respectively. The expression of CDR1 and ERG11 genes was significantly down-regulated in these selenium nanoparticle concentrations.
    Conclusion
    As the findings indicated, selenium nanoparticles had an appropriate antifungal activity against fluconazole-resistant and -susceptible C. albicans strains. Accordingly, these nanoparticles reduced the expression of CDR1 and ERG11 genes associated with azole resistance. Further studies are needed to investigate the synergistic effects of selenium nanoparticles using other antifungal drugs.
    Keywords: Candida albicans, Nanoparticles, ERG 11, CDR1
  • Sima Darabian, Sayed Jamal Hashemi, Sadegh Khodavaisy, Somayeh Sharifynia, Mohammad Kord, Maryam Akbari Dana, Farzad Aala, Sassan Rezaie * Pages 21-26
    Background and
    Purpose
    Aspergillosis is one of the most common opportunistic fungal infections in immunocompromised and neutropenic patients. Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) is the most common causative agent of this infection. Due to variable CO2 concentrations that pathogens are exposed to during the infection process and to understand the role of CO2, we examined the effects of various CO2 concentrations as one of the environmental factors on morphological changes and induction of antifungal resistance in A. fumigatus.
    Materials And Methods
    A. fumigatus strains were cultured and incubated under 1%, 3%, 5%, and 12% CO2 atmospheres, each time for one, two, and four weeks. The control culture was maintained for one week without CO2 atmosphere. Morphological changes were investigated and antifungal susceptibility test was performed according to the recommendations of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M38-A2 document. The results of different CO2 atmospheres were compared with that of the control sample.
    Results
    We found that 1%, 3%, 5%, and 12% CO2 atmospheres were associated with morphological colony changes. Macroscopically, the colonies were shallow dark green, smooth, crisp to powdery with reduced growth; microscopic examination revealed the absence of conidiation. The induction of antifungal resistance in the susceptible strains to itraconazole, voriconazole, and amphotericin B increased after exposure to 12% CO2 atmosphere and four weeks of incubation. The MIC values for itraconazole, voriconazole, and amphotericin B were 16 g/ml, 1 g/ml, and 16 g/ml, respectively. These values for the control group were 0.125 g/ml, 0.125 g/ml, and 2 g/ml, respectively.
    Conclusion
    Exposure to different CO2 atmospheres induced morphological changes in A. fumigatus, it seems to increase the MIC values, as well. In parallel, resistance to both itraconazole and voriconazole was also observed.
    Keywords: Aspergillus fumigatus, Carbon dioxide, Itraconazole, Voriconazole
  • Mohammad Taher Ismail *, Abeer Alkafri, Mazen Ismail Pages 27-30
    Background and
    Purpose
    Otomycosis is a fungal infection that frequently involves the external auditory canal. The epidemiologic data on the etiologic agents of otomycosis in Syria are very limited. In this study, we aimed to determine the fungal agents, gender distribution, and clinical presentation of otomycosis.
    Materials And Methods
    Two hundred and ninety nine patients (153 [51.17%] male and 146 [48.83%] female) clinically prediagnosed as otomycosis were studied at Al-mouassat University Hospital and ENT Crescent Syrian Clinic. Clinical samples were collected from the ear discharges and cultured on Sabouraud Agar.
    Results
    Otomycosis was diagnosed in 70 (23.4%) cases, with the highest prevalence in males aged 16-75 years (73.6%). The isolation rates of mold and yeast fungi were 75.7% and 24.3%, respectively. The most common presentations were otorrhea (98.66%), otalgia (18.06%), and hearing loss (6.35%). Our results showed that 64.28% of otomycosis agents were Aspergillus species. A. niger was the most common agent (45.7%), and 24.3% of the pathogens were C. albicans.
    Conclusion
    Otomycosis agents most commonly belonged to the genus of Aspergillus followed by Candida, which should be seriously considered by physicians for appropriate treatment.
    Keywords: Aspergillus, Candida, Otomycosis, Syria