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The Potential of Medicinal Plants as Treatments for Infections Caused by Aspergillus spp.
Published in Namrita Lall, Medicinal Plants for Cosmetics, Health and Diseases, 2022
Tefo K. Pule, Marco N. De Canha, Namrita Lall, Quenton Kritzinger
Aspergillus infections remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in immunocompromised patients. The fact that Aspergillus spp. are also present in healthy individuals in high numbers warrants a better understanding of the infection. While in vitro antifungal tests showed promising results after a certain period, the lack of information on antifungal treatments in vivo with both immunodeficient and immunocompetent states necessitates several approaches. The studies may attempt to augment or restore the integrity of the immune system of individuals and ameliorate the symptoms of the infections. With reports showing several plants having antifungal activities in vitro, they can be used in conjunction with other plants to induce the better activity of the immune system, as they may have the potential to elicit immune-boosting effects. The immune system may then become strong enough to deal with the invasion of conidia that is especially hard to eliminate with the use of antifungal agents alone.
The Fungi
Published in Julius P. Kreier, Infection, Resistance, and Immunity, 2022
The genus Aspergillus includes many species, but most disease in humans is caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. The aspergilli are common saprophytes which produce hyphal growth both in the environment, where they are ubiquitous, and in the host. Despite daily exposure to aspergillus conidia, invasive aspergillosis occurs only in the severely compromised host. Either a lack of PMNs or improperly functioning PMNs predispose the host to life-threatening aspergillosis. Neutropenia is in fact the greatest single risk factor for invasive aspergillosis and occurs primarily in patients undergoing immunosuppressive chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancers or transplants. Antifungal therapy is attempted in these cases, but the prognosis is generally poor due to the underlying condition of the host.
Aerobiology for the Clinician
Published in Pudupakkam K Vedanthan, Harold S Nelson, Shripad N Agashe, PA Mahesh, Rohit Katial, Textbook of Allergy for the Clinician, 2021
It is often referred as a super bug. It is well known fact that Aspergillus causes infection or allergic symptoms which are referred as Aspergillosis. This fungus is less common in indoor environments. It frequently occurs in soil, dead leaves, stored grain, breads, food items such as peanuts, dry fruits, rotting vegetables, cheese, etc. In the indoor environments occasionally Aspergillus is found on the damp walls, cellulose rich material, floors, carpets, mattresses, dust, Heating Ventilation, Air-Conditioning(HVAC) system, etc.
The antifungal pipeline for invasive fungal diseases: what does the future hold?
Published in Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, 2023
Chin Fen Neoh, Wirawan Jeong, David CM Kong, Monica A Slavin
Details of the phase II and III clinical trials of fosmanogepix for systemic IFD are summarized in Table 2. For the treatment of candidemia and invasive candidiasis (IC), an open-label, single-arm, phase II trial was completed (NCT03604705); 80% of the 21 non-neutropenic patients attained treatment success. Whilst findings from an open-label, single-arm, phase II study involving only those with candidemia and IC caused by C. auris (APEX, NCT04148287) documented a high treatment success rate of 89.0% with fosmanogepix and no treatment-related adverse events or discontinuations were reported, this trial had a relatively small sample size (n = 9) [32]. A phase III, double-blind, randomized controlled trial (NCT05421858) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of IV followed by oral fosmanogepix versus IV caspofungin followed by oral fluconazole is about to commence recruitment in February 2023. As these trials included mainly non-neutropenic patients, the role of fosmanogepix in treating neutropenic patients with candidemia and IC remains unexplored. For mold infections caused by Aspergillus spp. or rare molds (e.g. Scedosporium spp., Fusarium spp., Mucorales), a phase II, open-label, single-arm trial of fosmanogepix (AEGIS, NCT04240886) has recently completed and results have yet to be reported.
Apical fibrobullous lung disease in ankylosing spondylitis: case report and literature review
Published in European Clinical Respiratory Journal, 2022
Ana Catarina da Silva Alfaiate, Vera Maria Rêgo Durão, Joana Seabra Patrício, Maria Paula Pedrosa Silva Duarte
In the case report, the patient developed several lung infections by different microorganisms, namely MTC, MRSA, and AF. Anti-bacillary treatment was performed for 9 months and concluded after confirmation of negative cultures in bronchial wash. Later, voriconazole was started to treat CCPA based on clinical, laboratory, and bronchial wash findings. AFBD, especially with cavitation features, can be erroneously diagnosed as pulmonary TB, particularly in patients under or previously submitted to AS biological treatment [14]. In the reported case, the patient had been under anti-TNF-α therapy for almost 2 years after negative TB screening and was no longer under that medication at the time of first observation. However, low BMI and structural lung disease are also well-known risk factors for the development of active TB. Hemoptysis is the most frequent sign of aspergillus infection. In our medical literature review, the description of hemoptysis in patients with AS and aspergillosis was frequently encountered in the presence of aspergilloma [11,14]. In the reported case, the patient evidenced a mass-like lesion inside the LUL cavity most likely representing an aspergilloma and developed severe bleeding with massive hemoptysis.
Fungal abscess after intra-orbital steroid injection: a case report
Published in Orbit, 2022
Mythri K. Rao, Md. Shahid Alam, Ram Gopalakrishnan, Bipasha Mukherjee
Aspergillus species is a ubiquitous saprophytic mold of class Ascomycetes widely distributed in the environment, particularly found in soil, and decaying vegetation.9 Aspergillosis is a fungal infection caused by fungi of the genus Aspergillus. Aspergillus fumigatus, flavus, and niger are responsible for most infections.10 Infection with A. fumigatus is more common in immunocompromised hosts, while A. flavus affects immunocompetent hosts.11 Invasive aspergillosis is well documented in immunocompromised patients, with the primary risk factors being neutrophil defects and corticosteroid use.12 While A. fumigatus is the most common species implicated in invasive fungal infections, A. flavus has been isolated more often from sino-orbital aspergillosis or Aspergillus eye infections in developing countries.13,14A. flavus is more virulent than A. fumigatus in terms of inoculum required.15 Developing countries have witnessed a surge in A. flavus infection, possibly due to greater environmental contamination of A. flavus. Hence, this species is reported as the most common cause of invasive fungal disease in India.14,16