Successful Allogenic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Inherited CARD9 Deficiency.

Autosomal recessive (AR) CARD9 (caspase recruitment domain-containing protein 9) deficiency underlies invasive infections by fungi of the ascomycete phylum in previously healthy individuals at almost any age. Although CARD9 is expressed mostly by myeloid cells, the cellular basis of fungal infections in patients with inherited CARD9 deficiency is unclear. Therapy for fungal infections is challenging, with at least 20% premature mortality. We report two unrelated patients from Brazil and Morocco with AR CARD9 deficiency, both successfully treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). From childhood onward, the patients had invasive dermatophytic disease, which persisted or recurred despite multiple courses of antifungal treatment. Sanger sequencing identified homozygous missense CARD9 variants at the same residue, c.302G>T (p.R101L) in the Brazilian patient and c.301C>T (p.R101C) in the Moroccan patient. At the ages of 25 and 44 years, respectively, they received a HSCT. The first patient received a HLA-matched HSCT from his CARD9-mutated heterozygous sister. There was 100% donor chimerism at D + 100. The other patient received a T cell-depleted haploidentical HSCT from his CARD9-mutated heterozygous brother. A second HSCT from the same donor was performed due to severe amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia despite achieving full donor chimerism (100%). At last follow-up, more than 3 years after HSCT, both patients have achieved complete clinical remission and stopped antifungal therapy. HSCT might be a life-saving therapeutic option in patients with AR CARD9 deficiency. This observation strongly suggests that the pathogenesis of fungal infections in these patients is largely due to the disruption of leukocyte-mediated CARD9 immunity.

Species distribution and antifungal susceptibility of 358 Trichosporon clinical isolates collected in 24 medical centres.

OBJECTIVES: To provide species distribution and antifungal susceptibility profiles of 358 Trichosporon clinical isolates collected from 24 tertiary-care hospitals. METHODS: Species identification was performed by sequencing the IGS1 region of rDNA. Antifungal susceptibility testing for amphotericin B, fluconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole followed the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute reference method. Tentative epidemiologic cutoff values (97.5% ECVs) of antifungals for Trichosporon asahii were also calculated. RESULTS: Isolates were cultured mostly from urine (155/358, 43.3%) and blood (82/358, 23%) samples. Trichosporon asahii was the most common species (273/358, 76.3%), followed by T. inkin (35/358, 9.7%). Isolation of non-T. asahii species increased substantially over the last 11 years [11/77 (14.2%) from 1997 to 2007 vs. 74/281, (26.3%) from 2008 to 2018, p0.03]. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed high amphotericin B minimum inhibitory concentrations against Trichosporon isolates, with higher values for T. faecale. The ECV for amphotericin B and T. asahii was set at 4 µg/mL. Among the triazole derivatives, fluconazole was the least active drug. The ECVs for fluconazole and posaconazole against T. asahii were set at 8 and 0.5 µg/mL, respectively. Voriconazole showed the strongest in vitro activity against the Trichosporon isolates; its ECV for T. asahii was set at 0.25 µg/mL after 48 hours' incubation. CONCLUSIONS: Trichosporon species diversity has increased over the years in human samples, and antifungal susceptibility profiles were species specific. Trichosporon asahii antifungal ECVs were proposed, which may be helpful to guide antifungal therapy.

Molecular characterisation and antifungal susceptibility of clinical Cryptococcus deuterogattii (AFLP6/VGII) isolates from Southern Brazil.

Cryptococcosis, caused by Cryptococcus gattii sensu lato, is an emerging disease that was initially found in (sub)tropical regions but recently expanded to temperate regions. Cryptococcus gattii s.l. infections are mostly encountered in healthy individuals, frequently affecting both lungs and the central nervous system (CNS). Usually, C. gattii s.l. is less susceptible to antifungal compounds than its counterpart, C. neoformans s.l. We studied 18 clinical C. gattii s.l. isolates with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting, mating-typing, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and antifungal susceptibility testing. All isolates were C. deuterogattii (genotype AFLP6/VGII), 14 were mating-type α and four were type a. Amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole and isavuconazole showed high activity, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranges of 0.063-0.25, 0.031-0.25, 0.031-0.25, 0.031-0.25 and <0.016-0.25 µg mL-1, respectively. Fluconazole and flucytosine had high geometric mean MICs of 2.07 and 3.7 µg mL-1, respectively. Most cases occurred in immunocompetent patients (n = 10; 55.6 %) and CNS involvement was the most common clinical presentation (n = 14; 77.8 %). Three patients (16.7 %) showed sequelae, hyperreflexia, dysarthria, diadochokinesia, anosmia and upper limb weakness. In conclusion, all infections were caused by C. deuterogattii (AFLP6/VGII) and the majority of patients were immunocompetent, with the CNS as the most affected site. All antifungal drugs had high in vitro activity against C. deuterogattii isolates, except fluconazole and flucytosine.

Improvement in the outcome of invasive fusariosis in the last decade.

Invasive fusariosis (IF) has been associated with a poor prognosis. Although recent series have reported improved outcomes, the definition of optimal treatments remains controversial. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in the outcome of IF. We retrospectively analysed 233 cases of IF from 11 countries, comparing demographics, clinical findings, treatment and outcome in two periods: 1985-2000 (period 1) and 2001-2011 (period 2). Most patients (92%) had haematological disease. Primary treatment with deoxycholate amphotericin B was more frequent in period 1 (63% vs. 30%, p <0.001), whereas voriconazole (32% vs. 2%, p <0.001) and combination therapies (18% vs. 1%, p <0.001) were more frequent in period 2. The 90-day probabilities of survival in periods 1 and 2 were 22% and 43%, respectively (p <0.001). In period 2, the 90-day probabilities of survival were 60% with voriconazole, 53% with a lipid formulation of amphotericin B, and 28% with deoxycholate amphotericin B (p 0.04). Variables associated with poor prognosis (death 90 days after the diagnosis of fusariosis) by multivariable analysis were: receipt of corticosteroids (hazard ratio (HR) 2.11, 95% CI 1.18-3.76, p 0.01), neutropenia at end of treatment (HR 2.70, 95% CI 1.57-4.65, p <0.001), and receipt of deoxycholate amphotericin B (HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.06-3.16, p 0.03). Treatment practices have changed over the last decade, with an increased use of voriconazole and combination therapies. There has been a 21% increase in survival rate in the last decade.

Invasive fungal diseases in haematopoietic cell transplant recipients and in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplasia in Brazil.

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) shows distinct regional incidence patterns and epidemiological features depending on the geographic region. We conducted a prospective survey in eight centres in Brazil from May 2007 to July 2009. All haematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients and patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) or myelodysplasia (MDS) were followed from admission until 1 year (HCT) or end of consolidation therapy (AML/MDS). The 12-month cumulative incidence (CI) of proven or probable IFD was calculated, and curves were compared using the Grey test. Among 237 AML/MDS patients and 700 HCT recipients (378 allogeneic, 322 autologous), the 1-year CI of IFD in AML/MDS, allogeneic HCT and autologous HCT was 18.7%, 11.3% and 1.9% (p <0.001), respectively. Fusariosis (23 episodes), aspergillosis (20 episodes) and candidiasis (11 episodes) were the most frequent IFD. The 1-year CI of aspergillosis and fusariosis in AML/MDS, allogeneic HCT and autologous HCT were 13.4%, 2.3% and 0% (p <0.001), and 5.2%, 3.8% and 0.6% (p 0.01), respectively. The 6-week probability of survival was 53%, and was lower in cases of fusariosis (41%). We observed a high burden of IFD and a high incidence and mortality for fusariosis in this first multicentre epidemiological study of IFD in haematological patients in Brazil.

Environmental isolation of black yeast-like fungi involved in human infection.

The present study focuses on potential agents of chromoblastomycosis and other endemic diseases in the state of Paraná, Southern Brazil. Using a highly selective protocol for chaetothyrialean black yeasts and relatives, environmental samples from the living area of symptomatic patients were analysed. Additional strains were isolated from creosote-treated wood and hydrocarbon-polluted environments, as such polluted sites have been supposed to enhance black yeast prevalence. Isolates showed morphologies compatible with the traditional etiological agents of chromoblastomycosis, e.g. Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Phialophora verrucosa, and of agents of subcutaneous or systemic infections like Cladophialophora bantiana and Exophiala jeanselmei. Some agents of mild disease were indeed encountered. However, molecular analysis proved that most environmental strains differed from known etiologic agents of pronounced disease syndromes: they belonged to the same order, but mostly were undescribed species. Agents of chromoblastomycosis and systemic disease thus far are prevalent on the human host. The hydrocarbon-polluted environments yielded yet another spectrum of chaetothyrialean fungi. These observations are of great relevance because they allow us to distinguish between categories of opportunists, indicating possible differences in pathogenicity and virulence.

Molecular ecology and pathogenic potential of Fonsecaea species.

The genus Fonsecaea is revised on the basis of ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data. Two species are recognized, F. pedrosoi and the new defined F. monophora. The distinction between these species does not correspond with the classical distinction of F. pedrosoi and F. compacta. The latter appears to be no more than a morphological variant. Both species recognized in this study are agents of human chromoblastomycosis; however, in F. pedrosoi a strict association with this disease is noted, while F. monophora is a more general opportunist. Subspecific randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) typing revealed a high degree of strain diversity, although clonal reproduction is also likely to occur. Most strains with Fonsecaea-like morphology isolated from environments to which symptomatic human patients were exposed were found to be more closely related to species of Cladophialophora than to Fonsecaea.

Central nervous system paracoccidioidomycosis: clinical features and laboratorial findings.

OBJECTIVE: To study prospectively the clinical features and laboratorial characteristics of 24 patients with central nervous system (CNS) involvement with paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM). PCM is an infectious disease caused by the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, endemic in subtropical areas of Central and South America. METHODS: From 173 cases of PCM, 24 (13.9%) had CNS involvement (NPCM) and were studied prospectively from 1993 to 1997. In all the patients, the diagnosis of systemic PCM was made by the demonstration of the P. brasiliensis organisms or positive serology, DID (double immunodiffusion). In seven cases the diagnosis was made by means of a CNS biopsy. CNS clinical manifestations, neuroimaging (CT or MRI) and CSF cytochemical characteristics were reported. RESULTS: The mean age was 44 years (range 25-72 years); 23 patients were male, only one was female. Neurological symptoms began before systemic symptoms in 21%; simultaneously in 33%, and after systemic symptoms in 46%. Epilepsy was the more frequent neurological presentation (44%). Twenty-three cases had parenchymatous involvement and in two of these cases there was an association with meningitis and one case had spinal cord involvement. Lesions were more frequent in the brain hemispheres (69%), in 65% there were multiple granuloma characterized by hypodense images with annular or nodular enhancing. All cases were treated with sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprin. Four patients died, while 20 patients showed a good therapeutic response. CONCLUSION: NPCM should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of expanding lesions of the CNS and meningoencephalitis. Being alert to this diagnosis depends on knowledge of epidemiology. There was good response to sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprin treatment.

Evaluation of efficacy and safety of itraconazole oral solution for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis in aids patients.

This study was a non-comparative multicenter clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of itraconazole oral solution 200 mg/day (100 mg twice a day in the fasting state) for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis in AIDS patients. We included 50 patients who were treated and followed for up to 3 weeks after ending therapy in the analysis. Mycological cures at the end of therapy occurred in 20/50 patients (40%), but colonization by Candida sp. was recorded in 42/50 (84%) by the end of follow-up. A high rate of clinical response was observed in 46/50 (92%), and the response was sustained for up to 21 days after stopping therapy in 24/46 patients (52%). Clinical relapses were documented among 22 patients, but all causative fungal organisms associated with a relapse were susceptible to itraconazole. There were many patients with persistence or recurrence of Candida, but without mucositis. Relapse of Candida mucositis was significantly related to low levels of CD(4) lymphocytes exhibited by symptomatic patients. The drug was well tolerated by all but 1 patient. We conclude that itraconazole oral solution (100 mg bid for 7-14 days) is a well tolerated and effective treatment for suppressing the symptoms of oropharyngeal candidiasis in AIDS patients. Patients with severe immunosuppression may relapse and require frequent cycles of treatment or longterm suppressive therapy.

Estudo aberto para avaliar a eficácia e a segurança de dose única diária da levofloxacina oral no tratamento de infecçöes do trato respiratório / Open-label study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral levofloxacin in the respiratory tract infections

As infecçöes do trato respiratório inferior ocupam lugar de destaque na prática clínica da atualidade, por sua alta freqüência e sua morbilidade, acometendo principalmente os pacientes mais idosos. Com o objetivo de se avaliar a eficácia e a segurança da levofloxacina oral no tratamento da pneumonia adquirida na comun idade, 772 pacientes ambulatoriais ou internados foram incluídos no presente estudo. Os critérios de inclusäo foram clínicos e radiológicos e a posologia de 500mg diários, durante 7 a 14 dias, dependendo da gravidade. O critério de cura foi observado em 659 (90,8 porcento) dos casos analisados, enquanto que 61 (8,4 porcento) foram considerados melhorados. A falha da terapêutica ocorreu em 6 (0,8 porcento) dos casos. Os eventos adversos relacionados à levofloxacina que ocorreram entre os 772 pacientes foram analisados, entre eles, náuseas (5,6 porcento), epigastralgia (3,1 porcento) e diarréia (1,6 porcento). A levofloxacina apresentou características favoráveis ao uso oral, com amplo aspectro de açäo e boa tolerabilidade, sendo um antimicrobiano efetivo no tratamento das infecçöes respiratórias baixas adquiridas na comunidade

[Fungal keratitis in the State of Paraná-Brazil: clinical, epidemiological and diagnostic findings]. / Ceratite fúngica no estado do Paraná-Brasil: aspectos epidemiológicos, etiológicos e diagnósticos.

Fungal keratites is more prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, such as Brazil, and causes high morbidity. Usually, it is preceded by underlying conditions like ocular trauma or immunosuppression. The diagnosis is confirmed by the demonstration of the etiologic agent in the clinical specimen. Data were analysed from 49 patients with fungal keratitis observed in Ophthalmologic Division of Hospital de Clinicas, Federal University of Parana, from 1983 to 1997. The diagnosis was confirmed by culture and/ or direct examination. Of the cases studied, 22% were diagnosed only by direct examination; 50% by isolation in culture and 26% by the association of the both methods. The most prevalent etiologic agents were: Fusarium sp. (32%), Aspergillus sp. (16,5%) and Penicillium sp. (10%).

Hospital-associated funguria: analysis of risk factors, clinical presentation and outcome.

Fungal urinary tract infections are an increasing problem in hospitalized patients. Funguria may be a result of contamination of the urine specimen, colonization of hte urinary tract, or may be indicative of true invasive infection. In this study, we report the risk factors, clinical features, treatments and outcome in a group of 68 hospitalized patients (adults and children) with fungal isolates recovered from 103 urinary samples. Underlying medical conditions were present in most patients. In the pediatric group, urinary tract abnormalities (86%) and prematurity (19%)accounted for the majority of the cases. Diabetes mellitus (28%), nephrolithiasis, and benign prostatic hyperplasia were the most common diseases in adults. Indwelling urethral catheters were noted in 38% of the pediatric patients and in 43% of adults during hospitalization. Candida albicans strains were responsible for 97% and 75% of positive cultures in children and adults, respectively. Symptoms such as fever, dysuria, frequency and flank pain were generally absent in both groups. Fluconazole was the most frequent antifungal utilized (61%) in children and ketoconazole in the adult group (42%). Removing the urinary catheter was attempted in 6 pediatric patients (29%) and in only 8 adults (17%). One patient (4%) in the pediatric group died compared to 10 in the adult group (21%, p=0.04). Successful diagnosis and treatment of funguria depends on a clear understanding of the risk factors and awareness of fungal epidemiology.

Black fungi: clinical and pathogenic approaches.

Data are presented on the clinically relevant black yeasts and their relatives, i.e., members of the Ascomycete order Chaetothyriales. In order to understand the pathology of these fungi it is essential to know their natural ecological niche. From a relatively low degree of molecular variability of the black yeast Exophiala dermatitidis, potential agent of brain infections in patients from East Asia, it is concluded that this species is an emerging pathogen, currently going through a process of active speciation. It is found to be an oligotrophic fungus in hot, moist environments, such as steambaths. Cladophialophora-, Fonsecaea- and Ramichloridium-like strains, known in humans as agents of chromoblastomycosis, are frequently found on rotten plant material, but the fungal molecular diversity in the environment is much higher than that on the human patient, so that it is difficult to trace the etiological agents of the disease with precision. This approach has been successful with Cladophialophora carrionii, of which cells resembling muriform cells, the tissue form of chromoblastomycosis, were found to occur in drying spines of cacti. Phagocytosis assays provide a method to distinguish between pathogens and non-pathogens, as the killing rates of strict saprobes proved to be consistently higher than of those species frequently known as agents of disease. The therapeutic possibilities for patients with chromoblastomycosis are reviewed.

New advances in antifungal treatment.

Clinical aspects of treatment of invasive aspergillosis, infections caused by dematiaceous fungi, and mycoses caused by endemic, dimorphic fungi, are described in this review.

Adrenal response to corticotrophin and testosterone during long-term therapy with itraconazole in patients with chromoblastomycosis.

In order to establish whether long-term itraconazole therapy can affect adrenal or testicular function, the adrenal response to corticotrophin and testosterone was evaluated by radioimmunoassay in 15 patients undergoing treatment for chromoblastomycosis. Mean cortisol and testosterone concentrations were 12.4 microg/dL and 454 ng/dL respectively at baseline and 15.4 microg/dL and 480 ng/dL respectively after 12.4+/-5.2 months of treatment with itraconazole (200-400 mg daily). Results were analysed using Student's t-test. There was no clinical or laboratory evidence of steroidogenic or androgenic impairment.

Itraconazole in the treatment of chromoblastomycosis due to Fonsecaea pedrosoi.

The efficacy and tolerability of itraconazole in chromoblastomycosis due to Fonsecaea pedrosoi were evaluated in a non-comparative open clinical trial in 19 Brazilian patients with histopathologically and mycologically proven active chromoblastomycosis. Patients were classified in terms of severity and received itraconazole at the dosage of 200 to 400 mg per day until previously described criteria of cure have been reached. Clinical, mycologic, histopathologic, and laboratory evaluations were performed before, during, and after therapy. The plasma levels of itraconazole and the in vitro susceptibility of the isolates were determined in 15 cases. Clinical and biologic cure were achieved by eight patients (42%) having mild to moderate disease, after a mean duration of therapy of 7.2 months (3.2-29.6 months). Sterile scarred lesions were observed in a post-therapy follow-up lasting on average 9.6 months that was carried out in this subgroup. Clinical cure alone occurred after a mean period of 25.1 months of treatment (16-30.5 months) in seven patients (36%) with moderate to severe disease. Finally, clinical improvement was obtained in four patients (21%) with severe lesions after a mean treatment time of 17.6 months (10.7-22.5 months). All patients responded favorably to itraconazole therapy. No significant side effects nor biochemical alteration during this trial were important enough to interrupt the treatment. Our results support those of previous trials, suggesting that itraconazole is an effective compound against chromoblastomycosis due to Fonsecaea pedrosoi.

Association of mucosal leishmaniasis with HLA.

In the search for genetic variability in individual susceptibility to mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, a disease caused mainly by Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, HLA typing was performed on 43 patients presenting mucosal lesions and 111 matched controls. Antigen specificities of the HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR, and -DQ loci were determined and their frequencies in patients and controls were compared. There was a significant decrease in the frequency of HLA-DR2 [1 out of 38 (2.6%) patients vs. 29 out of 102 (28.4%) controls, corrected p value 0.004, relative risk 0.07, preventive fraction of the total population 0.26] as well as a significant increase of HLA-DQw3 [29 out of 38 (76.3%) patients vs. 43 out of 99 (43.4%) controls, corrected p value 0.006, relative risk 4.2, etiologic fraction of the population 0.58]. These results support participation of HLA class II molecules in individual susceptibility to mucocutaneous leishmaniasis and in the pathogenesis of metastatic, mucosal disease.

Association of major histocompatibility complex class III complement components C2, BF, and C4 with Brazilian paracoccidioidomycosis.

A genetic influence of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on the susceptibility and the development of the different clinical forms of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) has been postulated. In the present investigation allotypes of MHC-coded class III gene products (complement components C2, BF, C4A, and B) were determined in 69 Brazilian PCM patients and 225 healthy control individuals matched for ethnic and geographic origin. The frequency of the non-expressed C4B allele (C4B*Q0) was significantly elevated in comparison to the controls (p less than 0.01; Fisher's exact test). Three out of 69 patients had a complete C4B deficiency as against 2 among 223 control individuals. The C4A*Q0 allele was also more frequent in the patients. Other C4 alleles were not seen to differ between the two groups. The analysis of BF allotypes showed a non-significant predominance of the rarer allele BF*S07 in the patients, whereas no difference in the distribution of C2 alleles was seen. The data on MHC class III association may support the hypothesis of immune response modulation in PCM and suggest a functional genetic role of complement action against the fungus and in the outcome of PCM infection. We conclude that MHC class III products, especially C4B*Q0, are associated with chronic uni- or multifocal PCM and may influence the course of the infection.

HLA-A29 and genetic susceptibility to chromoblastomycosis.

The distribution of 12 HLA-A, 14 HLA-B, seven HLA-C, seven HLA-DR and three HLA-DQ antigens was determined in 32 non-consanguineous white Brazilians suffering from chromoblastomycosis and 77 healthy controls, matched for ethnic background, sex and age and living in the same geographical area. A significant difference between the two groups was seen only in respect to one HLA-A antigen: A29 was present in 28% of patients as opposed to 4% of the controls (P corrected = 0.03). This finding indicates that susceptibility to chromoblastomycosis may be influenced by a gene located on chromosome 6, in the region of the major histocompatibility complex. The relative risk for an HLA-A29 carrier to develop chromoblastomycosis was estimated as 10.

Scanning electron microscopic studies of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in the yeast phase.

Scanning electron microscopy of four different Paracoccidioides brasiliensis isolates in the yeast phase revealed that mother cells generating multiple, spherically shaped buds may be firmly or tenuously associated with their progeny whereas elongated buds remain attached to the mother cell through stem-like structures and may represent early stages of hypha formation. The yeast cell surfaces were covered with a delicate network of microfibrillar components.