Adjunctive methylene blue antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for mucocutaneous lesions of mycoses: three case reports.

Dermatophytosis, paracoccidioidomycosis and sporotrichosis are mycoses caused by different fungal species with significant prevalence in Brazil and other countries. In some situations, they affect quality of life, especially in the most vulnerable populations. Antifungal drug therapy is the conventional treatment for these diseases, although some difficulties may occur. Adjunctive use of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) may reduce these challenges. Three patients were treated with aPDT and conventional antifungals. In all cases, the patients did not report pain, discomfort or side effects during or after the aPDT intervention. The adjunctive use of aPDT in the cases presented proved to be a safe, low-cost tool that may be promising for the treatment of different mycoses.

Some fungal diseases are very common in Brazil and other countries and, in some cases, treatment may be difficult. The combination of a type of laser may help the treatment of these diseases. Here, three cases of fungal diseases that were treated with laser, dye and conventional antifungals are presented.

Harris' hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) as a source of pathogenic human yeasts: a potential risk to human health.

Aim: Invasive human fungal infections have been a serious public health problem among immunocompromised patients. Wild bird species are related to the eco-epidemiology of some infectious diseases, mainly Cryptococcosis, Histoplasmosis, Aspergillosis, Chlamydiosis, Salmonellosis and allergic diseases. Falconry is the art of training predators for hunting. Nowadays, birds of prey are used as pets, which brings new sources of infections to humans. Materials & methods: We identified fungal pathogenic yeasts, Candida parapsilosis, Debaryomyces hansenii and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. Conclusion: Study new environmental niches of human pathogens is vitally important to establish preventive actions with the purpose of minimizing the risks of human contamination. Our work describes yeast microbiota from the excreta of Parabuteo unicinctus as a potential hazard for human disease.

Candida glabrata produces a melanin-like pigment that protects against stress conditions encountered during parasitism.

Aim: Melanin has been linked to pathogenesis in several fungi. They often produce melanin-like pigments in the presence of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), but this is poorly studied in Candida glabrata. Methods & materials:C. glabrata was grown in minimal medium with or without L-DOPA supplementation and submitted to a chemical treatment with denaturant and hot acid. Results:C. glabrata turned black when grown in the presence of L-DOPA, whereas cells grown without L-DOPA supplementation remained white. Biophysical properties demonstrated that the pigment was melanin. Melanized C. glabrata cells were effectively protected from azoles and amphotericin B, incubation at 42°C and macrophage killing. Conclusion: In the presence of L-DOPA, C. glabrata produces melanin, increases antifungal resistance and enhances host survival.

Aim: Melanin is a pigment that can help fungi to cause disease. Fungi often produce melanin-like pigments in the presence of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), but this is poorly studied in Candida glabrata, a yeast species that can cause human disease. Methods & materials:C. glabrata was grown in minimal medium with or without L-DOPA supplementation and submitted to a chemical treatment to isolate melanin. Results:C. glabrata turned black when grown in the presence of L-DOPA, whereas cells grown without L-DOPA supplementation remained white. Several experiments demonstrated that the black pigment was melanin. Melanized C. glabrata cells were effectively protected from antifungal drugs, incubation at 42°C and killing by cells of the immune system. Conclusion: In the presence of L-DOPA, C. glabrata produces melanin, increases antifungal resistance and has enhanced survival in contact with immunologic defense cells.