Diagnosis of invasive respiratory mycoses in the immunocompromised host.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The burden of invasive fungal infection is increasing worldwide, largely due to a growing population at-risk. Most serious human fungal pathogens enter the host via the respiratory tract. Early identification and treatment of invasive fungal respiratory infections (IFRIs) in the immunocompromised host saves lives. However, their accurate diagnosis is a difficult challenge for clinicians and mortality remains high. RECENT FINDINGS: This article reviews IFRIs, focussing on host susceptibility factors, clinical presentation, and mycological diagnosis. Several new diagnostic tools are coming of age including molecular diagnostics and point-of-care antigen tests. As diagnosis of IFRI relies heavily on invasive procedures like bronchoalveolar lavage and lung biopsy, several novel noninvasive diagnostic techniques are in development, such as metagenomics, 'volatilomics' and advanced imaging technologies. SUMMARY: Where IFRI cannot be proven, clinicians must employ a 'weights-of-evidence' approach to evaluate host factors, clinical and mycological data. Implementation studies are needed to understand how new diagnostic tools can be best applied within clinical pathways. Differentiating invasive infection from colonization and identifying antifungal resistance remain key challenges. As our diagnostic arsenal expands, centralized clinical mycology laboratories and efforts to ensure access to new diagnostics in low-resource settings will become increasingly important.

How I perform hematopoietic stem cell transplantation on patients with a history of invasive fungal disease.

Hematopoietic transplantation is the preferred treatment for many patients with hematologic malignancies. Some patients may develop invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) during initial chemotherapy, which need to be considered when assessing patients for transplantation and treatment posttransplantation. Given the associated high risk of relapse and mortality in the post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) period, IFDs, especially invasive mold diseases, were historically considered a contraindication for HSCT. Over the last 3 decades, advances in antifungal drugs and early diagnosis have improved IFD outcomes, and HSCT in patients with a recent IFD has become increasingly common. However, an organized approach for performing transplantation in patients with a prior IFD is scarce, and decisions are highly individualized. Patient-, malignancy-, transplantation procedure-, antifungal treatment-, and fungus-specific issues affect the risk of IFD relapse. Effective surveillance to detect IFD relapse post-HSCT and careful drug selection for antifungal prophylaxis are of paramount importance. Antifungal drugs have their own toxicities and interact with immunosuppressive drugs such as calcineurin inhibitors. Immune adjunct cytokine or cellular therapy and surgery can be considered in selected cases. In this review, we critically evaluate these factors and provide guidance for the complex decision making involved in the peri-HSCT management of these patients.

Phagocytes as central players in the defence against invasive fungal infection.

Fungal pathogens cause severe and life-threatening infections worldwide. The majority of invasive infections occurs in immunocompromised patients and is based on acquired as well as congenital defects of innate and adaptive immune responses. In many cases, these defects affect phagocyte functions. Consequently, professional phagocytes - mainly monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells and polymorphonuclear neutrophilic granulocytes - have been shown to act as central players in initiating and modulating antifungal immune responses as well as elimination of fungal pathogens. In this review we will summarize our current understanding on the role of these professional phagocytes in invasive fungal infection to emphasize two important aspects. (i) Analyses on the interaction between fungi and phagocytes have contributed to significant new insights into phagocyte biology. Important examples for this include the identification of pattern recognition receptors for ß-glucan, a major cell wall component of many fungal pathogens, as well as the identification of genetic polymorphisms that determine individual host responses towards invading fungi. (ii) At the same time it was shown that fungal pathogens have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to counteract the attack of professional phagocytes. These mechanisms range from complete mechanical destruction of phagocytes to exquisite adaptation of some fungi to the hostile intracellular environment, enabling them to grow and replicate inside professional phagocytes.

Pattern recognition receptors in fungal immunity.

Over the last decade, invasive fungal infections have emerged as a growing threat to human health worldwide and novel treatment strategies are urgently needed. In this context, investigations into host-pathogen interactions represent an important and promising field of research. Antigen presenting cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells are strategically located at the frontline of defence against potential invaders. Importantly, these cells express germline encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which sense conserved entities from pathogens and orchestrate innate immune responses. Herein, we review the latest findings regarding the biology and functions of the different classes of PRRs involved in pathogenic fungal recognition. We also discuss recent literature on PRR collaboration/crosstalk and the mechanisms involved in inhibiting/regulating PRR signalling. Finally, we discuss how the accumulated knowledge on PRR biology, especially Dectin-1, has been used for the design of new immunotherapies against fungal infections.

It takes a village: Phagocytes play a central role in fungal immunity.

Phagocytosis is an essential step in the innate immune response to invasive fungal infections. This process is carried out by a proverbial "village" of professional phagocytic cells, which have evolved efficient machinery to recognize and ingest pathogens, namely macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells. These innate immune cells drive early cytokine production, fungicidal activity, antigen presentation and activation of the adaptive immune system. Despite the development of antifungal agents with potent activity, the biological activity of professional phagocytic innate immune cells has proven indispensable in protecting a host from invasive fungal infections. Additionally, an emerging body of evidence suggests non-professional phagocytes, such as airway epithelial cells, carry out phagocytosis and may play a critical role in the elimination of fungal pathogens. Here, we review recent advances of phagocytosis by both professional and non-professional phagocytes in response to fungal pathogens, with a focus on invasive aspergillosis as a model disease.

Unconventional T cells - New players in antifungal immunity.

Life-threatening invasive fungal diseases (IFD) are increasing in incidence, especially in immunocompromised patients and successful resolution of IFD requires a variety of different immune cells. With the limited repertoire of available antifungal drugs there is a need for more effective therapeutic strategies. This review interrogates the evidence on the human immune response to the main pathogens driving IFD, with a focus on the role of unconventional lymphocytes e.g. natural killer (NK) cells, gamma/delta (γδ) T cells, mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILC). Recent discoveries and new insights into the roles of these novel lymphocyte groups in antifungal immunity will be discussed, and we will explore how an improved understanding of antifungal action by lymphocytes can inform efforts to improve antifungal treatment options.

Inherited CARD9 Deficiency in a Child with Invasive Disease Due to Exophiala dermatitidis and Two Older but Asymptomatic Siblings.

PURPOSE: Autosomal recessive CARD9 deficiency predisposes patients to invasive fungal disease. Candida and Trichophyton species are major causes of fungal disease in these patients. Other CARD9-deficient patients display invasive diseases caused by other fungi, such as Exophiala spp. The clinical penetrance of CARD9 deficiency regarding fungal disease is surprisingly not complete until adulthood, though the age remains unclear. Moreover, the immunological features of genetically confirmed yet asymptomatic individuals with CARD9 deficiency have not been reported. METHODS: Identification of CARD9 mutations by gene panel sequencing and characterization of the cellular phenotype by quantitative PCR, immunoblot, luciferase reporter, and cytometric bead array assays were performed. RESULTS: Gene panel sequencing identified compound heterozygous CARD9 variants, c.1118G>C (p.R373P) and c.586A>G (p.K196E), in a 4-year-old patient with multiple cerebral lesions and systemic lymphadenopathy due to Exophiala dermatitidis. The p.R373P is a known disease-causing variant, whereas the p.K196E is a private variant. Although the patient's siblings, a 10-year-old brother and an 8-year-old sister, were also compound heterozygous, they have been asymptomatic to date. Normal CARD9 mRNA and protein expression were found in the patient's CD14+ monocytes. However, these cells exhibited markedly impaired pro-inflammatory cytokine production in response to fungal stimulation. Monocytes from both asymptomatic siblings displayed the same cellular phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: CARD9 deficiency should be considered in previously healthy patients with invasive Exophiala dermatitidis disease. Asymptomatic relatives of all ages should be tested for CARD9 deficiency. Detecting cellular defects in asymptomatic individuals is useful for diagnosing CARD9 deficiency.

Peptidorhamanomannan: A surface fungal glycoconjugate from Scedosporium aurantiacum and Scedosporium minutisporum and its recognition by macrophages.

The genus Scedosporium is composed of clinically relevant fungal species, such as Scedosporium aurantiacum, Scedosporium apiospermum, and Scedosporium boydii. Surface molecules have been described that play crucial roles in fungi-macrophage interaction, and many of them are pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). The present study aims to characterize peptidoglycans obtained from Scedosporium aurantiacum and Scedosporium minutisporum, a clinical and an environmental isolate, respectively, and compare their roles in pathogen-host interaction. Both molecules were characterized as peptidorhamnomannans (PRMs), similar to what has been already described for other Scedosporium species. Rabbit immune sera obtained by injecting whole cells from each species recognized both fungal cells and purified PRMs, suggesting that a cross-reaction occur between both fungi. Immunofluorescent microscopy revealed that PRMs are exposed on fungal surface. Prior incubation of purified molecules with immune sera before adding to cells led to loss of fluorescent, indicating that PRM is a major molecule recognized by immune sera. Fungi-macrophage interaction revealed that S. aurantiacum is able to survive more inside phagocytic cells than S. minutisporum, and PRM from both fungi plays a role in phagocytosis when the purified molecule is pre-incubated with macrophage. In addition, PRM induce nitric oxide release by macrophages. Our data indicate that PRM is an important PAMP exposed on fungal surface with the potential of immune modulation.

In this work, peptidorhamnomannans from Scedosporium aurantiacum and Scedosporium minutisporum have been characterized. These molecules play important roles in phagocytosis and oxidative burst in peritoneal macrophages and are recognized by immune sera.

Cross-reactivity of a Histoplasma capsulatum antigen enzyme immunoassay in urine specimens from persons with emergomycosis in South Africa.

Histoplasma antigen detection in urine is a rapid diagnostic method for disseminated histoplasmosis, although cross-reactivity has been reported in specimens from patients with other thermally dimorphic fungal infections. We tested urine specimens, from persons with suspected invasive fungal infections, using a commercial monoclonal antibody Histoplasma enzyme immunoassay (EIA) at a South African national mycology reference laboratory from August 2014 through December 2018. Corresponding fungal culture and histopathology results were obtained from an electronic laboratory information system. In some cases, cultured fungal isolates were sent with the urine specimen for species-level identification by phenotypic and molecular methods. Cross-reactivity was confirmed using culture filtrates of several fungal pathogens. Of 212 referred cases, 41 (19%) were excluded since they had no recorded clinical history (n = 1), alternative diagnoses were confirmed (n = 2), or no fungal culture or histopathology results (n = 38). Eighty-seven of 212 (41%) had laboratory evidence of an invasive fungal disease, while 84 (40%) did not. Of the 87 cases, 37 (43%) were culture-confirmed mycoses: emergomycosis (n = 18), histoplasmosis (n = 8), sporotrichosis (n = 6), cryptococcosis (n = 2), talaromycosis (n = 1), and other fungi isolated (n = 2). The sensitivity and specificity of the EIA were calculated for two groups: culture-confirmed (n = 37) and histology-confirmed invasive fungal disease (n = 50). The sensitivity and specificity of the EIA for diagnosis of histoplasmosis compared to culture were 88% (7/8, 95%CI 47-100%) and 72% (21/29, 95%CI 53-87%), respectively, and for diagnosis of emergomycosis/histoplasmosis compared to histology was 83% (29/35, 95%CI 66-93%) and 93% (14/15, 95%CI 68-100%), respectively. Cross-reactions occurred in urine specimens of patients with Emergomyces africanus infection and in culture filtrates of E. africanus, T. marneffei and Blastomyces species. A commercial Histoplasma EIA had satisfactory accuracy for diagnosis of culture-confirmed histoplasmosis, but cross-reacted in urine specimens from patients with invasive disease caused by the closely-related pathogen, E. africanus and in culture filtrates of E. africanus and other related fungi. LAY SUMMARY: Emergomyces africanus and Histoplasma capsulatum are fungi that cause a multi-system disease among HIV-seropositive persons with a low CD4 cell count. Handling live cultures of these fungi to confirm a diagnosis requires specialized laboratory equipment and infrastructure which is infrequently accessible in low-resource settings. The features of the two diseases (i.e., disseminated histoplasmosis and emergomycosis) may be indistinguishable when infected tissue is prepared, stained, and examined under a microscope. Enzyme immunoassays (EIA) have been developed as rapid diagnostic tools for the detection of a cell wall component of H. capsulatum in urine specimens, although cross-reactions have been reported in specimens from patients with other fungal infections. We evaluated the accuracy of a commercial Histoplasma EIA to diagnose histoplasmosis and to assess cross-reactions in urine specimens from persons with emergomycosis and in cultures of E. africanus and related fungi. We report a sensitivity and specificity of 88% (95%CI 47-100%) and 72% (95%CI 53-87%) for diagnosis of histoplasmosis compared to culture and 83% (95%CI 66-93%) and 93% (95%CI 68-100%) for diagnosis of either histoplasmosis/emergomycosis compared to a diagnosis made by microscopic examination of infected tissue. The assay cross-reacted in urine specimens from patients with emergomycosis and in culture filtrates of related fungi. Although the EIA cross-reacted with other related fungi, this test can decrease the time to diagnosis and facilitate early treatment of emergomycosis and histoplasmosis in South Africa.

Disseminated cryptococcosis and anti-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor autoantibodies: An underappreciated association.

The development of disseminated cryptococcosis has historically occurred in patients living with advanced human immunodeficiency virus or other immunosuppressive conditions affecting T-cell function. Recently, patients with anti-cytokine neutralising autoantibodies have been recognised to be at risk for disseminated infections by opportunistic intracellular pathogens, including Cryptococcus species. Herein, we present a previously healthy 26-year-old man who was evaluated with disseminated cryptococcosis involving the bone, lung, mediastinum and brain. The patient's serum cryptococcal antigen titres were >1:1,100,000, and evaluation for an underlying immunodeficiency revealed high titres for anti-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) autoantibodies. We also review the literature of all published cases of disseminated cryptococcosis associated with the presence of anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies. Clinicians should have a heightened awareness of anti-cytokine autoantibodies in patients without a known immunodeficiency and development disseminated infections by opportunistic intracellular pathogens.

Fosmanogepix (APX001) Is Effective in the Treatment of Immunocompromised Mice Infected with Invasive Pulmonary Scedosporiosis or Disseminated Fusariosis.

There are limited treatment options for immunosuppressed patients with lethal invasive fungal infections due to Fusarium and Scedosporium Manogepix (MGX; APX001A) is a novel antifungal that targets the conserved Gwt1 enzyme required for localization of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored mannoproteins in fungi. We evaluated the in vitro activity of MGX and the efficacy of the prodrug fosmanogepix (APX001) in immunosuppressed murine models of hematogenously disseminated fusariosis and pulmonary scedosporiosis. The MGX minimum effective concentration (MEC) for Scedosporium isolates was 0.03 µg/ml and ranged from 0.015 to 0.03 µg/ml for Fusarium isolates. In the scedosporiosis model, treatment of mice with 78 mg/kg and 104 mg/kg of body weight fosmanogepix, along with 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT) to enhance the serum half-life of MGX, significantly increased median survival time versus placebo from 7 days to 13 and 11 days, respectively. Furthermore, administration of 104 mg/kg fosmanogepix resulted in an ∼2-log10 reduction in lung, kidney, or brain conidial equivalents/gram tissue (CE). Similarly, in the fusariosis model, 78 mg/kg and 104 mg/kg fosmanogepix plus ABT enhanced median survival time from 7 days to 12 and 10 days, respectively. A 2- to 3-log10 reduction in kidney and brain CE was observed. In both models, reduction in tissue fungal burden was corroborated with histopathological data, with target organs showing reduced or no abscesses in fosmanogepix-treated mice. Survival and tissue clearance were comparable to a clinically relevant high dose of liposomal amphotericin B (10 to 15 mg/kg). Our data support the continued development of fosmanogepix as a first-in-class treatment for infections caused by these rare molds.

An unappreciated role for neutrophil-DC hybrids in immunity to invasive fungal infections.

Neutrophils are classically defined as terminally differentiated, short-lived cells; however, neutrophils can be long-lived with phenotypic plasticity. During inflammation, a subset of neutrophils transdifferentiate into a population called neutrophil-DC hybrids (PMN-DCs) having properties of both neutrophils and dendritic cells. While these cells ubiquitously appear during inflammation, the role of PMN-DCs in disease remains poorly understood. We observed the differentiation of PMN-DCs in pre-clinical murine models of fungal infection: blastomycosis, aspergillosis and candidiasis. Using reporter strains of fungal viability, we found that PMN-DCs associate with fungal cells and kill them more efficiently than undifferentiated canonical neutrophils. During pulmonary blastomycosis, PMN-DCs comprised less than 1% of leukocytes yet contributed up to 15% of the fungal killing. PMN-DCs displayed higher expression of pattern recognition receptors, greater phagocytosis, and heightened production of reactive oxygen species compared to canonical neutrophils. PMN-DCs also displayed prominent NETosis. To further study PMN-DC function, we exploited a granulocyte/macrophage progenitor (GMP) cell line, generated PMN-DCs to over 90% purity, and used them for adoptive transfer and antigen presentation studies. Adoptively transferred PMN-DCs from the GMP line enhanced protection against systemic infection in vivo. PMN-DCs pulsed with antigen activated fungal calnexin-specific transgenic T cells in vitro and in vivo, promoting the production of interferon-γ and interleukin-17 in these CD4+ T cells. Through direct fungal killing and induction of adaptive immunity, PMN-DCs are potent effectors of antifungal immunity and thereby represent innovative cell therapeutic targets in treating life-threatening fungal infections.

Chronic invasive fungal rhinosinusitis vs sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma: the differentiating value of MRI.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate MRI features in discriminating chronic invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (CIFRS) from sinonasal squamous cell carcinomas (SNSCC). METHODS: MRI findings of 33 patients with CIFRS and 47 patients with SNSCC were retrospectively reviewed and compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant imaging features in distinguishing between CIFRS and SNSCC. The ROC curves and the AUC were used to evaluate diagnostic performance. RESULTS: There were significant differences in cavernous sinus involvement (p < 0.001), sphenoid sinus involvement (p < 0.001), meningeal involvement (p = 0.024), T2 signal intensity (p = 0.006), and enhancement pattern (p < 0.001) between CIFRS and SNSCC. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified cavernous sinus involvement (odds ratio [OR] = 0.06, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.02-0.20) and sphenoid sinus involvement (OR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.05-0.45) as significant indicators for CIFRS and T2 isointensity to gray matter (OR = 4.44, 95% CI = 1.22-16.22) was a significant indicator for SNSCC. ROC curve analysis showed the AUC from a combination of three imaging features was 0.95 in differentiating CIFRS and SNSCC. CONCLUSIONS: MRI showed significant differences between CIFRS and SNSCC features. In immunocompromised patients, a sinonasal hypointense mass on T2WI with septal enhancement or loss of contrast enhancement, and involvement of cavernous sinus, sphenoid sinus, and meninges strongly suggest CIFRS. KEY POINTS: • Chronic invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (CIFRS) is often difficult to distinguish from sinonasal squamous cell carcinomas (SNSCC) in clinical practice. • Cavernous sinus and sphenoid sinus involvement appear to be significant indicators for CIFRS. T2 isointensity to gray matter appears to be a significant indicator for SNSCC. • Loss of contrast enhancement and septal enhancement can be used to distinguish CIFRS from SNSCC with a high degree of specificity.

Clinical Features of Fatal Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1 Infection Complicated by Invasive Pulmonary Fungal Infection.

BACKGROUND: Severe pneumonia caused by influenza virus infection can be secondary to invasive pulmonary fungal (IPF) infection. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to summarize the incidence of IPF infection secondary to influenza virus infection and further explore its etiologic mechanism and high-risk factors. METHODS: All adult patients with confirmed influenza A (H1N1) virus infection admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) of Nanjing Drum Hospital from November 2017 to March 2018 were retrospectively selected. The differences in baseline factors, risk factors, immune function and outcome parameters were studied between patients with and without IPF. RESULTS: Of the 19 critically ill patients with H1N1 infection, 11 (57.9%) developed IPF infection after 7 days of ICU admission. Two patients had proven and nine probable IPF infection. A difference in human leukocyte antigen-DR isotype (△HLA-DR; day 7-day 1) was found between the two groups. △HLA-DR (day 7-day 1) was higher in patients with no IPF infection than in those with IPF infection [(14.52 ± 14.21)% vs ( - 11.74 ± 20.22)%, P = 0.019]. The decline in HLA-DR indicated impaired immune function secondary to fungal infection in patients with H1N1 infection. CONCLUSIONS: IPF infection was diagnosed in 57.9% of critically ill patients with H1N1 virus infection after a median of 7 days following ICU admission. A continuous decline in immune function could lead to the development of IPF infections. Dynamic monitoring of immune function may help in the early detection of IPF infection.

Safety Evaluation of an Alpha-Emitter Bismuth-213 Labeled Antibody to (1→3)-ß-Glucan in Healthy Dogs as a Prelude for a Trial in Companion Dogs with Invasive Fungal Infections.

Background: With the limited options available for therapy to treat invasive fungal infections (IFI), radioimmunotherapy (RIT) can potentially offer an effective alternative treatment. Microorganism-specific monoclonal antibodies have shown promising results in the experimental treatment of fungal, bacterial, and viral infections, including our recent and encouraging results from treating mice infected with Blastomyces dermatitidis with 213Bi-labeled antibody 400-2 to (1→3)-ß-glucan. In this work, we performed a safety study of 213Bi-400-2 antibody in healthy dogs as a prelude for a clinical trial in companion dogs with acquired invasive fungal infections and later on in human patients with IFI. Methods: Three female beagle dogs (≈6.1 kg body weight) were treated intravenously with 155.3, 142.5, or 133.2 MBq of 213Bi-400-2 given as three subfractions over an 8 h period. RBC, WBC, platelet, and blood serum biochemistry parameters were measured periodically for 6 months post injection. Results: No significant acute or long-term side effects were observed after RIT injections; only a few parameters were mildly and transiently outside reference change value limits, and a transient atypical morphology was observed in the circulating lymphocyte population of two dogs. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the safety of systemic 213Bi-400-2 administration in dogs and provide encouragement to pursue evaluation of RIT of IFI in companion dogs.

Effects of CYP3A inhibitors on the pharmacokinetics of quizartinib, a potent and selective FLT3 inhibitor, and its active metabolite.

AIMS: Quizartinib is an oral, highly potent and selective next-generation FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitor under investigation in patients with FLT3-internal tandem duplication-mutated acute myeloid leukaemia. This drug-drug interaction study assessed the pharmacokinetics (PK) of quizartinib when coadministered with strong or moderate cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) inhibitors. METHODS: In this parallel-group study, subjects were randomised to receive: (i) quizartinib + ketoconazole; (ii) quizartinib + fluconazole; or (iii) quizartinib alone. On Days 1-28, subjects received ketoconazole 200 mg or fluconazole 200 mg twice daily, and on Day 8, all subjects received a single 30-mg quizartinib dose. Blood samples were collected for PK analyses, steady-state PK parameters were simulated by superpositioning, and safety was assessed. RESULTS: Ninety-three healthy subjects were randomised; 86 completed the study. When administered with ketoconazole, geometric mean ratios (90% confidence interval) for quizartinib maximum observed plasma concentration (Cmax ) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) from time 0 extrapolated to infinity were 117% (105%, 130%) and 194% (169%, 223%), respectively, vs quizartinib alone. Steady-state PK simulation demonstrated ~2-fold increase of both steady-state Cmax and AUC from time 0 to the end of the dosing interval when quizartinib was administered with ketoconazole due to accumulation of quizartinib at steady state. When administered with fluconazole, geometric mean ratios (90% confidence interval) for quizartinib Cmax and AUC from time 0 extrapolated to infinity were 111% (100%, 124%) and 120% (104%, 138%), respectively, vs quizartinib alone. Overall, 5.4% of subjects experienced quizartinib-related adverse events; no serious adverse events or deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest reducing the dose of quizartinib when coadministered with a strong CYP3A inhibitor, but not with a moderate or weak CYP3A inhibitor. This dose reduction was implemented in phase 3 evaluation of quizartinib.

Fungal immunology in clinical practice: Magical realism or practical reality?

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) occur predominantly in immunocompromised individuals but can also be seen in previously well persons. The human innate immune system recognizes key components of the fungal cell wall as foreign resulting in a myriad of signaling cascades. This triggers release of antifungal molecules as well as adaptive immune responses, which kill or at least contain the invading fungi. However, these defences may fail in hosts with primary or secondary immunodeficiencies resulting in IFIs. Knowledge of a patient's immune status enables the clinician to predict the fungal infections most likely to occur. Moreover, the occurrence of an opportunistic mycosis in a patient without known immunocompromise usually should prompt a search for an occult immune defect. A rapidly expanding number of primary and secondary immunodeficiencies associated with mycoses has been identified. An investigative approach to determining the nature of these immunodeficiencies is suggested to help guide clinicians encountering patients with IFI. Finally, promising adjunctive immunotherapy measures are currently being investigated in IFI.

Invasive fungal infections in the immunocompromised host: Mechanistic insights in an era of changing immunotherapeutics.

The use of cytotoxic chemotherapy in the treatment of malignant and inflammatory disorders is beset by considerable adverse effects related to nonspecific cytotoxicity. Accordingly, a mechanistic approach to therapeutics has evolved in recent times with small molecular inhibitors of intracellular signaling pathways involved in disease pathogenesis being developed for clinical use, some with unparalleled efficacy and tolerability. Nevertheless, there are emerging concerns regarding an association with certain small molecular inhibitors and opportunistic infections, including invasive fungal diseases. This is perhaps unsurprising, given that the molecular targets of such agents play fundamental and multifaceted roles in orchestrating innate and adaptive immune responses. Nevertheless, some small molecular inhibitors appear to possess intrinsic antifungal activity and may therefore represent novel therapeutic options in future. This is particularly important given that antifungal resistance is a significant, emerging concern. This paper is a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art in the molecular immunology to fungal pathogens as applied to existing and emerging small molecular inhibitors.

Combination of sepsis biomarkers may indicate an invasive fungal infection in haematological patients.

Background: Invasive fungal infections are a major threat to a large cohort of immunocompromised patients, including patients with chemotherapy-associated neutropenia. Early differential diagnosis with bacterial infections is often complicated, which leads to a delay in empirical antifungal therapy and increases risk for adverse outcome. Accessibility and performance of specific fungal antigen and PCR-tests are still limited, while sepsis biomarkers are more broadly used in most settings currently. Methods: Haematological patients hospitalized to receive chemotherapy with proven or probable invasive fungal infection or microbiologically proven bacterial bloodstream infection were included in the study. C-reactive protein was assessed daily during the profound neutropenia period, while procalcitonin or presepsin were measured during the first 48 hours after the onset of febrile episode. Results: There were totally 64 patients included in the study, 53 with bacterial bloodstream infections and 11 with invasive fungal infections. Combination of CRP >120 with PCT <1.25 or presepsin <170 was shown to be a possible combined biomarker for invasive fungal infections in immunocompromised patients, with areas under the ROC-curves: 0.962 (95% CI 0.868 to 0.995) for PCT-based combination and 0.907 (95% CI 0.692 to 0.990) for presepsin-based combination.

Invasive fungal infections in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: Results from four Australian centres, 2003-2013.

BACKGROUND: Invasive fungal infections (IFI) are an important complication of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) treatment. Our study describes the prevalence and outcomes of IFI in children with ALL. METHODS: IFI episodes in children with primary or relapsed ALL, identified for The Epidemiology and Risk Factors for Invasive Fungal Infections in Immunocompromised Children study, were analysed. IFI were classified according to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group criteria with a 'modified-possible' category included. RESULTS: A total of 123 IFI episodes in 119 patients with ALL were included. A proven, probable, possible and modified-possible IFI was diagnosed in 56 (45.5%), 22 (17.9%), 39 (31.7%) and six (4.9%) episodes, respectively. The prevalence was 9.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 8-11.4%) overall and 23.5% (95% CI 14.5-32.5%) for relapsed/refractory ALL. For non-relapsed ALL, the IFI prevalence was significantly higher for children with high-risk compared to standard-risk ALL (14.5% vs 7.3%, P = .009), and IFI were more common during induction, consolidation and delayed intensification phases. Mould infections occurred more frequently than non-mould infections. Thirteen children (10.9%) died within 6 months of IFI diagnosis with five deaths (4.2%) attributable to an IFI. CONCLUSIONS: IFI is more common in children with high-risk ALL and in relapsed disease. Overall survival was encouraging, with IFI contributing to very few deaths.