A review of described cases of mycotic keratitis and sclerokeratitis related to entomopathogenic fungi from 1984 to 2021.

Infectious keratitis and sclerokeratitis caused by filamentous fungi prevail in agricultural regions with tropical and subtropical climates and are related mostly to mild abrasive corneal trauma especially after vegetable matter related injury. Biotechnological advances have introduced biological control agents in agriculture such as fungal-based biocontrol agents that use Beauveria and Metarhizium species as bioinsecticides. Keratitis and sclerokeratitis are the most frequent pathologies associated to Beauveria and Metarhizium infection that are the main entomopathogenic fungi used in biological control, although other clinical cases such as sinus, skin lesions, and disseminated infections have been reported. Search of publications was carried out using the databases: Scopus, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, MedLine Scielo. A total of 30 articles were retrieved from 1984 - 2021. From these, 17 keratitis and one sclerokeratitis clinical cases were related to Beauveria infection, while Metarhizium was linked to 13 keratitis cases and two sclerokeratitis clinical cases. Female sex predominated in both Metarhizium and Beauveria clinical cases, there was no significant difference in sclerokeratitis / keratitis by sex. Contact lenses use was a factor reported in 66.6% cases of infection with Metarhizium and 22.2% with Beauveria. The review of clinical cases of keratitis and sclerokeratitis related to Beauveria and Metarhizium suggests the need to consider entomopathogenic fungi in ocular pathologies and the risk that imply the misuse of contact lenses and agricultural/gardening activities.

Sporotrichosis in Mexico.

Sporotrichosis is an endemic mycosis caused by the species of the Sporothrix genus, and it is considered one of the most frequent subcutaneous mycoses in Mexico. This mycosis has become a relevant fungal infection in the last two decades. Today, much is known of its epidemiology and distribution, and its taxonomy has undergone revisions. New clinical species have been identified and classified through molecular tools, and they now include Sporothrix schenckii sensu stricto, Sporothrix brasiliensis, Sporothrix globosa, and Sporothrix luriei. In this article, we present a systematic review of sporotrichosis in Mexico that analyzes its epidemiology, geographic distribution, and diagnosis. The results show that the most common clinical presentation of sporotrichosis in Mexico is the lymphocutaneous form, with a higher incidence in the 0-15 age range, mainly in males, and for which trauma with plants is the most frequent source of infection. In Mexico, the laboratory diagnosis of sporotrichosis is mainly carried out using conventional methods, but in recent years, several researchers have used molecular methods to identify the Sporothrix species. The treatment of choice depends mainly on the clinical form of the disease, the host's immunological status, and the species of Sporothrix involved. Despite the significance of this mycosis in Mexico, public information about sporotrichosis is scarce, and it is not considered reportable according to Mexico's epidemiological national system, the "Sistema Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica." Due to the lack of data in Mexico regarding the epidemiology of this disease, we present a systematic review of sporotrichosis in Mexico, between 1914 and 2019, that analyzes its epidemiology, geographic distribution, and diagnosis.

Genetic diversity of Histoplasma and Sporothrix complexes based on sequences of their ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 regions from the BOLD System / Diversidad genética de los complejos Histoplasma y Sporothrix en función de las secuencias de sus regiones ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 del BOLD System

High sensitivity and specificity of molecular biology techniques have proven usefulness for the detection, identification and typing of different pathogens. The ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) regions of the ribosomal DNA are highly conserved non-coding regions, and have been widely used in different studies including the determination of the genetic diversity of human fungal pathogens. This article wants to contribute to the understanding of the intra- and interspecific genetic diversity of isolates of the Histoplasma capsulatum and Sporothrix schenckii species complexes by an analysis of the available sequences of the ITS regions from different sequence databases. ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequences of each fungus, either deposited in GenBank, or from our research groups (registered in the Fungi Barcode of Life Database), were analyzed using the maximum likelihood (ML) method. ML analysis of the ITS sequences discriminated isolates from distant geographic origins and particular wild hosts, depending on the fungal species analyzed. This manuscript is part of the series of works presented at the "V International Workshop: Molecular genetic approaches to the study of human pathogenic fungi" (Oaxaca, Mexico, 2012 (AU)

Las técnicas de biología molecular han proporcionado instrumentos de alta sensibilidad y especificidad, útiles para la detección, identificación y tipificación de diferentes patógenos. Las regiones ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) del ADN ribosómico están altamente conservadas y no son codificantes. Estas regiones se han utilizado ampliamente en diferentes tipos de estudios, incluida la determinación de la diversidad genética de hongos patógenos del ser humano. La finalidad de este artículo es contribuir al conocimiento de la diversidad genética intra- e interespecífica de aislamientos de los complejos de Histoplasma capsulatum y Sporothrix schenckii a través del análisis de las secuencias disponibles de las regiones ITS en distintos bancos de secuencias. Las secuencias de las regiones ITS1-5.8S-ITS2, de cada hongo, depositadas en el GenBank, junto con las obtenidas por nuestros grupos de investigación (depositadas en la Fungal Barcoding of Life Database), se analizaron con el método de máxima probabilidad (ML, por sus siglas en inglés). El análisis ML de las secuencias de las regiones ITS discriminó aislamientos de orígenes geográficos distantes y de huéspedes salvajes particulares, de acuerdo con la especie fúngica analizada.Este artículo forma parte de una serie de estudios presentados en el «V International Workshop: Molecular genetic approaches to the study of human pathogenic fungi» (Oaxaca, México, 2012) (AU)

Genetic diversity of Histoplasma and Sporothrix complexes based on sequences of their ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 regions from the BOLD System.

High sensitivity and specificity of molecular biology techniques have proven usefulness for the detection, identification and typing of different pathogens. The ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) regions of the ribosomal DNA are highly conserved non-coding regions, and have been widely used in different studies including the determination of the genetic diversity of human fungal pathogens. This article wants to contribute to the understanding of the intra- and interspecific genetic diversity of isolates of the Histoplasma capsulatum and Sporothrix schenckii species complexes by an analysis of the available sequences of the ITS regions from different sequence databases. ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequences of each fungus, either deposited in GenBank, or from our research groups (registered in the Fungi Barcode of Life Database), were analyzed using the maximum likelihood (ML) method. ML analysis of the ITS sequences discriminated isolates from distant geographic origins and particular wild hosts, depending on the fungal species analyzed. This manuscript is part of the series of works presented at the "V International Workshop: Molecular genetic approaches to the study of human pathogenic fungi" (Oaxaca, Mexico, 2012).

Clinical comparison of two Mexican coccidioidins.

Coccidioidin, an extract from the saprophytic mycelial form of Coccidioides spp., has been a very useful antigen preparation both for skin and serological tests for coccidioidomycosis. Unfortunately, coccidioidin is not currently available for skin testing in the United States. Coccidioidin has been produced commercially in Mexico by a vaccine and reagents laboratory of the Mexican Federal Government. It also has been produced at the Microbiology Laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México exclusively as an antigen for research projects. The objective of the study was to compare both coccidioidins in their reactivity and safety when applied in humans. One hundred and eighty-four volunteers were tested; median age was 33 (range 14-82). When the cutoff point is set in 5 mm, 88 subjects (47.8%) had a positive test for the commercial coccidioidin and 76 (41.3%; CI(95%) 0.50, 1.15; P = 0.20) were positive with the research antigen. Seventy-five subjects were positive for both antigens and 96 were negative for both. Fifty-nine subjects (31.3%) reported an adverse reaction after the application of the antigen; they were mostly very mild local reactions. Mexican research coccidioidin is a safe and reliable antigen that can be used for the detection of coccidioidomycosis infection in mammals.

Lack of pathogenicity and toxicity of the mycoinsecticide Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum following acute gastric exposure in mice.

Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum, monospore culture EH-502/8 (CNRCB MaPL40), isolated in Mexico from Schistocerca piceifrons ssp. piceifrons (Orthoptera: Acrididae) was tested for acute oral intragastric pathogenicity and toxicity in CD-1 mice. Animals were inoculated with one dose (10(8) conidia/animal) of viable (72 mice), non-viable (24 mice) conidia and compared to 18 control mice. Clinical observations were done daily; mycological and histological tests were performed during necropsies after the inoculation. No mice showed clinical symptoms of illness or died during the study. The fungus was able to persist in some organs until day 3, but did not cause any damage to the host. The gross pathology observed was splenomegaly in mice inoculated with viable and non-viable conidia. Non-germinated conidia, observed in several organs, suggest hematogenous spread, but without any histopathological tissue reaction. Results support the non-pathogenic and non-toxic status of this fungal strain when administered in a single intragastric dose to mice.

Acute oral intragastric pathogenicity and toxicity in mice of Paecilomyces fumosoroseus isolated from whiteflies.

Paecilomyces fumosoroseus, monospore culture EH-506/3, isolated in Mexico from Bemisia tabaci whitefly was tested for acute oral intragastric pathogenicity and toxicity in CD-1 mice. Animals were inoculated by gavage with only one dose (10(8) conidia/animal) of viable (72 mice), heat-killed (24 mice) fungus and compared to 18 control mice. Clinical observations were done daily; mycological and histological tests were performed during necropsies at days 3, 10, 17, and 21 after the inoculation. No mice were clinically ill or died. At the end of the study, their mean weight corresponded to healthy adults. Positive fungal cultures of feces were obtained only 24 h after inoculation. Positive cultures were found in 15 out of 360 organs (liver, spleen, kidney, brain, lung) in 12 of 72 mice inoculated with viable conidia. Gross pathology exhibited splenomegaly and liver paleness in mice inoculated with viable and heat-killed fungus. Non-germinated conidia were observed in studied organs, without any pathological tissue reaction, suggesting no mycological or histopathological evidence of fungal multiplication. The fungus was able to persist, but did not cause permanent damage to the host. This study supports the non-pathogenic/toxic status of P. fumosoroseus EH-506/3 when administered intragastrically in mice.

Phenotyping and genotyping of Sporothrix schenckii isolates according to geographic origin and clinical form of Sporotrichosis.

Sporothrix schenckii isolates of fixed and lymphocutaneous clinical forms from Mexico (MX), Guatemala (GT), and Colombia (CO) as well as environmental isolates from MX were studied by analyzing their phenotypic characteristics (conidial length, thermotolerance by percent growth inhibition [GI] at 35 and 37 degrees C, median lethal dose [LD(50)]) and genotypic characteristics (by random amplified polymorphic DNA [RAPD] analysis-PCR). A significant difference (P < 0.01) in the mean conidial length of S. schenckii clinical isolates from CO ( = 4.03 +/- 1.04 microm) compared with those of clinical isolates from MX ( = 2.06 +/- 0.53 microm) and GT ( = 2.68 +/- 0.83 microm) was observed. The lowest thermotolerance, as determined by measurement of percent GI, was exhibited by isolates from CO at 35 degrees C ( = 50.1% +/- 15.9%) and 37 degrees C ( = 72.7% +/- 10.9%). In general, the highest virulence, as determined by measurement of the LD(50) for mice, was observed for the MX environmental isolates. RAPD analysis-PCR with 10-mer primers OPBG-01, OPBG-14, and OPBG-19 generated 52 reproducible bands. The 44 Sporothrix isolates fell into four major groups by hierarchical cluster analysis. The first group (group I), formed by 25 (of 27) isolates from MX, had two subgroups: subgroup Ia with 10 environmental isolates and subgroup Ib with 14 clinical isolates. The second group (group II) had two subgroups: subgroup IIa, formed by isolates from CO, and subgroup IIb, formed by isolates from GT. Groups III and IV each had only one clinical isolate from MX. A principal-component analysis of the same data yielded three distinct groups, depending on the geographical origins of the isolates, including the isolates in groups III and IV from MX, which were grouped with the isolates from MX by principal-component analysis. This study revealed that isolates from CO had low thermotolerances at 35 and 37 degrees C and could be associated with superficial skin lesions in patients with fixed clinical forms of sporotrichosis, the most frequent form of the disease in CO. Distinct patterns dependent on geographical origins were also revealed by RAPD analysis-PCR, but these had no relation to the clinical form of the disease.

Levaduras asociadas con el hábitat natural de Histoplasma capsulatum en Guerrero, México / Yeasts associated to natural habitat of Histoplasma capsulatum in Guerrero, Mexico

Objetivo: En el presente trabajo, primero que sobre el tema se ha realizado en México, se registran las especies de levaduras encontradas en diferentes sustratos colectados en espacios cerrados y abiertos (que representan los nichos ecológicos en que se desarrolla Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum). Material y métodos: Los sustratos a partir de los cuales se hizo el aislamiento de levaduras se obtuvieron en distintas localidades de los municipios de Quechultenango y Olinalá, en el estado de Guerrero. Resultados y discusión: De guano de murciélago muestreado en grutas y cuevas se aislaron Candida Catenulata, C. ciferrii, C famata, C. guillermondii y Rhodotorula spp.; del suelo de una mina únicamente se aisló C. ciferril. Las especies C. albicans, C. ciferrii y C. tropicalis se aislaron de suelo con excretas de gallináceas, y C. famata, Cryptococcus albidus var. albidus, Trichosporon beigelii t Trichosporon spp. de suelo con excretas de gallo. Del intestino de murciélagos insectívoros únicamente se aisló C. famata, y, de murciélagos polinívoros C. lipolytica, Cr. abidus var. albidus y Trichosporon spp. De cada una de estas especies se mencionan sus características distintivas, así como los diferentes ambientes y sustratos de los cuales han sido aisladas

Hongos filamentosos asociados con el hábitat natural de Histoplasma capsulatum en Guerrero, México / Filamentous fungi associated to natural habitat of Histoplasma capsulatum in Guerrero, Mexico

Objetivo: Se determinaron los hongos filamentosos asociados a los ambientes y sustratos de donde se ha aislado Histoplasma capsulatum, a partir de muestras de guano e intestino de murciélagos, así como de excretas de aves de corral Material y métodos: Las muestras procedieron de varias grutas y otras localidades de Guerrero, México, principalmentes de juxtlahuaca y Olinalá. Resultados y discusión: Del guano de murciélago se aislaron, además de H. capsulatum, ascomicetas como Aphanoascus fulvescens, Gymnascella citrina, Gymnoascus dankaliensis (Onygenales) y Cheatomidium fimeti (Sordariales); Hongos conidiales, como Aspergillus flavo-furcatis, A. terreus, A. terreus var. aureus, varias especies no determinadas de Penicillium, Malbranchea aurantiaca y Sporothrix sp. De las excretas de gallo de pelea se aisló Phoma sp. Del intestino de murciélagos insectívoros, hematófagos, nectarívoros y frugívoros se aislaron varias especies de hongos conidiales, como Aspergillus candidus, A. flavofurcatis, A. sulphureus, A. sydowii, A. terreus, A. versicolor, Apergillus sp., M. aurantiaca, Gliomastis murorum y Scopulariopsis sp.; y sólo un ascomicete, Ch. fimeti. Se comentan ciertas propiedades biológicas de los hongos encontrados, la mayoría de ellos registrados por primera vez por estos sustratos y ambientes en México

Organización de la colección de cepas de Histoplasma capsulatum del Laboratorio de Inmunología de Hongos, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM / Organization of the Histoplasma capsulatum strains collection from the laboratorio de Inmunologia de Hongos, Facultad de Medicina, UNAM

Objetivo: El presente trabajo muestra la organización, los lineamientos y las particularidades de la colección de cepas de Histoplasma capsulatum del laboratorio de Inmunología de Hongos del Departamento de Microbiología y parasitología, de la Facultad de medicina, UNAM. Características de la colección: Está formada por primoaislamientos del hongo a partir de diversas fuentes y distintas procedencias geográficas dentro de la República Mexicana, además de cepas de la república Mexicana, además de cepas de referencia de otros países, características que destacan el aspecto especial y selecto de esta colección