bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
P303 An unusual case of isolated gluteal abscess
Authors: Vaidya Viplov , Wagh Vikram , Sinha Seema , Konde Santosh , Arora Sohini 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Poster session 2, September 22, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Background
Mucormycosis is an invasive infection caused by fungi belonging to the order Mucorales. The angioinvasive disease caused by these fungi can prove to be fatal despite appropriate treatment. We report an unusual case of a gluteal abscess caused by a probable mucormycosis in an apparently immunocompetent individual.

Case Description
A 68-year-old gentleman hailing from a rural area of Bihar, India presented with a painful swelling over the left buttock region for 4 weeks. He was a known hypertensive and had ischemic heart disease. He denied any history of fever. The lump had gradually increased in size. He was a retired school teacher with a farmland and reared livestock at home. He was a non-vegetarian and denied any addictions. He had a history of intermittent lower backache for which he used to take occasional intramuscular analgesic injections over his buttocks from a local medical practitioner.
On examination, the swelling was about 4 cm X 4 cm in size, fluctuant, with ill-defined margins over the lateral region of the left buttock. The swelling was tender, warm, and not fixed to underlying structures. Systemic examination was unremarkable. Ultrasound examination revealed an ∼7.2 × 4.2 × 7.8 cm cystic lesion with a volume of 126cC. It was located predominantly in subcutaneous fat extending into muscular plane with septa and solid components in the left gluteal region (Fig. 1). It had thick walls and fine internal echoes within. Other investigations were unremarkable except for glycosylated Hb, which was 6.2%. Incision and drainage were done.
During the procedure, it was seen as a cyst with a thick wall that was removed in toto. The contents were explored after removal and were found to be yellowish black with mucoid consistency. Histopathological examination revealed numerous broad, ribbon-like, aseptate fungal hyphae with right-angled branching infiltrating the inflamed tissue (Fig.2). There were numerous epithelioid granulomas surrounding the fungal elements in the soft tissue of the wall. The findings were consistent with a fungal abscess caused by mucormycosis. Culture of the fluid/pus was negative. Thus, a diagnosis of mucormycotic gluteal abscess was made and patient was commenced on 50 mg of amphotericin B deoxycholate in view of financial restraints. High resolution computed tomography of chest was done which was unremarkable.
He developed an acute kidney injury after 2 doses of amphotericin B deoxycholate which was then stopped. Oral posaconazole was started. He has developed bilateral leg swelling post-oral posaconazole and is commenced on oral spironolactone for the same. The postoperative wound has healed well and there is no new swelling or tenderness over the area. He is planned for further follow-up.

Conclusions
P314 Atypical clinical manifestations and epidemiology of favus in southeast China in the last 15 years and a review of case studies
Authors: Yijing Wang , Li Li , Min Zhu 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Poster session 2, September 22, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Objective
We aimed to report cases of favus in southeast China in the last 15 years and evaluate clinical and epidemiological characteristics of them, and review the cases reported in the past 10 years worldwide.

Methods
Analyze the basic information, lesion characteristics, disease course, treatment, and prognosis of five cases of favus which were all diagnosed by clinical manifestations and mycological examination in Huashan Hospital of Fudan University. Searched the PubMed, Wanfang, Weipu, and CNKI databases and summarized the literature and case reports related to Trichophyton schoenleinii infection of past 10 years.

Results
There were five cases diagnosed as favus in the last 15 years in Huashan Hospital. The pathogenic fungi were all Trichophyton schoenleinii, which was confirmed by culturing and ITS sequencing identification. The five patients were all females and lived in southeast China, of which three were from Jiangxi province, one was from Zhejiang province, and one was from Shaanxi province. Favus is not only seen in children, but also in adults. Three of them were affected in childhood, and the others got in adolescence. The classical lesion of favus was a cup-shaped yellow crust on the scalp centrally pierced by dull grey hair. Affected skin is characterized by a mousy or cheesy odor. However, in these five cases, the skin lesions were without the typical clinical manifestations but often manifested as follicular pustules with underlying erythema, covered with scales and left sequelae such as alopecia and scarring. They were treated with oral terbinafine or itraconazole and achieved good efficacy. In the past 10 years, there have been 43 cases of infection with Trichophyton schoenleinii worldwide, located in Xinjiang, Kaifeng, Kunming, Guangxi region of China, Iran, Tunisia, Kosovo, Kashmir, Turkey, and Mie County in Japan. In nine individual case reports, eight were female and one was male. Four cases were without typical yellow crust. Trichophyton schoenleinii not only infected the scalp, it can also infect the face, extremity, and trunk in patients without immunodeficiency.

Conclusion
There are still a small number of infections of Trichophyton schoenleinii over the world. However, the clinical manifestations of favus in southeast China tend to be atypical due to factors such as improved sanitation and host immunity, so it has raised the difficulty to obtain proper diagnosis and treatment. Therefore, the doctors should pay great attention to this and make early identification with the help of mycological examination methods to prevent irreversible consequences such as scars and alopecia.
P323 Virulence not required? Albumin promotes pathogenicity of (non)-damaging Candida strains
Authors: Hitzler Sophia , Austermeier Sophie , Pekmezović Marina , Brandt Philipp , Hube Bernhard , Vylkova Slavena , Gresnigt Mark Sebastian 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Poster session 3, September 23, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
The pathogenicity of the dimorphic yeast Candida albicans is associated with filamentation, adhesion, invasion, and production of the toxin Candidalysin. However, there are certain clinical isolates and other Candida spp., that cause infection independent of filamentation or the production of Candidalysin. Consequently, these strains and species are often non-damaging in vitro, this does not correlate with their potential to cause infection in patients. We hypothesize that specific host factors, which trigger pathogenicity, are absent in in vitro models, and thereby not reflecting the situation in the host.

To determine the impact of albumin, the most abundant protein in the human body, vaginal epithelial cells were infected with different C. albicans strains and Candida species. Interestingly, after prolonged infection (45 h) albumin increased the damage potential, even in otherwise non-damaging and non-filamentous strains. This included deletion mutants deficient in filamentation, als3 adhesin/invasin, thigmotropism, or Candidalysin production. Yet, the increased damage was likely not solely an effect of increased growth and nutrient competition between the fungus and epithelial cells. Reduced damage in presence of protease inhibitors and albumin hint toward the role of proteases in the utilization of albumin. Albumin enhanced C. albicans metabolism, by stimulating the utilization of various nitrogen sources. This metabolic adaption could explain the advantage and enhanced growth as a strain and species-independent feature.

Our data suggest that common host factors can impact C. albicans to cause damage independent of adhesion, invasion, filamentation, and toxin production. Possibly, also other host-derived factors can drive the pathogenic potential of fungi through unresolved mechanisms.
P326 DNA replication initiator proteins stabilize the kinetochore in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Aggarwal Rashi , Sanyal Kaustuv 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Poster session 3, September 23, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Objectives
DNA replication licensing ensures maintenance of the ploidy state by limiting DNA replication once per cell cycle. The mini-chromosome maintenance (MCM) complex is an evolutionarily conserved DNA helicase in eukaryotes that aids this process. Upon activation in the S phase by several protein kinases, the MCM complex unwinds the double-stranded DNA and moves away from DNA replication origins preventing re-initiation of replication in the remainder of the cell cycle. Deregulation of MCM function can lead to malignant transformation of proliferating cells as indicated by their upregulated expression in human cancer and pre-cancerous cells. MCMs, therefore, serve as important biomarkers and potential targets for anti-cancer drugs. This study aims to decipher the effect of deregulated expression of the MCM complex on the cell cycle events of the human fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans, which is more similar to metazoans than other budding yeast. Aneuploidy-mediated drug resistance is a common mechanism in many major human fungal pathogens including Cryptococcus and Candida.

Methods
We generated conditional mutants of individual subunits of the MCM complex in C. neoformans and assayed the impact of their altered expression on cell cycle events. We also tested the alternative role of MCM subunits in the assembly of the kinetochore, a vital component of the chromosome segregation machinery.

Results
Our screen with MCM conditional mutants identified two in vivo functional subcomplexes that comprise the MCM complex in C. neoformans. Although upregulated expression of either Mcm2 or Mcm3 does not affect cell cycle progression, overexpression of either Mcm6 or Mcm7 led to the accumulation of cells in the large bud stage with nuclear segregation defects. This work provides evidence for the first time for a mitotic role of pre-replication complex proteins, MCM 2-7 complex in Cryptococcus. Depletion of Mcm2 led to arrest of cells in the S and G2/M stages of the cell cycle with defects in nuclear segregation. Localization and expression of several kinetochore proteins upon depletion of Mcm2 established that Mcm2 is vital for kinetochore assembly/integrity. Although the centromeric histone H3 variant, CENP-A, remains largely clustered, the outer kinetochore did not mature indicating that Mcm2 alone or as part of the MCM complex plays a role in kinetochore assembly/integrity and thereby in chromosome segregation.

Conclusion
A conserved eukaryotic DNA helicase, MCM 2-7 complex, has an unexplored non-canonical role in kinetochore assembly/integrity and chromosome segregation.
P328 An overexpression screen identifies Csa25 as a novel cellular morphogenesis regulator in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans
Authors: Brahma Priya , Jaitly Priya , Das Abhijit , Goyal Rohit , Legrand Melanie , d'Enfert Christophe , Sanyal Kaustuv 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Poster session 3, September 23, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Objective
Morphological plasticity is one of the key attributes of microbial pathogens contributing to the successful establishment of infection in host tissues. Candida albicans, an opportunistic human fungal pathogen, lives as a commensal in the gut, skin, and genitourinary tracts of most healthy individuals. The budding yeast form helps it to disseminate easily in the host system, and the filamentous form (hypha and pseudohypha) is believed to invade the host tissue. Strikingly, alterations of gene expression that block cell cycle progression at different stages additionally lead to aberrant cellular morphology in C. albicans. While various morphological states of C. albicans have been well-studied, the search for key players bringing about these changes is far from complete. This is supported by the fact that ∼70% of the C. albicans proteome remains functionally uncharacterized. Thus, the primary objective of our study was to identify novel regulators contributing to cellular morphogenesis in C. albicans.

Method
In our current study, we screened an overexpression library of C. albicans ORFeome generated to identify novel regulators contributing to chromosome stability (CSA) in C. albicans. The screen involved overexpression of each gene using a tetracycline-inducible promoter for a duration of 12 h, followed by microscopy-based observations to identify associated aberrant cellular morphologies.

Results
Screening of overexpression library of the C. albicans ORFeome identified 14 unique Candidate genes from 1389 genes screened. While the functions of half of them have been verified in C. albicans, the remaining seven genes are not functionally characterized. Each of the seven uncharacterized genes was predicted to be non-essential for viability in C. albicans. Bioinformatic analysis predicts one of these proteins, Csa25, to be carrying a point centromere-specific kinetochore protein Ndc10-like DNA-binding domain at its N-terminus spanning over a region of 273 amino acids. Sub-cellular localization indicates this protein to be present throughout the nucleus at all stages of the cell cycle. Strikingly, overexpression of this protein led to yeast cells forming chains connected by septa, as visualized by calcofluor staining, without hampering nuclear segregation. In addition, a large proportion of cells overexpressing Csa25 were unable to exhibit hyphal morphology when subjected to hyphae-inducing conditions.

Conclusion
In conclusion, our study identified Csa25 as a novel morphogenesis regulator involved in the negative regulation of yeast-hyphae transition in C. albicans. Further studies based on host-pathogen interaction will identify the critical role of Csa25 in the pathobiology of C. albicans and its survival in host-specific niches.
P340 Detection of emerging genotypes in Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex: a proposal for handling biodiversity in dermatophytes
Authors: Tang Chao 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Poster session 3, September 23, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Objective
The resistant and hypervirulent dermatophytes, which were found in India, have been described as a taxonomic novelty. It is urgent to detect the dermatophytes and their closely related clinical species fast and efficiently. Therefore, we evaluate the efficacy of diagnostic methods for the rapid detection of closely related clinical species.

Methods
Members of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes species complex were analyzed using Realtime-PCR, Dermagenius, LAMP, and MALDI-TOF in comparison with ITS sequencing.

Results
Dermagenius correctly recognized genotypes IV, VII, and IX as belonging to Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and all strains of T. interdigitale. However, genotype III and III* of T. mentagrophytes were recognized as T. interdigitale. The real-time PCR cannot distinguish these genotypes. In LAMP assay, T. indotineae, T. mentagrophytes III*, III, and IV, and T. interdigitale were positive. Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII, and one strain of T. mentagrophytes genotype IX. In MALDI-TOF tree, the most of T. indotineae strains can be clustered in one clade. The rest of the genotypes are irregular.

Conclusion
Dermagenius, real-time PCR, and LAMP cannot adequately distinguish among T. indotianeae, T. interdigitale, and T. mentagrophytes. Only T. indotineae from the Indian outbreak was approximately distinguishable with MALDI-TOF other than sequencing. We recommend to distinguish species only when they show an appreciable degree of adaptation and thus are clinically significant. Distinction of remaining clonal diversity is an epidemiological query and can be solved by haplotype numbering.
P342 Lactobacillus rhamnosus protection against Candida-induced vaginal epithelial cell damage is Candida albicans strain-dependent
Authors: Valentine Marisa , Alonso-Román Raquel , Abdul-Rahman Shameema , Bougnoux Marie-Elisabeth , d'Enfert Christophe , Hube Bernhard , Gresnigt Mark S 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Poster session 3, September 23, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Microbial dysbiosis can lead to vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) which is characterized by a pathogenicity-induced inflammatory response progressing to neutrophil-driven immunopathology. Probiotic treatment has varied success rates and some women still experience VVC despite being colonized by lactobacilli. It is, therefore, imperative to identify factors that influence the success of probiotic treatment for VVC.

We aimed to evaluate how Candida albicans strain differences contribute to the varying degrees to which probiotics such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus protect against Candida-induced epithelial tissue damage. We screened the commonly used highly virulent C. albicans laboratory strain SC5314, 24 C. albicans strains from different clades, and several vaginal C. albicans isolates. L. rhamnosus was used to colonize vaginal epithelial cells prior to C. albicans infection and vaginal epithelial cell damage was measured.

Compared to SC5314, most C. albicans strains induced relatively low or no epithelial cell damage. Even increased multiplicities of infection did not increase epithelial damage to the level of SC5314. Three groups were identified based on the effect of L. rhamnosus on Candida-induced epithelial cell damage. Bacterial colonization decreased, did not affect, or even increased tissue damage during infection.

The different C. albicans clades showed no correlation with the protective phenotypes. However, increased epithelial tissue damage in the presence of lactobacilli was generally observed with strains that alone were unable to damage the epithelium. Some strains had an enhanced potential to grow at low pH, yet growth at low pH alone was not able to distinguish the three groups.

The protective potential of L. rhamnosus is highly C. albicans strain-dependent. Our data hint toward a potential multifactorial effect involving stress-resistance and metabolic interplay. Elucidating the processes that lead to epithelial protection or enhanced damage will be crucial to predict whether probiotic lactobacilli may be beneficial or detrimental for a patient and may help to design generally protective probiotics.
P351 Genetic recombination between the main human skin commensal fungus, Malassezia restricta, and M. globosa using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer system
Authors: Cho Otomi , Matsumoto Yasuhiko , Yamada Tsuyoshi , Sugita Takashi 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Poster session 3, September 23, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Objects
Malassezia restricta and M. globosa cause or exacerbate Malassezia -associated skin, seborrheic, and atopic dermatitis, as well as pityriasis versicolor, but the virulence factors remain unclear because between-species genetic recombination has not yet been achieved. We built an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer (ATMT) system that generated gene-knockout mutants of both Malassezia species.

Materials and Methods
The binary vector pAg1-Δfkb1::NAT1 was introduced into M. restricta CBS 7877 and M. globosa CBS 7966 via ATMT; FKB1 was replaced. Then, FKB1 was re-introduced into the mutants to counteract the deficiencies.

Results and Discussion
The medium acetosyringone concentration and temperature, as well as the co-cultivation ratios of A. tumefaciens and the Malassezia strains, affected recombination efficacy. We generated a mutant of the FKB1 gene (which encodes the FKBP12 protein that binds to the calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus). Wild-type M. restricta and M. globosa were tacrolimus-sensitive, while the FKB1 mutants were tacrolimus-resistant; drug susceptibility was restored by reintroducing FKB1.

Conclusion
Studies on recombination between M. restricta and M. globosa will aid elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying Malassezia -associated dermatitis.
P357 Update on risk factors for Candida krusei-Fungemia
Authors: Jansen Julia C. , Verhasselt Hedda Luise , Rath Peter Michael 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Poster session 3, September 23, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie der Universitätsmedizin Essen, Robert Koch Haus, Virchow Straße 179, 45147 Essen, Germany

Objectives
Infection with Candida species have been an increasing threat to hospital patients worldwide. During the last decade research has shown high mortality rates associated with candidemia and progressing drug resistance to NAC (non-albicans Candida) species. This study aims to solidify risk factors for C. krusei fungemia.

Patients and Methods
We retrospectively analyzed patient data with at least one C. krusei or C. albicans positive blood culture at Essen University Hospital between 2008–2020.
Relevant categories consisted of age, gender, underlying condition, central venous catheters (CVC), steroids, leukopenia &lt;4000/μl, diabetes, antifungal treatment, hospital ward, and outcome.
We used the Chi-Squared test to compare categorical valuables. P-values were considered significant &lt;.05 and highly significant &lt;.01.

Results
From 1380 patients who tested positive for Candida spp. between 2008–2020, 40 were positive for C. krusei and 786 for C. albicans.
Candida albicans presented as the leading species (57.0%), followed by C. glabrata (23.5%), C. parapsilosis (5.8%), C. tropicals (5.1%), and C. krusei (2.9%). A total of 67.6% of patients were located at ICU. Incidence rates for Candida positive blood cultures increased from 1.0% to 10.0%. Candida krusei was most common in patients 51–60 years of age.
In both groups, overall survival was identical (52.2% C. krusei/54.3% C. albicans). For C. krusei correlation between outcome and antifungal treatment was highly significant (P .044). A total of 20% more C. krusei infected hemato-oncology patients died than in the C. albicans group (62.5%
C. krusei/46.5% C. albicans). In all, 60.0% of C. krusei patients on ICU died. In the C. krusei group all patients with CVC died and all patients without survived.

Conclusion
Candida-positive blood cultures increased from 1% in 2008 to 10% in 2020.
Three major risk factors for C. krusei fungemia were found: CVC, hemato-oncology malignancies, and leukocytopenia.
P361 Demystifying the NIH grant application process for international investigators
Authors: Love Dona 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Poster session 3, September 23, 2022, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) funds one of the largest medical mycology research portfolios. The portfolio includes the major human fungal pathogens and covers basic fungal biology and the more translational areas of therapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostics. NIAID utilizes many granting mechanisms that are open to US and international researchers. These include investigator-initiated applications (R01, R21, and R03s) and targeted announcements for fungal research. Additionally, NIAID has a suite of preclinical services supporting therapeutic, diagnostic, and vaccine development. These services are free and available to investigators in academia, not-for-profit organizations, industry, or governments worldwide. The NIAID granting mechanism can be complicated. Tips and tricks for navigating the NIAID application process and preclinical services will be discussed.