: Key Issues of an Opportunistic Fungal Pathogen

Overview

Journal Virulence

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2019 Mar 20

PMID 30887863

Citations 39

Authors

Lisa Kirchhoff

Maike Olsowski

Peter-Michael Rath

Joerg Steinmann

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The black yeast is an opportunistic pathogen, causing phaeohyphomycosis in immunosuppressed patients, chromoblastomycosis and fatal infections of the central nervous system in otherwise healthy Asian patients. In addition, it is also regularly isolated from respiratory samples from cystic fibrosis patients, with rates varying between 1% and 19%.Melanin, as part of the cell wall of black yeasts, is one major factor known contributing to the pathogenicity of and increased resistance against host defense and anti-infective therapeutics. Further virulence factors, e.g. the capability to adhere to surfaces and to form biofilm were reported. A better understanding of the pathogenicity of is essential for the development of novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. In this review, the current knowledge of prevalence, clinical importance, diagnosis, microbiological characteristics, virulence attributes, susceptibility, and resistances as well as therapeutically strategies are discussed.

Citing Articles

Polyextremotolerant, opportunistic, and melanin-driven resilient black yeast Exophiala dermatitidis in environmental and clinical contexts.

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