scholarly journals On the emergence of Candida auris: climate change, azoles, swamps and birds

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arturo Casadevall ◽  
Dimitrios P. Kontoyiannis ◽  
Vincent Robert
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Fungal Disease ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Human Pathogen ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Close Relatives ◽  
Temperature Susceptibility

The most enigmatic aspect of the rise of Candida auris as a human pathogen is that it emerged simultaneously in three continents with each clade being genetically distinct. Although new pathogenic fungal species are described regularly, these are mostly species associated with single cases in individuals who are immunosuppressed. In this study, we used phylogenetic analysis to compare C. auris with temperature susceptibility of close relatives and use these results to argue that it may be the first example of a new fungal disease emerging from climate change with the caveat that many other factors could have contributed.

scholarly journals On the Emergence of Candida auris: Climate Change, Azoles, Swamps, and Birds

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arturo Casadevall ◽  
Dimitrios P. Kontoyiannis ◽  
Vincent Robert
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Fungal Disease ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Human Pathogen ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Close Relatives ◽  
Temperature Susceptibility

ABSTRACT The most enigmatic aspect of the rise of Candida auris as a human pathogen is that it emerged simultaneously on three continents, with each clade being genetically distinct. Although new pathogenic fungal species are described regularly, these are mostly species associated with single cases in individuals who are immunosuppressed. In this study, we used phylogenetic analysis to compare the temperature susceptibility of C. auris with those of its close relatives and to use these results to argue that it may be the first example of a new fungal disease emerging from climate change, with the caveat that many other factors may have contributed.

scholarly journals The Role of Fungi in the Cocoa Production Chain and the Challenge of Climate Change

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 202
Author(s):  
Johannes Delgado-Ospina ◽  
Junior Bernardo Molina-Hernández ◽  
Clemencia Chaves-López ◽  
Gianfranco Romanazzi ◽  
Antonello Paparella
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Close Association ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Cocoa Production

Background: The role of fungi in cocoa crops is mainly associated with plant diseases and contamination of harvest with unwanted metabolites such as mycotoxins that can reach the final consumer. However, in recent years there has been interest in discovering other existing interactions in the environment that may be beneficial, such as antagonism, commensalism, and the production of specific enzymes, among others. Scope and approach: This review summarizes the different fungi species involved in cocoa production and the cocoa supply chain. In particular, it examines the presence of fungal species during cultivation, harvest, fermentation, drying, and storage, emphasizing the factors that possibly influence their prevalence in the different stages of production and the health risks associated with the production of mycotoxins in the light of recent literature. Key findings and conclusion: Fungi associated with the cocoa production chain have many different roles. They have evolved in a varied range of ecosystems in close association with plants and various habitats, affecting nearly all the cocoa chain steps. Reports of the isolation of 60 genera of fungi were found, of which only 19 were involved in several stages. Although endophytic fungi can help control some diseases caused by pathogenic fungi, climate change, with increased rain and temperatures, together with intensified exchanges, can favour most of these fungal infections, and the presence of highly aggressive new fungal genotypes increasing the concern of mycotoxin production. For this reason, mitigation strategies need to be determined to prevent the spread of disease-causing fungi and preserve beneficial ones.

scholarly journals Environmental Isolation of Candida auris from the Coastal Wetlands of Andaman Islands, India

mBio ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Parth Arora ◽  
Prerna Singh ◽  
Yue Wang ◽  
Anamika Yadav ◽  
Kalpana Pawar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marsh ◽  
Coastal Wetlands ◽  
Ecological Niche ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Sandy Beaches ◽  
Andaman Islands ◽  
Human Pathogen ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Indian Ocean

ABSTRACT Candida auris is a multidrug resistant pathogen that presents a serious global threat to human health. As C. auris is a newly emerged pathogen, several questions regarding its ecological niche remain unexplored. While species closely related to C. auris have been detected in different environmental habitats, little is known about the natural habitat(s) of C. auris. Here, we explored the virgin habitats around the very isolated Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean for evidence of C. auris. We sampled coastal wetlands, including rocky shores, sandy beaches, tidal marshes, and mangrove swamps, around the Andaman group of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Union Territory, in India. Forty-eight samples of sediment soil and seawater were collected from eight sampling sites representing the heterogeneity of intertidal habitats across the east and west coast of South Andaman district. C. auris was isolated from two of the eight sampling sites, a salt marsh and a sandy beach. Interestingly, both multidrug-susceptible and multidrug-resistant C. auris isolates were found in the sample. Whole-genome sequencing analysis clustered the C. auris isolates into clade I, showing close similarity to other isolates from South Asia. Isolation of C. auris from the tropical coastal environment suggests its association with the marine ecosystem. The fact that viable C. auris was detected in the marine habitat confirms C. auris survival in harsh wetlands. However, the ecological significance of C. auris in salt marsh wetland and sandy beaches to human infections remains to be explored. IMPORTANCE Candida auris is a recently emerged multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen capable of causing severe infections in hospitalized patients. Despite its recognition as a human pathogen a decade ago, so far the natural ecological niche(s) of C. auris remains enigmatic. A previous hypothesis suggested that C. auris might be native to wetlands, that its emergence as a human pathogen might have been linked to global warming effects on wetlands, and that its enrichment in that ecological niche was favored by the ability of C. auris for thermal tolerance and salinity tolerance. To understand the mystery of environmental niches of C. auris, we explored the coastal wetland habitat around the very isolated Andaman Islands in the Indian Ocean. C. auris was isolated from the virgin habitats of salt marsh area with no human activity and from a sandy beach. C. auris isolation from the marine wetlands suggests that prior to its recognition as a human pathogen, it existed as an environmental fungus.

Phylogenetic analysis of niche divergence reveals distinct evolutionary histories and climate change implications for tropical carnivorous pitcher plants

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Schwallier ◽  
Niels Raes ◽  
Hugo J. de Boer ◽  
Rutger A. Vos ◽  
Rogier R. van Vugt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Pitcher Plants ◽  
Niche Divergence

scholarly journals Candida auris: a fungus with identity crisis

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taissa Vila ◽  
Ahmed S Sultan ◽  
Daniel Montelongo-Jauregui ◽  
Mary Ann Jabra-Rizk
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Species ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Multiple Drug ◽  
Rapid Diagnostics ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Drug Classes ◽  
Recent Emergence ◽  
Robust Response

ABSTRACT Candida auris is a new fungal species that has puzzlingly and simultaneously emerged on five continents. Since its identification in 2009, the scientific community has witnessed an exponential emergence of infection episodes and outbreaks in healthcare facilities world-wide. Candida auris exhibits several concerning features compared to other related Candida species, including persistent colonization of skin and nosocomial surfaces, ability to resist common disinfectants and to spread rapidly among patients. Resistance to multiple drug classes and misidentification by available laboratory identification systems has complicated clinical management, and outcomes of infection have generally been poor with mortality rates approaching 68%. Currently, the origins of C. auris are unclear, and therefore, it is impossible to determine whether environmental and climactic changes were contributing factors in its recent emergence as a pathogen. Nevertheless, a robust response involving rapid diagnostics, prompt interventions and implementation of precautions, are paramount in curtailing the spread of  infections by this fungal species. Importantly, there is a pressing need for the development of new antifungal drugs. In this article, we present a brief overview highlighting some of the important aspects of C. auris epidemiology, pathogenesis and its puzzling global emergence.

scholarly journals A phylogenetic analysis of the grape genus (Vitis L.) reveals broad reticulation and concurrent diversification during neogene and quaternary climate change

2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yizhen Wan ◽  
Heidi R Schwaninger ◽  
Angela M Baldo ◽  
Joanne A Labate ◽  
Gan-Yuan Zhong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Quaternary Climate

scholarly journals Genome Sequence of the Emerging Pathogen Helicobacter canadensis

2009 ◽  
Vol 191 (17) ◽  
pp. 5566-5567 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. J. Loman ◽  
L. A. S. Snyder ◽  
J. D. Linton ◽  
R. Langdon ◽  
A. J. Lawson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Genome Sequence ◽  
Type Strain ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Human Pathogen ◽  
Wolinella Succinogenes ◽  
Emerging Pathogen ◽  
Animal Reservoirs

ABSTRACT We determined the genome sequence of the type strain of Helicobacter canadensis, an emerging human pathogen with diverse animal reservoirs. Potential virulence determinants carried by the genome include systems for N-linked glycosylation and capsular export. A protein-based phylogenetic analysis places H. canadensis close to Wolinella succinogenes.

scholarly journals Spillback in the Anthropocene: the risk of human-to-wildlife pathogen transmission for conservation and public health

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Claire Fagre ◽  
Lily Cohen ◽  
Evan A. Eskew ◽  
Max Farrell ◽  
Emma Glennon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Observational Evidence ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Human Pathogen ◽  
Anthropogenic Stressors ◽  
Published Evidence ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
New Reservoir

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has led to increased concern over transmission of pathogens from humans to animals (“spillback”) and its potential to threaten conservation and public health. To assess this threat, we reviewed published evidence of spillback events, including instances where spillback could threaten conservation and human health. We identified 97 verified examples of spillback, involving a wide range of pathogens; however, infected hosts were mostly non-human primates or large, long-lived captive animals. Relatively few spillback events resulted in morbidity and mortality, and very few led to maintenance of a human pathogen in a new reservoir or subsequent “secondary spillover” back into humans. Together, these results imply that spillback represents an apparently minor threat to conservation and public health, particularly relative to other anthropogenic stressors like land use and climate change. Lastly, we outline how researchers can collect experimental and observational evidence that will expand our capacity for spillback risk assessment.

scholarly journals Facile Route of Fabricating Long-Term Microbicidal Silver Nanoparticle Clusters against Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Candida auris

Coatings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Sheeana Gangadoo ◽  
Aaron Elbourne ◽  
Alexander E. Medvedev ◽  
Daniel Cozzolino ◽  
Yen B. Truong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Silver Nanoparticle ◽  
Antimicrobial Properties ◽  
Reduction Reaction ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Surface Design ◽  
Marine Applications

Microbial contamination remains a significant issue for many industrial, commercial, and medical applications. For instance, microbial surface contamination is detrimental to numerous aspects of food production, infection transfer, and even marine applications. As such, intense scientific interest has focused on improving the antimicrobial properties of surface coatings via both chemical and physical routes. However, there is a lack of synthetic coatings that possess long-term microbiocidal performance. In this study, silver nanoparticle cluster coatings were developed on copper surfaces via an ion-exchange and reduction reaction, followed by a silanization step. The durability of the microbiocidal activity for these develped surfaces was tested against pathogenic bacterial and fungal species, specifically Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Candida auris, over periods of 1- and 7-days. It was observed that more than 90% of E. coli and C. auris were found to be non-viable following the extended exposure times. This facile material fabrication presents as a new surface design for the production of durable microbicidal coatings which can be applied to numerous applications.

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