A5020225909- Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
- Fungal Infections and Studies
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Nail Diseases and Treatments
- Enterobacteriaceae and Cronobacter Research
- Infectious Diseases and Mycology
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia detection and treatment
- Ocular Diseases and Behçet’s Syndrome
- Sarcoidosis and Beryllium Toxicity Research
- Invertebrate Immune Response Mechanisms
- Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Marine animal studies overview
- Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disorders
- Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Mycotoxins in Agriculture and Food
- Chemical Synthesis and Reactions
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
Memorial Healthcare System
2025
Public Health England
2015-2023
Southmead Hospital
2018-2023
UK Health Security Agency
2021-2022
University of the West of England
2019
Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era
2016
Infections of the skin, hair and nails by dermatophyte fungi are common in developed developing countries alike. However, species involved resulting clinical entities vary both geographically with time. We have surveyed 15,333 dermatophytes obtained from primary isolations at Mycology Reference Laboratory, Bristol, UK 1980 through 2005. Several striking trends prevalence were apparent over this period. The relative frequencies Microsporum canis (cat dog ringworm), Trichophyton verrucosum...
COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) was recently reported as a potential infective complication affecting critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome following severe coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, incidence rates varying from 8 to 33% depending on the study. However, definitive diagnosis of CAPA is challenging. Standardized diagnostic algorithms and definitions are lacking, clinicians reticent perform aerosol-generating bronchoalveolar lavages for...
Abstract Candida auris is a serious nosocomial health risk, with widespread outbreaks in hospitals worldwide. Successful management of such has depended upon intensive screening patients to identify those that are colonized and the subsequent isolation or cohorting affected prevent onward transmission. Here we describe evaluation novel chromogenic agar, CHROMagarTM Plus, for specific identification isolates from patient samples. colonies on Plus pale cream distinctive blue halo diffuses into...
Using a citizen science approach, we identify country-wide exposure to aerosolized spores of human fungal pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus , that has acquired resistance the agricultural fungicide tebuconazole and first-line azole clinical antifungal drugs. Genomic analysis shows no distinction between resistant genotypes found in environment patients, indicating at least 40% azole-resistant A. infections are from environmental exposures. Hotspots coldspots were not stable seasonal sampling...
Rapid and accurate identification of yeast isolates from clinical samples is essential, given their innately variable antifungal susceptibility profiles, the proposal species-specific interpretive breakpoints. Here we have evaluated utility MALDI-ToF MS analysis for pathogenic yeasts. A simplified, rapid extraction method, developed in our laboratory, was applied to 6343 encompassing 71 different species, which were then subjected using a Bruker Microflex resulting spectra assessed supplied...
Abstract Background Epidemiological cut-off values and clinical interpretive breakpoints have been developed for a number of antifungal agents with the most common Candida species that account majority infections due to pathogenic yeasts species. However, less-common species, which susceptibility data are limited, increasingly reported in high-risk patients breakthrough infections. Methods The UK National Mycology Reference Laboratory performs routine testing yeast isolates submitted from...
For filamentous fungi (moulds), species-specific interpretive breakpoints and epidemiological cut-off values (ECVs) have only been proposed for a limited number of fungal species–antifungal agent combinations, with the result that clinical are lacking most emerging mould pathogens. In current study, we compiled minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) data 4869 isolates present full MIC distributions amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, caspofungin these which comprise 20...
Mucoromycoses (infections caused by members of the order Mucorales, phylum Mucoromycota [ex-Zygomycota]) are highly destructive, rapidly progressive infections, with dire prognoses especially when they occur in immunocompromised hosts. Current treatment guidelines recommend liposomal formulations amphotericin B adjunctive surgery as first line therapy, newer triazoles posaconazole or isavuconazole alternative treatments, salvage therapy. Among many organisms belonging to this order, a...
ABSTRACT Exophiala is a ubiquitous pleomorphic genus comprising at least 40 species, many of which have been associated with superficial, visceral, or systemic infections in humans, other mammals, cold-blooded animals. In this study, we investigated the potential matrix-assisted laser desorption–ionization time flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for identification species. A total 89 isolates (including 50 human and 4 animal clinical isolates) stored National Collection Pathogenic Fungi...
The triazole drug fluconazole remains one of the most commonly prescribed antifungal drugs, both for prophylaxis in high-risk patients and also as a second-line treatment option invasive Candida infections. Established susceptibility profiles clinical interpretive breakpoints are available with albicans, glabrata, tropicalis, parapsilosis, which account majority infections due to pathogenic yeast species. However, less common species only limited data increasingly reported from breakthrough...
Eumycetoma, a chronic fungal infection endemic in India, Indonesia, and parts of Africa South Central America, follows traumatic implantation saprophytic fungi frequently requires radical surgery or amputation the absence appropriate treatment. Fungal species that can cause black-grain mycetomas include Madurella spp., Falciformispora Trematosphaeria grisea, Nigrograna mackinnonii, Pseudochaetosphaeronema larense, Medicopsis romeroi, Emarellia spp. Rhytidhysteron rufulum Parathyridaria...
We determined isavuconazole serum concentrations for 150 UK patients receiving standard dosing regimens, including serial therapeutic drug monitoring several on prolonged therapy. Mean trough in these were virtually identical to those reported previously from clinical trials, although greater variability was seen below 18 years of age. Serial therapy suggested gradual, near-linear accumulation the over many weeks.
Starting late 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a devastating global pandemic of coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) with ∼179 million cases and ∼3.9 deaths to date. COVID-19 ranges from asymptomatic infection illness distress requiring critical care in up 40% hospitalized patients. Numerous reports have identified COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) as an important infective complication COVID-19. In the UK, had unprecedented impacts...
Candidemia is widely reported as the fourth most common form of bloodstream infection worldwide. Reports breakthrough cases candidemia are increasing, especially in context a move away from azole antifungals prophylactic or first line treatment toward use echinocandin agents. The global evaluation antifungal susceptibility since 2003 has included switches testing methodologies and to sentinel approach for classification reporting. This study compiles previously unpublished data UK clinical...
Cheilitis granulomatosa (CG) is a persistent and progressive swelling of the lips that can be non-tender soft or firm to touch, with noncaseating granulomas are perilymphatic may show intralymphatic histiocytosis lymphatic dilatation. CG occur as an isolated condition part Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, which also includes facial paralysis fissured tongue. The etiology currently unknown but has been hypothesized connected genetics, allergies, immunological processes, infectious causes. This...
Subcutaneous fungal infections, which typically result from traumatic introduction (implantation) of elements into the skin or underlying tissues, can present as a range different clinical entities including phaeohyphomycosis, chromoblastomycosis, subcutaneous nodules masses, and genuine eumycetoma. Here, we mined our laboratory information management system for such infections in humans domestic animals period 2016-2022, (i) isolates referred identification and/or susceptibility testing;...
White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fatal fungal infection of bats in North America caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans. P. destructans has been confirmed Continental Europe but not associated with mass mortality. Its presence Great Britain was unknown. Opportunistic sampling GB began during the winter 2009. Any dead or samples from live visible growths were submitted to Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency for culture. Active surveillance targeted environmental hibernacula carried...
A novel dermatophyte was isolated from skin scales of a female patient presenting with tinea corporis the wrist and arm. Her principal risk factor long-term corticosteroid use for underlying Lupus autoimmune syndrome. Microscopic examination lesions revealed hyphae consistent infection, morphologically identical fungus grew in pure culture on all cultures scales. Repeat isolation same organism persistent five months later confirmed species as causative agent. predominantly smooth,...
Aims Performance of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation-time flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was compared in a side-by side-analysis with conventional phenotypic methods currently use our laboratory for identification yeasts routine diagnostic setting. Methods A diverse collection 200 clinically important (19 species, five genera) were identified by both using standard protocols. Discordant or unreliable identifications resolved sequencing the internal transcribed spacer...
Talaromyces marneffei is a thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen that causes serious infections particularly in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although the mould form typically produces characteristic red-diffusing pigment, and conidia from penicillate heads, several nonpathogenic Talaromyces/Penicillium species are morphologically phenotypically similar. While those other do not exhibit thermal dimorphism, conversion of T. to distinctive fission yeast vitro arduous...
Scedosporium spp. are the second most prevalent filamentous fungi after Aspergillus recovered from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients in various regions of world. Although invasive infection is uncommon prior to lung transplantation, fungal colonization may be a risk factor for disease with attendant high mortality post-transplantation. Abundant environment, aurantiacum has emerged as an important pathogen range clinical settings. To investigate population genetic structure S. aurantiacum,...
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