Sporotrichosis is a chronic granulomatous mycosis caused by the dimorphic fungus Sporothrix schenckii. The immunological mechanisms involved in the prevention and control of sporotrichosis suggest that cell-mediated immunity plays an important role in protecting the host against S. schenckii. Nonetheless, recent data strongly support the existence of protective Abs against this pathogenic fungu...

Sporotrichosis is an important subcutaneous mycosis, with an increasing worldwide incidence. However, few data are available regarding the immunological aspects of Sporothrix schenckii infection, particularly the humoral responses to the fungus. In this study we measured immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, and IgA in sera from 41 patients with sporotrichosis before antifungal treatment and from anothe...

The minimum growth-inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of azole antifungals were compared to their minimum sterol 14alpha-demethylation-inhibitory concentrations (MDICs) for clinical fungal isolates. The ascomycetous Candida yeasts tested were clearly divided into two groups: group I, consisting of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. lusitaniae, had MICs that were much higher than the MDICs, wherea...

This mini-review article is dedicated to clarifying certain important biochemical aspects of Sporothrixschenckii cell wall peptidorhamnomannans. Cell wall components involved in the host interaction such as antigens as well as a gp70 adhesin are important molecules present on the surface of the yeast parasitic phase. Other structural glycoconjugates present on the fungus cell surface are also d...

In vitro studies to fourteen previously synthesized chromone-tetrazoles and four novel fluorine-containing analogs were conducted against pathogenic protozoan (Entamoeba histolytica), pathogenic bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus), and human fungal pathogens (Sporothrix schenckii, Candida albicans, and Candida tropicalis), which have become in a serious health problem, ...

A cluster of sporotrichosis cases occurred in the Busselton-Margaret River region of Western Australia from 2000 to 2003. Epidemiologic investigation and mycologic culture for Sporothrix schenckii implicated hay initially distributed through a commercial hay supplier as the source of the out-break. Declining infection rates have occurred after various community measures were instigated.

Fungemia is a rare complication of Sporothrix schenckii infection and has always been associated with disseminated sporotrichosis. We describe an immunocompetent patient with localized lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis from whose blood the fungus was isolated. A lysis-centrifugation blood culture system may have improved our ability to detect low-level S. schenckii fungemia.

The characteristics of in vitro micafungin (FK463) antifungal activity against six species of dimorphic fungi were investigated in accordance with the NCCLS M27-A microdilution methods. MICs of micafungin, amphotericin B, itraconazole, and fluconazole for Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Penicillium marneffei, and Sporothrix schenc...

Sporothrix schenckii is the etiological agent of sporotrichosis, an endemic subcutaneous mycosis in Latin America. Cell wall (CW) proteins located on the cell surface are inducers of cellular and humoral immune responses, potential candidates for diagnosis purposes and to generate vaccines to prevent fungal infections. This mini-review emphasizes the potential use of S. schenckii CW proteins as...

Scedosporium apiospermum is part of the Pseudallescheria-Scedosporium complex. Peptidorhamnomannans (PRMs) are cell wall glycopeptides present in some fungi, and their structures have been characterized in S. apiospermum, S. prolificans and Sporothrix schenckii. Prior work shows that PRMs can interact with host cells and that the glycopeptides are antigenic. In the present study, three monoclon...