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Invasive Phaeohyphomycosis in Immunocompetent Hosts

  • Clinical Pathology (S Challa, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Fungal Infection Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Phaeohyphomycosis, or invasive disease caused by melanized fungi is an uncommon infection in humans, usually in immunocompromised patients. Large case reviews reveal infections in patients without typical risk factors. We examine the data regarding these infections in immunocompetent patients.

Recent Findings

Caspase-associated recruitment domain-9 (CARD-9) mutations have been proposed as a risk factor that would predispose previously healthy individuals to develop invasive fungal disease. Several specific CARD-9 mutations have been identified with the highest burden of infection in individuals with the homozygous state. The exact mechanism by which these mutations play a role in phaeohyphomycosis is still not fully understood and will likely be an area of further investigation.

Summary

CARD-9 mutations and/or deficiency in humans is associated with invasive and disseminated infections due to melanized fungi. Further studies to examine the implications for prevention and management of these infections are needed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA

    Oscar Martinez & Joud Jarrah

  2. Division of Infectious Diseases, Wayne State University, 3990 John R. St., 5 Hudson, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA

    Sanjay G. Revankar

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  1. Oscar Martinez
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  2. Joud Jarrah
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  3. Sanjay G. Revankar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sanjay G. Revankar.

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Conflict of Interest

Sanjay Revankar reports grants from Astellas outside the submitted work. Oscar Martinez and Joud Jarrah declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this manuscript.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Clinical Pathology

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Martinez, O., Jarrah, J. & Revankar, S.G. Invasive Phaeohyphomycosis in Immunocompetent Hosts. Curr Fungal Infect Rep 14, 252–257 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12281-020-00398-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12281-020-00398-z

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