Fungal Infections of the Brain

2020 ◽  
pp. 201-224
Author(s):  
Maria Fernanda Gonzalez-Lara ◽  
Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Infections ◽  
The Brain

scholarly journals X-linked immunodeficient (XID) mice exhibit high susceptibility to Cryptococcus gattii infection

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Israel Diniz-Lima ◽  
Pablo Rodrigo da Rosa ◽  
Elias Barbosa da Silva-Junior ◽  
Joyce Cristina Guimarães-de-Oliveira ◽  
Elisangela Oliveira de Freitas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Infection ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Humoral Response ◽  
Cryptococcus Gattii ◽  
Opportunistic Disease ◽  
Fungal Load ◽  
Natural Igm ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Chronic Lung Infection

AbstractCryptococcosis is an opportunistic disease caused by the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. It starts as a pulmonary infection that can spread to other organs, such as the brain, leading to the most serious occurrence of the disease, meningoencephalitis. The humoral response has already been described in limiting the progression of cryptococcosis where the B-1 cell seems to be responsible for producing natural IgM antibodies, crucial for combating fungal infections. The role of the B-1 cell in C. neoformans infection has been initially described, however the role of the humoral response of B-1 cells has not yet been evaluated during C. gattii infections. In the present study we tried to unravel this issue using XID mice, a murine model deficient in the Btk protein which compromises the development of B-1 lymphocytes. We use the XID mice compared to BALB/c mice that are sufficient for the B-1 population during C. gattii infection. Our model of chronic lung infection revealed that XID mice, unlike the sufficient group of B-1, had early mortality with significant weight loss, in addition to reduced levels of IgM and IgG specific to GXM isolated from the capsule of C. neoformans. In addition to this, we observed an increased fungal load in the blood and in the brain. We described an increase in the capsular size of C. gattii and the predominant presence of cytokines with a Th2 profile was also observed in these animals. Thus, the present study strongly points to a higher susceptibility of the XID mouse to C. gattii, which suggests that the presence of B-1 cells and anti-GXM antibodies is fundamental during the control of infection by C. gattii.

Lung aspergilloma with pituitary invasive aspergillosis presenting as headache and hyponatraemia

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. e238721
Author(s):  
Eunho Choi ◽  
Sun Bean Kim ◽  
Jong Hun Kim ◽  
Young Kyung Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Invasive Aspergillosis ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Imaging Study ◽  
Lung Mass ◽  
Tissue Invasion ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
The Brain

Fungal infections involving the pituitary gland are rare and can be life threatening. A 75-year-old man with hypertension and diabetes mellitus presented with headache and hyponatraemia. Imaging study showed right upper lung mass, and mass resection showed aspergilloma without tissue invasion on histology. The patient developed visual impairment a few weeks later, and MRI of the brain revealed bilateral sphenoid sinusitis and pituitary invasion. The trans-sphenoidal biopsy confirmed invasive Aspergillus infection. His sphenoidal sinuses were endoscopically debrided, and he was treated with oral voriconazole. Pituitary aspergillosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients with lung aspergilloma with headache and sinusitis. Prompt biopsy and antifungal treatment are important due to the high mortality rate of the infection.

Sonographic Diagnosis of Meningoencephalitis in Newborns and Infants

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (02) ◽  
pp. 132-152
Author(s):  
Karl-Heinz Deeg
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Color Doppler ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Intracranial Cysts ◽  
Spectral Doppler ◽  
Prenatal Infections ◽  
Brain Abscesses ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Subdural Effusions ◽  
Flow Velocities

AbstractPrenatal, neonatal meningoencephalitis and infections of the brain in older infants are often associated with serious complications which can be diagnosed by sonography through the open fontanelles. Most frequently postmeningitic hydrocephalus and subdural effusions occur. Rarer complications are brain abscesses and ventriculitis which are caused by gram negative bacteria such as E. coli, Serratia marcescens, Proteus and Enterobacter. A serious complication after ventriculitis is the development of compartment hydrocephalus. Multifocal small echogenic lesions scattered all over the brain are suspicious of fungal infections. Stripe-like echogenicities in the basal ganglia of newborns are typical for prenatal infections such as infections with cytomegalovirus, rubella, herpes, toxoplasma gondii and HIV. Late sequelae are intracranial cysts, multifocal encephalomalacia and intracranial calcifications. Color Doppler shows increased perfusion of the brain in the acute phase of the disease. Brain abscesses and infarcts are characterized by decreased or missing perfusion. Spectral Doppler shows increased flow velocities. Increased intracranial pressure causes an increase of the flow velocities in the intracranial part of the internal carotid artery in comparison with the extracranial part. All complications can be diagnosed by ultrasound. Other imaging methods such as MRI are only occasionally necessary.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Fungal Infections of the Brain

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrique Palacios ◽  
Rafael Rojas ◽  
Jason Rodulfa ◽  
Eduardo González-Toledo
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
The Brain

scholarly journals In VitroandIn VivoEvidence for Amphotericin B as a P-Glycoprotein Substrate on the Blood-Brain Barrier

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 4464-4469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji-Qin Wu ◽  
Kun Shao ◽  
Xuan Wang ◽  
Rui-Ying Wang ◽  
Ya-Hui Cao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amphotericin B ◽  
Blood Brain Barrier ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Brain Barrier ◽  
Content Type ◽  
P Glycoprotein ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

ABSTRACTAmphotericin B (AMB) has been a mainstay therapy for fungal infections of the central nervous system, but its use has been limited by its poor penetration into the brain, the mechanism of which remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in AMB crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The uptake of AMB by primary brain capillary endothelial cellsin vitrowas significantly enhanced after inhibition of P-gp by verapamil. The impact of two model P-gp inhibitors, verapamil and itraconazole, on brain/plasma ratios of AMB was examined in both uninfected CD-1 mice and those intracerebrally infected withCryptococcus neoformans. In uninfected mice, the brain/plasma ratios of AMB were increased 15 min (3.5 versus 2.0;P< 0.05) and 30 min (5.2 versus 2.8;P< 0.05) after administration of verapamil or 45 min (6.0 versus 3.9;P< 0.05) and 60 min (5.4 versus 3.8;P< 0.05) after itraconazole administration. The increases in brain/plasma ratios were also observed in infected mice treated with AMB and P-gp inhibitors. The brain tissue fungal CFU in infected mice were significantly lower in AMB-plus-itraconazole or verapamil groups than in the untreated group (P< 0.005), but none of the treatments protected the mice from succumbing to the infection. In conclusion, we demonstrated that P-gp inhibitors can enhance the uptake of AMB through the BBB, suggesting that AMB is a P-gp substrate.

scholarly journals Brown Heroin-Associated Candida albicans Ventriculitis and Endopthalmitis Treated with Voriconazole

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nora Elfiky ◽  
Kelly Baldwin
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Multidisciplinary Team ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Spontaneous Resolution ◽  
Monocular Vision ◽  
Chronic Meningitis ◽  
Heroin Use ◽  
The Brain

Chronic meningitis and ventriculitis are defined as inflammatory pleocytoses in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and ependyma that persists for at least 1 month without spontaneous resolution. Because the CSF communicates directly with the posterior compartments of the eye, fungal infections in the brain often cause secondary ophthalmologic complications. We report a 23-year-old male who presented to the emergency room with progressive severe headaches associated with insidious monocular vision loss. After extensive workup and a multidisciplinary team effort, the patient was diagnosed with ventriculitis and endogenous endopthalmitis. The etiology is suspected to be due to brown heroin use with secondary disseminated Candida albicans.

scholarly journals Roles of Neutrophils in Glioma and Brain Metastases

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ya-Jui Lin ◽  
Kuo-Chen Wei ◽  
Pin-Yuan Chen ◽  
Michael Lim ◽  
Tsong-Long Hwang
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Brain Metastases ◽  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Drug Penetration ◽  
First Line ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Brain Tumor Cells ◽  
The Brain

Neutrophils, which are the most abundant circulating leukocytes in humans, are the first line of defense against bacterial and fungal infections. Recent studies have reported the role and importance of neutrophils in cancers. Glioma and brain metastases are the most common malignant tumors of the brain. The tumor microenvironment (TME) in the brain is complex and unique owing to the brain-blood barrier or brain-tumor barrier, which may prevent drug penetration and decrease the efficacy of immunotherapy. However, there are limited studies on the correlation between brain cancer and neutrophils. This review discusses the origin and functions of neutrophils. Additionally, the current knowledge on the correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and prognosis of glioma and brain metastases has been summarized. Furthermore, the implications of tumor-associated neutrophil (TAN) phenotypes and the functions of TANs have been discussed. Finally, the potential effects of various treatments on TANs and the ability of neutrophils to function as a nanocarrier of drugs to the brain TME have been summarized. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the complex interactions between neutrophils, other immune cells, and brain tumor cells.

Visceral Mycoses as a Cause of Severe HIV Infection and Death

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Olga V. Azovtseva ◽  
Elena A. Viktorova
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Infections ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Diagnostic Methods ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Specialized Hospital ◽  
Immunological Examination ◽  
Invasive Mycoses ◽  
Reduction Of Mortality ◽  
The Brain

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of systemic fungal infections among HIV-infected individuals. The article aimed to examine the frequency of invasive mycoses among the HIV-infected patients at the time of their urgent and/or planned admission to a specialized hospital. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The diagnostic methods used in this study involved physical examination, laboratory testing, bacteriological examination, immunological examination, molecular genetic testing, and radiological imaging. The study was conducted under the ethical guidelines for retrospective studies and does not disclose data on individual patients. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Between 2016 and 2018, 85 HIV patients who died with HIV history underwent a series of clinical and pathomorphological examinations at the Novgorod Regional Infectious Diseases Hospital. Systemic mycoses frequently occur in the respiratory system and less often in the brain. Their incidence is severe and the mortality rates associated with it are high. In this study, PCP was the most common cause of death provoked by mycoses. <b><i>Discussion/Conclusion:</i></b> Systemic fungal disease can be diagnosed through a combination of diagnostic methods. A crucial factor in the reduction of mortality rates for systemic mycosis is the early diagnosis and intensive antimicrobial therapy.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document