Browsing by Author "Kenyon, Chris"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    50 years of Emmonsia disease in humans : the dramatic emergence of a cluster of novel fungal pathogens
    (Public Library of Science, 2015) Schwartz, Ilan S.; Kenyon, Chris; Feng, Peiying; Govender, Nelesh P.; Dukik, Karolina; Sigler, Lynne; Jiang, Yanping; Stielow, J. Benjamin; Munoz, Jose F.; Cuomo, Christina A.; Botha, Alfred; Stchigel, Alberto M.; De Hoog, G. Sybren
    New species of Emmonsia-like fungi, with phylogenetic and clinical similarities to Blastomyces and Histoplasma, have emerged as causes of systemic human mycoses worldwide. They differ from classical Emmonsia species by producing a thermally-dependent, yeast-like phase rather than adiaspores, and by causing disseminated infections, predominantly in immunocompromised patients and often with high case-fatality rates. Such differences will be important for clinicians to consider in diagnosis and patient management, and for microbiologists who may encounter these fungi with increasing frequency.
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    Emergomyces : the global rise of new dimorphic fungal pathogens
    (Public Library of Science, 2019) Schwartz, Ilan S.; Govender, Nelesh P.; Sigler, Lynne; Jiang, Yanping; Maphang, Tsidiso G.; Toplis, Barbra; Botha, Alfred; Dukik, Karolina; Hoving, J. Claire; Munoz, Jose F.; De Hoog, Sybren; Cuomo, Christina A.; Colebunders, Robert; Kenyon, Chris
    Unknown until recently, the genus Emergomyces is composed of dimorphic fungi with human pathogenic potential. Five described species have been implicated as causes of disease in immunocompromised persons on at least 4 continents. In some regions, such as southern Africa, this disease, emergomycosis, is now the most commonly diagnosed dimorphic fungal infection. Herein, we review the history of these fungi, clinical features and pathogenesis of disease, what is known of their biology, and future research directions.
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    Emergomyces africanus in soil, South Africa
    (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018-02) Schwartz, Ilan S.; Lerm, Barbra; Hoving, J. Claire; Kenyon, Chris; Horsnell, William G.; Basson, W. Joan; Otieno-Odhiambo, Patricia; Govender, Nelesh P.; Colebunders, Robert; Botha, Alfred
    We detected Emergomyces africanus, a thermally dimorphic fungus that causes an HIV-associated systemic mycosis, by PCR in 18 (30%) of 60 soil samples from a wide range of habitats in South Africa. Direct and indirect culture techniques were unsuccessful. Experimental intraperitoneal inoculation of conidia induced murine disease.
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    Molecular detection of airborne Emergomyces africanus, a thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen, in Cape Town, South Africa
    (Public Library of Science, 2018) Schwartz, Ilan S.; McLoud, Josh D.; Berman, Dilys; Botha, Alfred; Lerm, Barbra; Colebunders, Robert; Levetin, Estelle; Kenyon, Chris
    Emergomyces africanus is a thermally dimorphic fungus that causes a systemic mycosis in immunocompromised persons in South Africa. Infection is presumed to follow inhalation of airborne propagules. We developed a quantitative PCR protocol able to detect as few as 5 Es. africanus propagules per day. Samples were collected in Cape Town, South Africa over 50 weeks by a Burkard spore trap with an alternate orifice. We detected Es. africanus in air samples from 34 days (10%) distributed over 11 weeks. These results suggest environmental exposure to airborne Es. africanus propagules occurs more commonly in endemic areas than previously appreciated.