Infectious Disease Reports

7 pages, 1312 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Clinical Features and Characteristics of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease Caused by Recent Coxsackievirus A6: Five Cases in Japan from 2019 to 2022

by Kyohei Naomiya, Takashi Ito, Ayumi Saito, Tsukasa Igarashi, Tetsuo Nakayama, Kazuhiko Katayama and Kenji Ishikura

Infect. Dis. Rep. 2024, 16(4), 587-592; https://doi.org/10.3390/idr16040044 - 29 Jun 2024

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Abstract

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease caused by enteroviruses. Coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6)-associated HFMD has recently emerged as a predominant disease worldwide. Here, we describe five HFMD cases caused by CV-A6 in Japan from 2019 to 2022. All clinical courses were not severe and were self-limited, and the skin exanthema with vesicles differed from that in classical HFMD. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the major epidemic strain cluster of CV-A6 was formed independently in 2011, and our latest CV-A6 strains in Japan were detected within this cluster. The five cases described in this report indicate the recent shift in the predominant and continuous disease manifestation of CV-A6-associated HFMD. Full article

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15 pages, 1098 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Saps1–3 Antigens in Candida albicans: Differential Modulation following Exposure to Soluble Proteins, Mammalian Cells, and Infection in Mice

by Pedro F. Barbosa, Diego S. Gonçalves, Lívia S. Ramos, Thaís P. Mello, Lys A. Braga-Silva, Marcia R. Pinto, Carlos P. Taborda, Marta H. Branquinha and André L. S. Santos

Infect. Dis. Rep. 2024, 16(4), 572-586; https://doi.org/10.3390/idr16040043 - 28 Jun 2024

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Abstract

The secreted aspartic peptidases (Saps) of Candida albicans play crucial roles in various steps of fungal–host interactions. Using a flow cytometry approach, this study investigated the expression of Saps1–3 antigens after (i) incubation with soluble proteins, (ii) interaction with mammalian cells, and (iii) infection in immunosuppressed BALB/c mice. Supplementation strategies involving increasing concentrations of bovine serum albumin (BSA) added to yeast carbon base (YCB) medium as the sole nitrogenous source revealed a positive and significant correlation between BSA concentration and both the growth rate and the percentage of fluorescent cells (%FC) labeled with anti-Saps1–3 antibodies. Supplementing the YCB medium with various soluble proteins significantly modulated the expression of Saps1–3 antigens in C. albicans. Specifically, immunoglobulin G, gelatin, and total bovine/human sera significantly reduced the %FC, while laminin, human serum albumin, fibrinogen, hemoglobin, and mucin considerably increased the %FC compared to BSA. Furthermore, co-cultivating C. albicans yeasts with either live epithelial or macrophage cells induced the expression of Saps1–3 antigens in 78% (mean fluorescence intensity [MFI] = 152.1) and 82.7% (MFI = 178.2) of the yeast cells, respectively, compared to BSA, which resulted in 29.3% fluorescent cells (MFI = 50.9). Lastly, the yeasts recovered from the kidneys of infected immunosuppressed mice demonstrated a 4.8-fold increase in the production of Saps1–3 antigens (MFI = 246.6) compared to BSA, with 95.5% of yeasts labeled with anti-Saps1–3 antibodies. Altogether, these results demonstrated the positive modulation of Saps’ expression in C. albicans by various key host proteinaceous components, as well as by in vitro and in vivo host challenges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Infections: Epidemiology, Diagnostics, Clinics and Evolution)

11 pages, 912 KiB

Open AccessHypothesis

Persistent Vascular Complications in Long COVID: The Role of ACE2 Deactivation, Microclots, and Uniform Fibrosis

by Christina-Michailia Sideratou and Christos Papaneophytou

Infect. Dis. Rep. 2024, 16(4), 561-571; https://doi.org/10.3390/idr16040042 - 27 Jun 2024

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Abstract

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a key regulator in vasoregulation and the renin–angiotensin system, is hypothesized to be downregulated in patients with COVID-19, leading to a cascade of cardiovascular complications. This deactivation potentially results in increased blood pressure and vessel injury, contributing to the formation and persistence of microclots in the circulation. Herein, we propose a hypothesis regarding the prolonged vascular complications observed in long COVID, focusing on the role of ACE2 deactivation and/or shedding, the persistence of microclots, and the unique pattern of fibrosis induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Furthermore, we propose that the distinctive, uniform fibrosis associated with COVID-19, which is challenging to detect through conventional X-ray imaging, exacerbates vascular injury and impairs oxygenation. The persistence of these microclots and the unique fibrosis pattern are suggested as key factors in the extended duration of vascular complications post-COVID-19 infection, regardless of the initial disease severity. Moreover, plasma ACE2 activity has the potential to serve as prognostic or diagnostic biomarkers for monitoring disease severity and managing long COVID symptoms. Elucidating the role of ACE2 deactivation and the consequent events is vital for understanding the long-term effects of COVID-19. The experimental verification of this hypothesis through in vitro studies, clinical longitudinal studies, and advanced imaging techniques could yield significant insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying long COVID, thereby improving the management of patients, particularly those with cardiovascular complications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Post COVID-19: Latest Advances, Challenges and Methodologies)

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18 pages, 641 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Paradigm Shift of Using Natural Molecules Extracted from Northern Canada to Combat Malaria

by Alexandra Bourgeois, Juliana Aline Souza Lemos, Stéphanie Roucheray, Audrey Sergerie and Dave Richard

Infect. Dis. Rep. 2024, 16(4), 543-560; https://doi.org/10.3390/idr16040041 - 26 Jun 2024

Viewed by 773

Abstract

Parasitic diseases, such as malaria, are an immense burden to many low- and middle-income countries. In 2022, 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths were reported by the World Health Organization for malaria alone. Climate change, conflict, humanitarian crises, resource constraints and diverse biological challenges threaten progress in the elimination of malaria. Undeniably, the lack of a commercialized vaccine and the spread of drug-resistant parasites beg the need for novel approaches to treat this infectious disease. Most approaches for the development of antimalarials to date take inspiration from tropical or sub-tropical environments; however, it is necessary to expand our search. In this review, we highlight the origin of antimalarial treatments and propose new insights in the search for developing novel antiparasitic treatments. Plants and microorganisms living in harsh and cold environments, such as those found in the largely unexploited Northern Canadian boreal forest, often demonstrate interesting properties that are not found in other environments. Most prominently, the essential oil of Rhododendron tomentosum spp. Subarcticum from Nunavik and mortiamides isolated from Mortierella species found in Nunavut have shown promising activity against Plasmodium falciparum. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases)

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Infect. Dis. Rep., Volume 16, Issue 4 (August 2024) – 4 articles

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