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Dematiaceous fungi

Sanjay G Revankar1

  • 1Dallas VA Medical Center, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. sanjay.revankar@med.va.gov

Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
|August 10, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Dematiaceous fungi cause phaeohyphomycosis, presenting diverse human infections. Melanin in their cell walls contributes to virulence, necessitating tailored treatments like azoles for effective management.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Dematiaceous fungi are increasingly identified as human pathogens causing phaeohyphomycosis.
  • Infections range from localized traumatic to disseminated disease, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Pulmonary manifestations include both allergic and non-allergic syndromes, species-dependent.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the clinical spectrum of phaeohyphomycosis.
  • To discuss the pathogenic mechanisms, focusing on melanin's role.
  • To outline current therapeutic strategies and identify research needs.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of clinical cases and pathogenic studies.
  • Analysis of fungal cell wall composition and virulence factors.
  • Evaluation of antifungal susceptibility data and clinical treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Phaeohyphomycosis presents with varied clinical syndromes, from superficial to systemic infections.
  • Melanin in fungal cell walls is a key virulence factor, influencing pathogenicity.
  • Systemic infections are often refractory to treatment; azoles show consistent in vitro activity.

Conclusions:

  • Dematiaceous fungi pose a significant and growing threat in human infectious diseases.
  • Understanding melanin's role is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
  • Further research is essential to improve treatment outcomes for phaeohyphomycosis.

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