Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
06:39
Curcuminoid-Mediated Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy on a Murine Model of Oral Candidiasis
Published on: October 27, 2023
[Causative agents of onychomycosis--a retrospective study]
Claudia Mügge1, Uwe-Frithjof Haustein, Pietro Nenoff
1Klinik für Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie, Universitätsklinikum Leipzig.
Summary
Dermatophytes, particularly T. rubrum, are the most common cause of onychomycosis (nail fungal infections). Yeasts are also frequent culprits, while molds are rare in nail infections.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Onychomycosis, a common nail fungal infection, can be caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, and molds.
- Accurate identification of causative agents is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose:
- To determine the prevalence of different fungal groups (dermatophytes, yeasts, molds) causing onychomycosis.
- To identify the specific genera and species responsible for nail infections in a large patient cohort.
Summary:
- A retrospective study analyzed 5,077 nail samples from 4,177 patients.
- Fungi were detected in 54% of samples, with dermatophytes (68%) being the most common, followed by yeasts (29%) and molds (3%).
- Key species identified include T. rubrum (dermatophyte), C. parapsilosis (yeast), and S. brevicaularis (mold).
Impact:
- This study highlights the predominant role of dermatophytes, especially T. rubrum, in onychomycosis.
- It underscores the significant contribution of yeasts and the infrequent occurrence of molds in nail fungal infections.
- Findings aid in understanding the etiological landscape of onychomycosis for improved clinical management.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Skin Diseases and Disorders
Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
01:15Antifungal Agents
Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
01:20Candidiasis
Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...