Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Deciphering and Imaging Pathogenesis and Cording of Mycobacterium abscessus in Zebrafish Embryos
10:38

Deciphering and Imaging Pathogenesis and Cording of Mycobacterium abscessus in Zebrafish Embryos

Published on: September 9, 2015

Fusarium falciforme vertebral abscess and osteomyelitis: case report and molecular classification

Srilatha Edupuganti1, Nadine Rouphael, Aneesh Mehta

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30030, USA. sedupug@emory.edu

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|April 1, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Fusarium falciforme caused a rare epidural abscess and vertebral osteomyelitis in an immunocompromised patient. DNA typing identified a novel three-locus haplotype, FSSC 3+4qqq, as the causative agent.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Microbiology

Background:

  • Fusarium species are common molds causing superficial infections in healthy individuals.
  • In immunocompromised patients, Fusarium infections can become severe and life-threatening.
  • Autoimmune disorders and long-term glucocorticoid therapy increase susceptibility to invasive fungal infections.

Observation:

  • A patient with an autoimmune disorder on long-term glucocorticoids developed an epidural abscess and vertebral osteomyelitis.
  • The clinical presentation was unusual for a Fusarium infection, typically limited to superficial sites.

Findings:

  • Multilocus DNA sequence-based typing was employed for pathogen identification.
  • The causative agent was identified as Fusarium falciforme.
  • A novel three-locus haplotype, designated FSSC 3+4qqq, was discovered for this Fusarium falciforme strain.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the potential for Fusarium species to cause deep-seated, invasive infections in immunocompromised hosts.
  • The identification of a novel haplotype underscores the importance of molecular typing for accurate fungal identification and epidemiological tracking.
  • Understanding the genetic diversity of Fusarium species is crucial for diagnosing and managing invasive infections.

More Related Videos

A Contrast of Three Inoculation Techniques used to Determine the Race of Unknown Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum Isolates11:48

A Contrast of Three Inoculation Techniques used to Determine the Race of Unknown Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. niveum Isolates

Published on: October 28, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Brain Abscess l: Introduction01:26

Brain Abscess l: Introduction

A brain abscess is a focal, intracerebral infection characterized by a localized collection of pus within the brain parenchyma, resulting from microbial invasion and the body’s inflammatory response. It progresses through stages: early and late cerebritis, followed by early and late capsule formation, reflecting tissue destruction, immune response, and eventual encapsulation.Etiology and PathogenesisCausative organisms vary with source and host factors, often involving polymicrobial infections,...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal 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...
Fungal Group Zygomycota01:29

Fungal Group Zygomycota

Zygomycota, previously classified as a distinct fungal group, are primarily terrestrial, saprophytic molds that play a crucial role as decomposers. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that these fungi are now divided into two major clades — Mucoromycota, which includes many symbiotic species, and Zoopagomycota, which primarily consists of parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These groups exhibit distinct ecological roles and reproductive strategies while sharing key structural and...