Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 5, 2026

Non-invasive Imaging of Disseminated Candidiasis in Zebrafish Larvae
10:45

Non-invasive Imaging of Disseminated Candidiasis in Zebrafish Larvae

Published on: July 30, 2012

14.2K

A dimorphic fungus causing disseminated infection in South Africa

Chris Kenyon1, Kim Bonorchis, Craig Corcoran

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. chriskenyon0@gmail.com

The New England Journal of Medicine
|October 11, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

A new Emmonsia species, closely related to E. pasteuriana, caused disseminated fungal infections in HIV-infected adults in South Africa. This dimorphic fungus represents a significant emerging pathogen in Cape Town.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Phylogenetics

Background:

  • The genus Emmonsia includes species known to cause human adiaspiromycosis.
  • Limited information exists regarding Emmonsia species pathogenic to humans.
  • A novel Emmonsia species was identified in HIV-infected adults in South Africa.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the causative agent of systemic, dimorphic fungal infections in HIV-infected patients.
  • To characterize a novel Emmonsia species based on clinical and molecular data.

Main Methods:

  • Enhanced surveillance for systemic fungal infections.
  • DNA sequencing for fungal identification.
  • Phylogenetic analysis of five genes (LSU, ITS1-2, actin, β-tubulin, intein PRP8).

Main Results:

  • Thirteen cases of Emmonsia infection were diagnosed in HIV-infected patients with disseminated disease.
  • Patients had low CD4+ T-cell counts (median 16 cells/mm³).
  • Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the fungus belongs to the genus Emmonsia and is closely related to E. pasteuriana.

Conclusions:

  • The identified Emmonsia isolates represent a new species pathogenic to humans.
  • This new species is an important cause of fungal infections in Cape Town.
  • Prompt diagnosis and treatment with antifungal and antiretroviral therapy are crucial.

More Related Videos

The Galleria mellonella Waxworm Infection Model for Disseminated Candidiasis07:33

The Galleria mellonella Waxworm Infection Model for Disseminated Candidiasis

Published on: November 17, 2018

11.0K
Sexual Crosses with the Mucoromycete Phycomyces blakesleeanus05:34

Sexual Crosses with the Mucoromycete Phycomyces blakesleeanus

Published on: June 6, 2025

698

Related Concept Videos

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...
2.1K
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...
782
Fungal Phylum Ascomycota01:28

Fungal Phylum Ascomycota

Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
2.4K
Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota01:26

Fungal Phylum Basidiomycota

Basidiomycota is a diverse phylum of fungi that includes ecologically significant decomposers such as white rot fungi, symbionts like mycorrhizal fungi, plant pathogens such as rusts and smuts, and edible species like Agaricus bisporus (the common button mushroom). These fungi play crucial roles in nutrient cycling, symbiotic relationships, and even human health. Their defining feature is the basidium, a microscopic club-shaped structure responsible for producing basidiospores.Fruiting Bodies...
2.1K
Diversity of Protists II01:27

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...
2.3K
Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal 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...
119