pH manipulation as a novel strategy for treating mucormycosis

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Infectious Diseases
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Mucormycosis is a fatal fungal infection caused by Mucorales.
• Traumatic injury is an emerging risk factor for mucormycosis.
• Current treatments are often ineffective, costly, and require surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate acetic acid as a potential prophylactic treatment for mucormycosis.
• To investigate the mechanism of acetic acid's antifungal activity against Mucorales.

Main Methods:

• Testing the efficacy of various concentrations of acetic acid against pathogenic Mucorales.
• Comparing acetic acid's activity to other acids (hydrochloric, lactic).
• Investigating the role of intracellular pH and pH-independent toxicity.

Main Results:

• Acetic acid demonstrated high efficacy against Mucorales at low concentrations (0.3%).
• Other acids did not show similar antifungal effects.
• Acetic acid's activity is attributed to both intracellular pH reduction and pH-independent toxicity.

Conclusions:

• Dilute acetic acid is a potent antifungal agent against Mucorales.
• Acetic acid presents a potential low-cost, safe prophylactic treatment for mucormycosis in high-risk patients.
• Further research is warranted to explore its clinical application in traumatic injury settings.