Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Deep Dermal Injection As a Model of Candida albicans Skin Infection for Histological Analyses
Published on: June 13, 2018
A case study: Lecanicillium infection detected in the human body
Yujing Wu1, Dongming Li1, Shufang Jin2
1The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Extracorporeal Life Support for Critical Diseases, Artificial Cell Engineering Technology Research Center, Tianjin Institute of Hepatobiliary Disease, 83 Jintang Road, Hedong District, Tianjin 300170, China.
Abstract:
Lecanicillium dimorphum and Lecanicillium psalliotae are fungi that exist naturally in plants or insects, and are generally considered non-pathogenic to humans. However, in this case, we cultured Lecanicillium from the synovial fluid of a patient, and identified it through genome sequencing and sequence alignment as Lecanicillium dimorphum or Lecanicillium psalliotae. Due to the conservation of sequences, we can only identify the genus and not the species. There are very few reports on the human infection and pathogenicity of these two fungi, and this case also cannot completely prove that the pathogenic agent is this fungus. But this case also holds clinical significance, as the discovery of Lecanicillium in a human sample can alert the clinician to the presence of an uncommon mold with unclear clinical significance.
Insights
This case identified the fungus Lecanicillium in human synovial fluid, a rare occurrence for this generally non-pathogenic mold. Further research is needed to confirm its pathogenicity in humans.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Clinical Microbiology
Background:
- Lecanicillium dimorphum and Lecanicillium psalliotae are fungi typically found in plants and insects.
- These fungi are generally considered non-pathogenic to humans.
Observation:
- Lecanicillium was cultured from the synovial fluid of a human patient.
- Genome sequencing and sequence alignment identified the fungus to the genus level, likely Lecanicillium dimorphum or Lecanicillium psalliotae.
Findings:
- The specific species could not be determined due to conserved gene sequences.
- There are limited reports on human infections caused by these two Lecanicillium species.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for uncommon molds to be found in human clinical samples.
- Clinicians should be aware of this possibility, even with fungi of unclear pathogenicity, prompting further investigation.
