COVID-19 & other Diseases

Clinical hallmarks of mucormycosis infections include the unique susceptibility of patients with increased available serum iron, the propensity of the organism to invade blood vessels, and defective phagocytic function."

****!!!!*** "Previously, we demonstrated that Rhizopus, the most common cause of mucormycosis, invades endothelial cells by binding of its CotH proteins to the host receptor GRP78. ..."

"Patients with cystic fibrosis are often infected by pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium that infects the lungs and prevents breathing, often causing death. P. aeruginosa itself can also be infected by viruses, which can affect the clinical outcomes of cystic fibrosis patients. Researchers have now used P. aeruginosa as a kind of 'model system' for understanding how bacteria's interactions with viruses may affect human health." "Cystic fibrosis patients will often use phage therapy, which uses viruses to kill bacteria, to target P. aeruginosa, which has some strains that are resistant to antibiotics. Knowing the immune profiles of the bacteria's population may help improve this kind of therapy."

"They found that the electron transport chain so critical to the conversion of electrons to energy can and is operating deep down in the oxygen-deprived biofilm and that in these environments, the bacterium depends on a specific part of the chain's terminal oxidase -- a protein called CcoN4 -- to access oxygen and grow normally. Cells lacking this protein do not survive as well as cells with it and the researchers believe therefore that CcoN4 contributes to the bacterium's virulence. They also found that CcoN4 plays a role in using phenazines optimally within biofilms."

"Probiotics typically aim to rebalance bacteria populations in the gut, but new research suggests they may also help break apart stubborn biofilms." :They found Candida yeast species are more likely to team up with the bacteria in biofilms than other yeast species. Additional results show both Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis form thick biofilms when grown alongside E. coli and S. marcescens bacteria. Other non-Candida yeast species could only form thin biofilms -- not any thicker than a single species grown alone. :s.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted controversies and unknowns about how respiratory pathogens spread between hosts. Traditionally, it was thought that respiratory pathogens spread between people through large droplets produced in coughs and through contact with contaminated surfaces (fomites). However, several respiratory pathogens are known to spread through small respiratory aerosols, which can float and travel in air flows, infecting people who inhale them at short and long distances from the infected person. Wang et al. review recent advances in understanding airborne transmission gained from studying the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections and other respiratory pathogens. The authors suggest that airborne transmission may be the dominant form of transmission for several respiratory pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, and that further understanding of the mechanisms underlying infection from the airborne route will better inform mitigation measures. Science , abd9149, this issue p. [eabd9149][1] ### BACKGROUND Exposure to droplets produced in the coughs and sneezes of infected individuals or contact with droplet-contaminated surfaces (fomites) have been widely perceived as the dominant transmission modes for respiratory pathogens. Airborne transmission is traditionally defined as involving the inhalation of infectious aerosols or “droplet nuclei” smaller than 5 μm and mainly at a distance of >1 to 2 m away from the infected individual, and such transmission has been thought to be relevant only for “unusual” diseases. However, there is robust evidence supporting the airborne transmission of many respiratory viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)–CoV, influenza virus, human rhinovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The limitations of traditional views of droplet, fomite, and airborne transmission were illuminated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Droplet and fomite transmission of SARS-CoV-2 alone cannot account for the numerous superspreading events and differences in transmission between indoor and outdoor environments observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Controversy surrounding how COVID-19 is transmitted and what interventions are needed to control the pandemic has revealed a critical need to better understand the airborne transmission pathway of respiratory viruses, which will allow for better-informed strategies to mitigate the transmission of respiratory infections. ### ADVANCES Respiratory droplets and aerosols can be generated by various expiratory activities. Advances in aerosol measurement techniques, such as aerodynamic and scanning mobility particle sizing, have shown that the majority of exhaled aerosols are smaller than 5 μm, and a large fraction are

Besides infections such as oropharyngeal candidiasis, pneumonia, etc., doctors have also reported several cases of a serious fungal infection called mucormycosis in COVID-infected patients.

Here, we address some of the myths associated with so-called black fungus and its links with COVID-19. We also outline the facts about mucormycosis.

An overgrowth of skin fungus can lead to a fungal skin infection, such as athlete's foot, jock itch, or ringworm. The most common symptom is a red, itchy rash. Although not serious, these fungal infections can cause discomfort and irritation.

Mycopathologia - Case reports describe the unusual occurrence and complications of diseases, diagnostic challenges, and notable therapeutic successes."

Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection caused by filamentous fungi of the Mucoraceae family. The genera most commonly responsible are Mucor or Rhizopus. The disease occurs mostly in association with diabetic ketoacidosis. Mucormycosis has an extremely ...

Welcome to Covid Calculator

One of the least recognized causes of cellular damage during ex vivo preservation of red blood cells is oxidative injury to the hemoglobin. The latter has been associated with hemolysis through the release of toxic substances and oxidation of vital cell components.

Antioxidants and Redox Signaling

The inflammasome as a multiprotein complex has a role in activating ASC and caspase-1 resulting in activating IL-1β in various infections and diseases like corona virus infection in various tissues. It was shown that these tissues are affected by COVID-19 patients. According to the current evidence, melatonin is not veridical while possessing a high safety profile, however, it possesses indirect anti-viral actions owing to its anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and immune improving properties. This study aims to assess the impacts of melatonin as the complementary treatments on oxidative stress agents and inflammasome activation in patients with COVID-19. Melatonin supplement (9 mg daily, orally) was provided for the patients hospitalized with a COVID-19 analysis for 14 days. For measuring IL-10, IL-1β, and TNF-α cytokines and malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) level and the expression of CASP1 and ASC genes, blood samples were gathered from the individuals at the start and termination of the therapy. Our findings indicated that melatonin is used as a complementary treatment to reduce the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β cytokines, MDA, and NO levels in COVID-19 patients and significantly increase SOD level, however, the levels of IL-10 cytokine possesses no considerable changes. The findings revealed that genes of CASP1 and ASC were dysregulated by melatonin regulating the inflammasome complex. Based on the findings of the current study, it is found that melatonin can be effective as a medicinal supplement in decreasing the inflammasome multiprotein complex and oxidative stress along with beneficial impacts on lung cytokine storm of COVID-19 patients.

****!!!!****!!!** "Championing the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of fungal infections for doctors, patients, and care givers"

While three have been reported in Bagalkot, one case has been found in Vijayapura.

"Black Fungi in the Human Respiratory Tract--Most melanized fungi that cause infections are free-living plant saprobes implanted into human tissue as a result of trauma, but respiratory mycoses occur secondary to inhalation of fungal spores. The moulds implicated in respiratory infections belong to the orders Chaetothyriales (Exophiala), Pleosporales (Alternaria, Bipolaris, Curvularia, and Exserohilum), Sordiales (Chaetomium), and Venturiales (Verruconis) of Ascomycota [30]. Among the Pleosporales, Alternaria alternata and species of Bipolaris, Curvularia, and Exserohilum are associated with AFRS, bronchial asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, ABPM, and invasive lung disease"

Invasive fungal rhinosinusitis is a rare infection that occurs primarily in immunocompromised patients. The fungal pathogen Alternaria alternata is rarely associated with rhinosinusitis. We report a case of A. alternata rhinosinusitis in an immunocompetent ...

2021 (Includes suggestions for COVID-preventive nasal and oral treatments and environmental disinfection with chlorine dioxide.}

the Union Health Ministry on Wednesday issued guidelines for the management of Mucormycosis or black fungus disease in children below 18 years.

'“I had a 43-year-old patient with no comorbidities and perfect dental hygiene who came with mucormycosis. When we checked his sugar levels, it was over the roof. The thing is, most COVID-19 patients are unaware about the spike in their blood sugar levels,” Dr Veerabahu adds. " "With some patients with severely affected lungs due to COVID-19 triggered cytokine storms, the Amphotericin B injection can have a serious impact" "it is important to maintain oral hygiene by brushing frequently, wearing fresh masks, etc."

" SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to affect the beta cells of the pancreas, resulting in metabolic derangement, possibly causing diabetes mellitus" "Tocilizumab use in COVID-19 has been reported as a risk factor for invasive candidiasis" "inappropriate glucocorticoid use was independently associated with late CAM. Among 187 CAM cases, 61 (32.6%) had COVID-19 as the only underlying disease; 13 of those cases were not treated with glucocorticoid or other immunomodulatory therapies. Whether COVID-19 itself causes immune dysregulation and predisposes patients to invasive mucormycosis remains an unproven possibility" " We found no difference in the risk factors, site of involvement, and outcome of mucormycosis complicating COVID-19 cases compared with non–COVID-19 cases."

Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS, on Monday said there is no definite link between oxygen therapy and catching the Mucormycosis (black fungus) infection as in 90 to 95% of the patients are found to be diabetics and/or taking steroids

On Tuesday afternoon, the Civil Hospital had 220 active patients of mucormycosis. The cases have got halved from its peak of about 450 active cases in

AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria shares his thoughts on how to combat black fungus, its symptoms, treatment and much more.

An Educational Website of the Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium (MSGERC)

"Mucor spp. can grow over a wide range of temperatures, aerobically use many carbon sources [including lactic acid but not citric acid??], ferment carbohydrates and use ammonia"