The impact of fungal diseases and the development of antimicrobial agents against pathogenic fungi have emerged as a main global healthcare challenge. In this study, the antifungal activity of silver-loaded hydroxyapatite (Ag/HAP) nanocomposites (NCs) with different Ag content synthesized by a one-pot microwave-assisted solvothermal method was evaluated against sensitive and resistant Candida species. The NCs’ composition and morphology were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis. Antifungal studies were conducted by a microdilution method according to a protocol from the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The main inhibitory effect was observed against Candida krusei, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 31.2 μg/mL, followed by Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto and Candida tropicalis (62.5 μg/mL) and Candida glabrata and Candida albicans (125 μg/mL). Furthermore, a toxicity assay was performed in the in vivo model Galleria mellonella by bathing or inoculating with the same NC concentration used in the previously mentioned microdilution experiments. For both approaches, all NC concentrations were not toxic in the in vivo model. The specific antifungal activity demonstrated that NCs act efficiently against species of Candida. These results show a potential antifungal application for well-designed nanostructured Ag/HAP composites.

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Ø Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nails that can be resistant to antifungal treatment, and is associated with persistent infection and/or relapse. Ø With the advent of nanotechnology, various inorganic materials have been developed for the treatment of infectious diseases, since they may present low toxicity and good biocompatibility.

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Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis that affects animals and humans. Varying in severity, occurrences range from local lesions to systemic involvement. It is caused by thermodimorphic and saprobic fungi from the Sporothrix pathogenic clade. This study aimed to identify the species and the sexual idiomorph distribution patterns responsible for diagnosed cases of sporotrichosis in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil. We included 188 isolates of Sporothrix sp. from feline lesions and 27 of human origin, which underwent molecular identification and genotyping for mating-type MAT1-1 and MAT1-2. The results showed that Sporothrix brasiliensis is the prevalent species in feline sporotrichosis outbreaks with the overwhelming presence of a single mating-type, MAT1-2 (P < 0.0001), suggesting a prevalently clonal form of spread. Morphological analyses did not discriminate among cryptic species in the genus Sporothrix, and molecular identification was essential for the correct identification of the species responsible for the observed cases of sporotrichosis. Distribution analyses of MAT1-2 isolates support the hypothesis of unidirectional migration from the current epidemics in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to the municipality of São José do Rio Preto.