Purpureocillium roseum sp. nov. A new ocular pathogen for humans and mice resistant to antifungals

Abstract

BackgroundInfectious keratitis is the main cause of preventable blindness worldwide, with about 1.5–2.0 million new cases occurring per year. This inflammatory response may be due to infections caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses or parasites. Fungal keratitis is a poorly studied health problem.ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify a new fungal species by molecular methods and to explore the possible efficacy of the three most common antifungals used in human keratitis in Mexico by performing in vitro analysis. The capacity of this pathogen to cause corneal infection in a murine model was also evaluated.MethodsThe fungal strain was isolated from a patient with a corneal ulcer. To identify the fungus, taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses (nrDNA ITS and LSU data set) were performed. An antifungal susceptibility assay for amphotericin B, itraconazole and voriconazole was carried out. The fungal isolate was used to develop a keratitis model in BALB/c mice; entire eyes and ocular tissues were preserved and processed for histopathologic examination.Results and conclusionThis fungal genus has hitherto not been reported with human keratitis in Mexico. We described a new species Purpurecillium roseum isolated from corneal infection. P roseum showed resistance to amphotericin B and itraconazole and was sensitive to voriconazole. In vivo study demonstrated that P roseum had capacity to developed corneal infection and to penetrate deeper corneal tissue. The global change in fungal infections has emphasised the need to develop better diagnostic mycology laboratories and to recognise the group of potential fungal pathogens.

Purpureocillium jiangxiense sp. nov.: Entomopathogenic Effects on Ostrinia furnacalis and Galleria mellonella

“…Purpureocillium is a newly established genus that was separated from Paecilom Many strains of P. lilacinum are used as biological control agents against plant-patho nematodes [26]. Additionally, some strains exhibit insecticidal activities, while other an infection risk to immunocompromised individuals [27]. Preliminary research sug that P. lilacinum is the dominant species in nearly all habitats and regions, likely due ability to adapt to various environmental conditions, including varying tempera The characteristics of the strain infecting two different insects are shown in Figure 4.…”

Species Identification and In Vitro Antifungal Susceptibility of Paecilomyces/Purpureocillium Species Isolated from Clinical Respiratory Samples: A Multicenter Study

“…Paecilomyces lilacinus is now part of the new genus Purpureocillium which was first introduced by Luanga-Ard et al, in 2011 [ 11 ]. At present, the new genus includes five species named P. lilacinum , Purpureocillium lavendulum, Purpureocillium takamizusanense, Purpureocillium roseum , and Purpureocillium atypicola [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. The latest taxonomic changes considerably complicate the identification of Paecilomyces spp.…”

First Report of a Case of Ocular Infection Caused by Purpureocillium lilacinum in Poland

“…A new species, Purpurecillium roseum, identified by morphological and molecular phylogenetic studies, has recently been isolated from the human cornea. P. roseum was found to have similar properties to P. lilaciunum, including resistance to amphotericin B and itraconazole, and susceptibility to voriconazole [ 37 ].…”