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Fulltext Detection and Control of Fungal Outbreaks

Caceres DH, Mohd Tap R, Alastruey-Izquierdo A, Hagen F

Mycopathologia, 2020 10;185(5):741-745.
PMID: 33037965 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-020-00494-1
Fulltext Protothecosis algaemia in a patient presenting with septic arthritis: A rare case of Prototheca zopfii isolated from Malaysia

Palaniappan PA, Abot CA, Mohd Tap R, Amran F

IDCases, 2021;24:e01121.
PMID: 33912392 DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01121

Prototheca species have been reported to cause infections in human. Typically, clinical symptoms of protothecosis include cutaneous infection, olecranon bursitis, tenosynovitis and disseminated systemic disease. We report a case of septic arthritis in which Prototheca zopfii was isolated from blood. Joint aspirate was also sent for cultures but did not yield any growth. No other organisms were isolated from this patient during his admission. The blood isolate was identified to species level via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method. The patient improved with administration of intravenous itraconazole.
Comparative study of antifungal susceptibility testing methods for clinical Candida albicans isolates

Tan XT, Mohd Shuhairi NB, Mohd Tap R, Amran F

Indian J Med Microbiol, 2024 Jul 05;50:100663.
PMID: 38964501 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmmb.2024.100663

PURPOSE: Candida albicans is the second most common cause of candidemia in Malaysia. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) broth microdilution method is the gold standard for determining its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC); however, it is laborious and time-consuming. This study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of alternative methods, namely Sensititre YeastOne (SYO), VITEK 2 system, and E-test for determining the MIC of clinical C. albicans isolates.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The susceptibilities of 95 C. albicans isolates were compared between SYO, VITEK 2 system, and E-test with CLSI broth microdilution method. The categorical agreement (CA), essential agreement (EA), very major errors (VME), major errors (ME) and minor errors (MiE) were calculated.
RESULTS: Our finding showed the CA varied for SYO from 96.8% to 100%, while the EA ranged from 91.6% to 100%. The SYO method showed 1.1% of VME and ME, and up to 3.2% of MiE. Next, the CA and EA ranges for the VITEK 2 system were 97.8%-100% and 23.2%-100%, respectively. In the VITEK 2 technique, 1.1% of VME were found. For the E-test, the CA varied from 83.2% to 100% while the EA ranged from 64.2% to 98.9%. The E-test method showed 1.1% of VME and up to 16.8% of MiE.
CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, SYO and VITEK 2 (except flucytosine) could be potential alternatives to the CLSI broth microdilution method in determining the MIC of C. albicans.
Characterization of Prototheca wickerhamii isolated from disseminated algaemia of kidney transplant patient from Malaysia

Mohd Tap R, Sabaratnam P, Salleh MA, Abd Razak MF, Ahmad N

Mycopathologia, 2012 Mar;173(2-3):173-8.
PMID: 21948061 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-011-9469-8

Prototheca wickerhamii isolated from blood of 61-year-old kidney transplant patient was described. Although it is classified as an alga (genus Chlorella), the disease, protothecosis, is included under mycoses because of its clinical pathological presentations. Colony characteristics of P. wickerhamii are indistinguishable from other yeast-like organisms like Cryptococcus and Candida. Fortunately, commercial identification system for yeast can be used to identify this organism to the species level. Electron microscopy demonstrated "morula" or daisy-like appearance of its endosporulating sporangia. The organism was sensitive to amphotericin B by E test method. Even though human protothecosis is uncommon, it cannot be ignored because it is emerging as an opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed individuals. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of disseminated algaemia due to P. wickerhamii in Malaysia.
Chaetomium globosum Cutaneous Fungal Infection Confirmed by Molecular Identification: A Case Report from Malaysia

Mohd Tap R, Sabaratnam P, Ahmad NA, Abd Razak MF, Hashim R, Ahmad N

Mycopathologia, 2015 Aug;180(1-2):137-41.
PMID: 25894509 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-015-9890-5

An 11-year-old girl presented with multiple blisters on her the right foot complicated with cellulitis. The conventional and molecular identification were performed on the culture. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region in rRNA gene of the isolate was amplified by PCR. The sequence of the amplified ITS region matched 99 % with that of Chaetomium globosum in the GenBank. This is the first report describing C. globosum causing cutaneous infection in Malaysia.
Fulltext Draft Genome Sequence of Candida pseudohaemulonii Isolated from the Blood of a Neutropenic Patient

Mohd Tap R, Kamarudin NA, Ginsapu SJ, Ahmed Bakri AR, Ahmad N, Amran F, et al.

Genome Announc, 2018 Apr 05;6(14).
PMID: 29622608 DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00166-18

Candida pseudohaemulonii is phylogenetically close to the C. haemulonii complex and exhibits resistance to amphotericin B and azole agents. We report here the draft genome sequence of C. pseudohaemulonii UZ153_17 isolated from the blood culture of a neutropenic patient. The draft genome is 3,532,003,666 bp in length, with 579,838 reads, 130 contigs, and a G+C content of 47.15%.
Fulltext A Fatal Case of Candida auris and Candida tropicalis Candidemia in Neutropenic Patient

Mohd Tap R, Lim TC, Kamarudin NA, Ginsapu SJ, Abd Razak MF, Ahmad N, et al.

Mycopathologia, 2018 Jun;183(3):559-564.
PMID: 29383574 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-018-0244-y

We report a fatal case of Candida auris that was involved in mixed candidemia with Candida tropicalis, isolated from the blood of a neutropenic patient. Identification of both isolates was confirmed by amplification and sequencing of internal transcribed spacer and D1/D2 domain of large subunit in rRNA gene. Antifungal susceptibility test by E-test method revealed that C. auris was resistant to amphotericin B, anidulafungin, caspofungin, fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole. On the other hand, C. tropicalis was sensitive to all antifungal tested. The use of chromogenic agar as isolation media is vital in detecting mixed candidemia.
Fungus isolated from dermatomycoses: a 9-month prospective study at Hospital Melaka

Ng LC, Lee CS, Lim BB, Mohd Tap R, Tan XT, Tang MM

Med J Malaysia, 2023 May;78(3):364-371.
PMID: 37271847

INTRODUCTION: Dermatomycoses are common superficial cutaneous fungal infections which affect the skin, nails and human hairs. It affects 20 to 25% of the world population. The causative fungus varies geographically across the globe. Study on dermatomycoses is crucial to identify the aetiological fungus involved locally. The study aimed to determine the causative fungus of superficial fungal infections of the skin, nail and hair in patients presented to Hospital Melaka.
METHODS: This was a prospective study conducted from 15th January 2022 till 15th October 2022 at Dermatology Clinic, Hospital Melaka. Subjects with clinical dermatomycoses were included in this study. The samples were collected from skin, nails and hairs clinically affected by tinea corporis/cruris/pedis, onychomycosis and tinea capitis respectively. A potassium hydroxide (KOH) study was performed on the sample in which the fungal hyphae/yeast positive subjects were sent for fungal culture and fungal PCR test.
RESULT: A total of 222 clinical samples from skin, nails and hairs with a clinical suspicion of dermatomycoses yielded fungal hyphae/yeast in KOH. Majority of the samples were collected from skin (138, 62.2%), followed by nails (65, 29.3%) and hairs (19, 8.6%). Male to female ratio was 1.18: 1. The age ranged from 2 to 87 with the median of 55.5-yearsold. Out of 222 samples, 150 (67.6%) were fungal culture positive. From fungal culture positive samples, 87 samples were from tinea corporis, 50 samples were from onychomycoses and 13 samples were from tinea capitis. Trichophyton rubrum (39, 44.8%) was the commonest dermatophyte isolated in tinea corporis/cruris/pedis. Nondermatophyte moulds (NDM, 35, 70%) were the main fungi isolated in onychomycosis. Microsporum canis (7/53.8%) was the principal causative fungus among patients with tinea capitis. Among 150 fungal culture positive samples, 76 were fungal PCR positive. Only 38 samples consistently isolated same fungal species in both fungal culture and PCR test.
CONCLUSION: Majority of tinea corporis and tinea capitis fungal culture isolated dermatophytes, especially Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis, respectively. Non-dermatophyte moulds were mainly isolated in onychomycosis.
Fulltext Performance of Two Novel Chromogenic Media for the Identification of Multidrug-Resistant Candida auris Compared with Other Commercially Available Formulations

de Jong AW, Dieleman C, Carbia M, Mohd Tap R, Hagen F

J Clin Microbiol, 2021 03 19;59(4).
PMID: 33536293 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.03220-20

Non-albicans Candida species are emerging in the nosocomial environment, with the multidrug-resistant (MDR) species Candida auris being the most notorious example. Consequently, rapid and accurate species identification has become essential. The objective of this study was to evaluate five commercially available chromogenic media for the presumptive identification of C. auris Two novel chromogenic formulations, CHROMagar Candida Plus (CHROMagar) and HiCrome C. auris MDR selective agar (HiMedia), and three reference media, CandiSelect (Bio-Rad), CHROMagar Candida (CHROMagar), and Chromatic Candida (Liofilchem), were inoculated with a collection of 9 genetically diverse C. auris strains and 35 strains from closely related comparator species. After 48 h of incubation, the media were evaluated for their ability to detect and identify C. auris All media had the same limitations in the differentiation of the more common species Candida dubliniensis and Candida glabrata Only on CHROMagar Candida Plus did C. auris colonies develop a species-specific coloration. Nevertheless, the closely related pathogenic species Candida pseudohaemulonii and Candida vulturna developed a similar appearance as C. auris on this medium. CHROMagar Candida Plus was shown to be superior in the detection and identification of C. auris, with 100% inclusivity for C. auris compared to 0% and 33% for the reference media and HiCrome C. auris MDR selective agar, respectively. Although C. vulturna and C. pseudohaemulonii can cause false positives, CHROMagar Candida Plus was shown to be a valuable addition to the plethora of mostly molecular methods for C. auris detection and identification.
Subcutaneous Infection Associated with Trichosporon ovoides: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Mohd Tap R, Sabaratnam P, Ramli NY, Hashim R, Mohd Fuat AR, Ng PP, et al.

Mycopathologia, 2016 Apr;181(3-4):285-90.
PMID: 26493614 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-015-9958-2

Trichosporon species are opportunistic yeasts which can cause infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. This is a report of Trichosporon ovoides that caused subcutaneous infection in a patient with underlying ischemic heart disease. The identification of fungal isolate was confirmed by PCR sequencing of ITS and large subunit regions in rRNA gene. In vitro susceptibility study showed that the isolate was susceptible to amphotericin B, fluconazole and voriconazole, and resistant to caspofungin, anidulafungin and itraconazole. The lesion improved after treatment with oral fluconazole and topical miconazole.
The High-Quality Complete Genome Sequence of the Opportunistic Fungal Pathogen Candida vulturna CBS 14366T

Navarro-Muñoz JC, de Jong AW, Gerrits van den Ende B, Haas PJ, Then ER, Mohd Tap R, et al.

Mycopathologia, 2019 Dec;184(6):731-734.
PMID: 31734799 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-019-00404-0

Candida vulturna is a new member of the Candida haemulonii species complex that recently received much attention as it includes the emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen Candida auris. Here, we describe the high-quality genome sequence of C. vulturna type strain CBS 14366T to cover all genomes of pathogenic C. haemulonii species complex members.
Fulltext Candida khanbhai sp. nov., a new clinically relevant yeast within the Candida haemulonii species complex

de Jong AW, Al-Obaid K, Mohd Tap R, Gerrits van den Ende B, Groenewald M, Joseph L, et al.

Med Mycol, 2023 Feb 03;61(2).
PMID: 36694950 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myad009

Invasive fungal infections caused by non-albicans Candida species are increasingly reported. Recent advances in diagnostic and molecular tools enabled better identification and detection of emerging pathogenic yeasts. The Candida haemulonii species complex accommodates several rare and recently described pathogenic species, C. duobushaemulonii, C. pseudohaemulonii, C. vulturna, and the most notorious example is the outbreak-causing multi-drug resistant member C. auris. Here, we describe a new clinically relevant yeast isolated from geographically distinct regions, representing the proposed novel species C. khanbhai, a member of the C. haemulonii species complex. Moreover, several members of the C. haemulonii species complex were observed to be invalidly described, including the clinically relevant species C. auris and C. vulturna. Hence, the opportunity was taken to correct this here, formally validating the names of C. auris, C. chanthaburiensis, C. konsanensis, C. metrosideri, C. ohialehuae, and C. vulturna.
Atypical Presentation of Severe Fungal Necrotizing Fasciitis in a Patient with X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia

Chear CT, Nallusamy R, Chan KC, Mohd Tap R, Baharin MF, Syed Yahya SNH, et al.

J Clin Immunol, 2021 08;41(6):1178-1186.
PMID: 33713249 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-021-01017-3

X-linked agammaglobulinemia is a rare primary immunodeficiency due to a BTK mutation. The patients are characteristically deficient in peripheral B cells and serum immunoglobulins. While they are susceptible to infections caused by bacteria, enteroviruses, and parasites, fungal infections are uncommon in XLA patients. Here, we report a boy of Malay ethnicity who suffered from recurrent upper respiratory tract infections and severe progressive necrotizing fasciitis caused by Saksenaea erythrospora. Immunological tests showed a B cell deficiency and hypogammaglobulinemia. Whole-exome sequencing identified a dinucleotide deletion (c.1580_1581del) in BTK, confirmed by Sanger sequencing and predicted to be disease causing by in silico functional prediction tools (Varsome and MutationTaster2) but was absent in the gnomAD database. This mutation resulted in a frameshift and premature termination (p.C527fs), which disrupted the protein structure. The mother was heterozygous at the mutation site, confirming her carrier status. Flow cytometric analysis of monocyte BTK expression showed it to be absent in the patient and bimodal in the mother. This study describes a novel BTK mutation in a defined hotspot and an atypical fungal phenotype in XLA. Further studies are required to understand the pathogenesis of fungal infection in XLA.