Yellow Fungus

 

Poster- Mucormycosis

 

Mucormycosis

Mucormycosis is a fungal infection caused by molds (mucormycetes). These fungi are present in soil and in decaying organic matter e.g., compost, rotten woods, dungs etc. Spores of these fungi are present throughout in the environment. When any person with health issues (e.g., diabetes etc.) and weak immunity come in contact with fungal spores they get mucormycosis.

Types of mucormycosis

1.    Rhinocerebral (sinus and brain) mucormycosis: this infection spread to the brain from sinuses and most common in persons with uncontrolled diabetes and in persons who have had a kidney transplant.

Symptoms- One-sided facial swelling, headache, nasal or sinus congestion, black lesions on nasal bridge or upper inside of mouth that quickly become more severe, fever.

2.     Pulmonary (lung) mucormycosis: this is the most common infection in cancer patient and in person who have had organ transplant. 

Symptoms- Fever, Cough, Chest pain, shortness of breath.

3.   Gastrointestinal mucormycosis: this infection is common in lower age group people who have weak immunity.

Symptoms- Abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding.

4.   Cutaneous (skin) mucormycosis: spores enter in the body through skin. When any break in the skin occurs (by injury etc.) spores of fungi get entered in the body through broken skin.

Symptoms- Blisters or ulcers, infected area may turn black, pain excessive redness, swelling around the wound.

5.   Disseminated mucormycosis: in this infection spores transport through bloodstream to different organs. Brain is the commonly affected part; it can also affect spleen and heart.

Symptoms- Mental status changes, coma.

Causative agent:

Rhizopus species, Mucor species, Rhizomucor species, Syncephalastrum species, Cunninghamella bertholletiae, Apophysomyces species, and Lichtheimia (formerly Absidia) species.

Treatment

Mucormycosis is treated by antifungal medicine like amphotericin B (intravenous), posaconazole (intravenous/oral), or isavuconazole (intravenous/oral). Often, mucormycosis needed surgery to remove the infected part.

 

2-Deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG): A Weapon Against COVID-19

 

Nowadays, everyone is talking about 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG). Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), a lab of Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has developed the therapeutic application of 2-DG against COVID-19 in collaboration with its industry partner Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (DRL). It is being claimed that 2-DG will help COVID-19 patients in fast recovery. The results of its clinical trial were very positive and encouraging therefor, DCGI approves anti-COVID drug developed by DRDO for emergency use.

2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) is the analog of glucose in which 2-OH is replaced by –H. As we know that glucose is the main source of energy in living beings and generate energy by breakdown of it. Glucose enters in energy producing metabolic pathway through glycolysis. In first step of glycolysis glucose is converted into glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P) by hexokinase enzyme.

When 2-DG is presented in cells it phosphorylated by hexokinase to 2-deoxy-D-glucose-6-phosphate (2-DG-P). 2-DG-P is not recognized by glycolytic enzymes and further metabolism of glucose cannot occur. We can say that 2-DG is a glycolytic inhibitor. Consequently, energy (ATP) production is stopped because end product of glycolysis (pyruvic acid) is the fuel for further energy producing pathways. Therefore, accumulation of 2-DG-P and depletion of ATP occur. In the same way it acts on COVID-19 infected cells. It accumulates in the virus infected cells and prevents virus growth by stopping viral synthesis and energy production.

Some images are attached here released by Press Information Bureau, Government of India.