RARE DISEASE
Mycetoma
Mycetoma
Mycetoma
Synonyms: Madura foot
Synonyms: Madura foot
Synonyms: Madura foot
Drug discovery
0
drugs
With orphan designations
Overview
Mycetoma is a chronic granulomatous infection caused by traumatic inoculation of fungi (eumycetoma) or bacteria (actinomycetoma), characterized by painless subcutaneous masses, sinus tracts, and grain-containing discharge. It predominantly affects extremities, with bone destruction and disability in advanced stages. Diagnosis relies on clinical findings, grain microscopy, imaging, and PCR. Treatment involves prolonged antimicrobial therapy (antibiotics for actinomycetoma; antifungals like itraconazole or fosravuconazole for eumycetoma) combined with surgery [1][2][7][11].
Categories: rare infectious diseases
Research Papers
530 drug discovery papers about Mycetoma. Recent publications:
530 drug discovery papers about Mycetoma. Recent publications:
categories:
Small molecules
small molecules
2026-07-28 | Recurrent plantar eumycetoma in a young soldier managed with wide local excision and vacuum assisted closure: a rare case report
Mycetoma was first reported in the year 1843 in Madurai, India by Dr. John Gill, and was then called “Madura foot”. The disease is caused by true fungi (Eumycetoma) or bacteria (Actinomycetoma). Commonly, affecting farmers in the tropical and sub-tropical regions, in contact with contaminated soil. The organism gets inoculated into the skin and soft tissue after minor trauma. It causes chronic progressive granulomatous inflammation, leading to destruction of skin and soft tissue characterised by classical triad of painless soft tissue swelling, multiple sinuses and discharge of grains. The treatment consists of early recognition, histopathological confirmation of causative organism, systemic antifungal therapy and surgical excision if not responding to medication. In this article, we present a rare case of recurrent Eumycetoma in a 34-year-old male. He had a history of Eumycetoma in 2018 affecting right foot, treated with systemic antifungals. A recurrent lesion occurred after approximately five years, affecting deeper muscle layers. MRI revealed no bony involvement. He was treated with oral Voriconazole, surgical excision and Vacuum-assisted closure of defect, with a favourable outcome. No recurrence noted upto one year of follow-up. Aim was to emphasize on diagnosis and management of Mycetoma, in cases presenting with classical triad of painless soft tissue swelling, multiple sinuses and discharge of grains, especially in young adults with history of minor trauma while in contact with soil. Early recognition, systemic antifungals with wide local excision leaving behind a healthy margin, followed by vacuum-assisted closure, a high protein diet and physiotherapy, can provide favourable outcome in treatment of Eumycetoma. Reconstructive surgical options can be explored for larger defects. Case report providing level IV evidence.
2026-06-29 | Hypochlorous Acid for Community Level Wound Management: A New Horizon in Public Health
Background& Objectives: Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a safe antimicrobi aleffective for wound care in areas burdened by chronic infections such as mycetoma. Its broad antimicrobial activity, biofilm disruption, and exceptional tissue compatibility make it well-suited for the long-term management of complex wounds. In mycetoma-endemic regions, HOCl offers a practical assistant for infection control and improved wound healing, providing a low-cost option for strengthening community-level care. Methods: This preliminary field-based humanitarian effectiveness, observational study evaluated the topical application of HOCl on seven patients with mycetoma lesions in Wad Shigidi Village, Sudan. The HOCl intervention was adjunctive and topical, not systemic. Weekly field visits were conducted, and lesion responses were documented using photographic and clinical criteria. Results: Patients demonstrated marked reductions in lesion size, discharge, and pain. No adverse effects were reported. Interpretation & Conclusions: HOCl shows promise as a safe, low-cost topical agent for mycetoma and other wound care at the community level in humanitarian settings. Further studies are warranted.
2026-06-09 | Mycetoma caused by Streptomyces sudanensis.
Mycetomas are deep, chronic skin infections caused by bacteria or fungi. We report the case of an adult male patient with mycetoma caused by Streptomyces sudanensis located on the foot. The patient was treated with i.m. gentamicin (80 mg/day) for six weeks, followed by three-week stop period. A total of eight courses six-week courses of gentamicin therapy, each followed by a three-week stop period, were completed. The patient is still undergoing treatment with the same regimen. Pulsed therapy may be considered in the management of mycetoma in order to prevent the development of resistance.
2026-05-22 | Breaking Good: a curriculum-aligned citizen science approach to developing new treatments for mycetoma
Participation in open source and citizen science projects provides students with the opportunity to be involved in solving real world problems. These approaches provide authentic learning experiences which help develop students' understanding of the role that science plays in society, deepen engagement, and increase motivation. Open Source Mycetoma is a project that enables open, community participation in the search for novel medicines for mycetoma, a neglected tropical disease. In this article, we share a two-day curriculum-aligned program, developed as part of The Breaking Good Initiative, in which high school students (Year 11 and 12) synthesize and analyze (IR, NMR, MS, and HPLC) new drug candidates for a structure/activity relationship (SAR) study, as part of Open Source Mycetoma. The program develops students’ scientific understanding in synthetic chemistry, and explores fundamental questions concerning the nature of science and scientific inquiry, across two facilitated workshops. The workshops can also be adapted for other contexts, including undergraduate laboratory programs; delivering learning outcomes that include practical laboratory skills, organic synthesis, and compound characterization.
2026-05-05 | A FIVE-YEAR REVIEW OF PATTERN AND OUTCOME OF MADURA FOOT IN UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI TEACHING HOSPITAL, MAIDUGURI NIGERIA
Background: Madura foot (mycetoma) is a chronic, progressively destructive infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues that may extend to involve bone. It remains a significant health problem in tropical regions, particularly in northern Nigeria, where environmental and occupational factors predispose individuals to infection. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study of patients diagnosed and managed for Madura foot at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital between January 2020 and December 2025. Data were obtained from case notes, operation registers, and histopathology records. Information collected included sociodemographic characteristics, clinical features, microbiological patterns, treatment modalities, and outcomes. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 37 patients were analyzed, with a mean age of 41.2 years. There was a slight male predominance (56.8%), and the majority of patients were from rural areas (73.0%), with farming as the most common occupation. Actinomycetoma was the predominant type (67.6%), while eumycetoma accounted for 32.4% of cases. White grains were the most frequently observed (62.2%). The recurrence rate was 10.8%. No statistically significant association was found between barefootedness or history of trauma and mycetoma type (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Madura foot predominantly affects rural, economically active individuals in North-Eastern Nigeria, with actinomycetoma being the most common subtype. Favorable outcomes can be achieved with combined medical and surgical management. Early diagnosis, improved awareness, and better access to healthcare are essential in reducing disease burden and preventing complications.
cell therapies
2025-04-20 | Immune response in BALB/c mice to an attenuated strain of Nocardiabrasiliensis.
We recently developed an attenuated strain of Nocardia brasiliensis HUJEG-1, named NBP200, through 200 continuous passaging. When administered to naïve mice, this attenuated strain confers resistance to infection with the wild-type strain. Although the immune response to the parental strain has been previously studied, the analysis of the immune response to the attenuated strain will help to understand the immune mechanisms involved in resistance against this microorganism. Initially, experimental mice were divided into two groups and infected with either the attenuated or the wild-type strain to compare their responses. After 12 weeks, animals initially inoculated with NBP200 were challenged with the wild-type isolate (NBP0), while a control group of the same age was infected with NBP0. Flow cytometry was employed to analyze surface and intracellular markers, including gamma interferon, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17, in order to assess Th-cell responses in the spleen and infected footpad. Sera were collected at various time points for ELISAs and Western blot assays in order to characterize the humoral immune response. Levels of gamma interferon and IL-4 cells were similar in both groups, whether inoculated with the attenuated or wild-type strain. However, concentrations of IL-17 and IL-10 were notably higher in animals inoculated with the wild-type strain, especially at 90 days post-inoculation. In the mice inoculated with the attenuated strain there were not any observable mycetoma lesions, and the quantity of IL-10+ or IL-17+ cells was minimal. In the re-infected animals, the most significant difference was observed in the Treg response during the late stage, where an immunosuppressive microenvironment was not observed. IgG levels in mice infected with either NBP0 or NBP200 were similar. In contrast, those inoculated with NBP200 and challenged with NBP0 exhibited a robust humoral response characterized by antibodies against P61, as well as to other proteins not previously reported, including those with molecular weights of 13.8-, 15.8-, 66-, and 69-kDa. The attenuated strain and the re-infected group exhibited different modulation of the Th cell response. Immunized animals with NBP200 and challenged with NBP0, showed a rapid and strong IgG antibody response. These changes may be potential factors contributing to the protective immunity against the wild-type strain.
2020-07-06 | A novel experimental immunomodulatory therapy against Nocardia brasiliensis in a BALB/c murine model.
Mycetoma is recognized as a neglected tropical disease and there are still therapeutic challenges, especially in cases recalcitrant to standard therapy or with high risk of dissemination. Subcultures have been used previously to decrease the virulence of human pathogens. Previous reports have demonstrated that after carrying out 200 subcultures of Nocardia brasiliensis, a decrease in virulence was observed. To evaluate the effect of attenuated N. brasiliensis strains on the development of lesions in an established mycetoma infection. Female 8-12-week-old BALB/c mice were injected with N. brasiliensis suspension to establish a mycetoma. Sixty mice were selected and divided into three groups: two of these groups were inoculated in the dorsum with N. brasiliensis subcultured 200 and 400 times, respectively, while the third group served as control. The thickness of each lesion was measured with calipers every week for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, we observed that inoculation of 1 × 105 colony-forming units of attenuated N. brasiliensis strains was able to modify the natural history of the infection, with a decrease in the size of the lesions, particularly with P400, compared with the control group (P < 0.01). In this experimental evaluation of an immunomodulatory therapy with attenuated N. brasiliensis strains in a murine model, there was a greater stability in the size of the lesion over time in BALB/c mice inoculated with the P400 strain. This treatment could open the possibility of using the attenuated strain as immunomodulatory therapy in patients recalcitrant to standard therapy, with high risk of dissemination or who develop drug-related adverse effects.
1977-05-25 | Cell-mediated immunity in experimental Nocardia asteroides infection.
Experimental mycetoma-like lesions developed in guinea pigs after subcutaneous injection of Nocardia asteroides. Although delayed hypersensitivity appeared earlier, increased macrophage migration inhibition and microbicidal activity appeared after 7 weeks. When the lesions healed, high cell-mediated immunity was present. Cell-mediated immunity was transferred to normal recipient guinea pigs from healed donor guinea pigs by spleen cell transfer. Recipient guinea pigs showed marked protection against challenge with N. asteroides.
gene therapies
2021-10-27 | Nitric oxide determines the development of actinomycetoma by Nocardia brasiliensis in eNOS knockout C57BL/6 mice.
Mycetoma is a chronic human infectious disease that produces severe deformation frequently in the lower extremities. Etiological agents include fungi (eumycetoma) and bacteria (actinomycetoma) that produce similar clinical and microscopic changes. The clinical appearance includes swelling, abscesses, ulcers, scars and sinuses that drain purulent material with microbe microcolonies. The pathogenesis of actinomycetoma has been studied mainly in rodents. Using this approach, it was found that Nocardia brasiliensis produces proteases that may play a role in tissue damage, as well as immunosuppressive molecules, such as brasilicardin A. Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule with biological activities depending on its local concentration. Its effect on killing intracellular bacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been known for decades. NO plays an important role in innate and adaptive immunity. It can promote or suppress some biological activities despite its short half-ife. NO is produced by three different nitric oxide synthases (NOS). We used the genetic blockade of eNOS in C57BL/6 mice to demonstrate the role of NO in actinomycetoma development. Inflammation and actinomycetoma were prevented in genetically modified mice infected with N. brasiliensis. T cell proliferation was increased in these rodents, and antibody production, IL-6 and IL-10 expression were similar and TNF-α was lower.
proteins
2026-04-28 | Granulocyte-CSF Immunostimulation for Mycetoma Treatment
G-CSF enhances neutrophil recruitment and activation through STAT3-mediated transcriptional programs, increasing NET formation and fungicidal activity. Additionally, G-CSF promotes dendritic cell maturation via JAK2-STAT3 signaling, enhancing antigen presentation and adaptive immune responses against fungal antigens.
2026-03-02 | Antifungal activity of the antimicrobial peptide RP557 against priority fungal pathogens.
Background. Natural host defence molecules, part of innate immunity and the first line of defence, are evolutionarily conserved. Some pharmaceutical properties undesirable for clinical use led to the rational design of synthetic molecules with constructed peptide arrangements, giving a novel therapeutic avenue. A prior publication showed synthetic peptide RP557 inhibition and killing of fluconazole-sensitive and resistant Candida species isolates, biofilm inhibition, no resistance induction, direct membrane action, negligible mammalian cell toxicity and topical efficacy in a rodent vaginal candidiasis model. These findings highlight the relevance of investigating RP557 activity against other fungal pathogens.Objective. We evaluated the antifungal spectrum of the RP557 against World Health Organization-listed priority fungal pathogens, including endemic and skin fungal pathogens, both alone and in combination with commercial antifungal drugs.Methods. The antifungal spectrum was evaluated by broth dilution vs. clinical isolates, and we present 76 MICs (mcg ml-1) performed according to M27 or M38 CLSI documents, 35 checkerboard interactions with antifungals and 10 minimum fungicidal determinations.Results. Overall impression is robust activity vs. chromoblastomycosis and mycetoma species, Cryptococcus neoformans and Trichophyton spp.; broad MIC ranges within most species, least activity vs. Mucorales and Aspergillus spp.; and some promising drug interactions vs. Sporothrix spp. and Candida auris.Conclusion. Additional efficacy data in vivo is needed. Topical therapy could give local concentrations exceeding MICs, and burn or trauma prophylaxis or treatments are attractive potential targets owing to RP557 panmicrobial properties.
small molecules
2026-07-28 | Recurrent plantar eumycetoma in a young soldier managed with wide local excision and vacuum assisted closure: a rare case report
Mycetoma was first reported in the year 1843 in Madurai, India by Dr. John Gill, and was then called “Madura foot”. The disease is caused by true fungi (Eumycetoma) or bacteria (Actinomycetoma). Commonly, affecting farmers in the tropical and sub-tropical regions, in contact with contaminated soil. The organism gets inoculated into the skin and soft tissue after minor trauma. It causes chronic progressive granulomatous inflammation, leading to destruction of skin and soft tissue characterised by classical triad of painless soft tissue swelling, multiple sinuses and discharge of grains. The treatment consists of early recognition, histopathological confirmation of causative organism, systemic antifungal therapy and surgical excision if not responding to medication. In this article, we present a rare case of recurrent Eumycetoma in a 34-year-old male. He had a history of Eumycetoma in 2018 affecting right foot, treated with systemic antifungals. A recurrent lesion occurred after approximately five years, affecting deeper muscle layers. MRI revealed no bony involvement. He was treated with oral Voriconazole, surgical excision and Vacuum-assisted closure of defect, with a favourable outcome. No recurrence noted upto one year of follow-up. Aim was to emphasize on diagnosis and management of Mycetoma, in cases presenting with classical triad of painless soft tissue swelling, multiple sinuses and discharge of grains, especially in young adults with history of minor trauma while in contact with soil. Early recognition, systemic antifungals with wide local excision leaving behind a healthy margin, followed by vacuum-assisted closure, a high protein diet and physiotherapy, can provide favourable outcome in treatment of Eumycetoma. Reconstructive surgical options can be explored for larger defects. Case report providing level IV evidence.
2026-06-29 | Hypochlorous Acid for Community Level Wound Management: A New Horizon in Public Health
Background& Objectives: Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is a safe antimicrobi aleffective for wound care in areas burdened by chronic infections such as mycetoma. Its broad antimicrobial activity, biofilm disruption, and exceptional tissue compatibility make it well-suited for the long-term management of complex wounds. In mycetoma-endemic regions, HOCl offers a practical assistant for infection control and improved wound healing, providing a low-cost option for strengthening community-level care. Methods: This preliminary field-based humanitarian effectiveness, observational study evaluated the topical application of HOCl on seven patients with mycetoma lesions in Wad Shigidi Village, Sudan. The HOCl intervention was adjunctive and topical, not systemic. Weekly field visits were conducted, and lesion responses were documented using photographic and clinical criteria. Results: Patients demonstrated marked reductions in lesion size, discharge, and pain. No adverse effects were reported. Interpretation & Conclusions: HOCl shows promise as a safe, low-cost topical agent for mycetoma and other wound care at the community level in humanitarian settings. Further studies are warranted.
2026-06-09 | Mycetoma caused by Streptomyces sudanensis.
Mycetomas are deep, chronic skin infections caused by bacteria or fungi. We report the case of an adult male patient with mycetoma caused by Streptomyces sudanensis located on the foot. The patient was treated with i.m. gentamicin (80 mg/day) for six weeks, followed by three-week stop period. A total of eight courses six-week courses of gentamicin therapy, each followed by a three-week stop period, were completed. The patient is still undergoing treatment with the same regimen. Pulsed therapy may be considered in the management of mycetoma in order to prevent the development of resistance.
2026-05-22 | Breaking Good: a curriculum-aligned citizen science approach to developing new treatments for mycetoma
Participation in open source and citizen science projects provides students with the opportunity to be involved in solving real world problems. These approaches provide authentic learning experiences which help develop students' understanding of the role that science plays in society, deepen engagement, and increase motivation. Open Source Mycetoma is a project that enables open, community participation in the search for novel medicines for mycetoma, a neglected tropical disease. In this article, we share a two-day curriculum-aligned program, developed as part of The Breaking Good Initiative, in which high school students (Year 11 and 12) synthesize and analyze (IR, NMR, MS, and HPLC) new drug candidates for a structure/activity relationship (SAR) study, as part of Open Source Mycetoma. The program develops students’ scientific understanding in synthetic chemistry, and explores fundamental questions concerning the nature of science and scientific inquiry, across two facilitated workshops. The workshops can also be adapted for other contexts, including undergraduate laboratory programs; delivering learning outcomes that include practical laboratory skills, organic synthesis, and compound characterization.
2026-05-05 | A FIVE-YEAR REVIEW OF PATTERN AND OUTCOME OF MADURA FOOT IN UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI TEACHING HOSPITAL, MAIDUGURI NIGERIA
Background: Madura foot (mycetoma) is a chronic, progressively destructive infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues that may extend to involve bone. It remains a significant health problem in tropical regions, particularly in northern Nigeria, where environmental and occupational factors predispose individuals to infection. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study of patients diagnosed and managed for Madura foot at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital between January 2020 and December 2025. Data were obtained from case notes, operation registers, and histopathology records. Information collected included sociodemographic characteristics, clinical features, microbiological patterns, treatment modalities, and outcomes. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 37 patients were analyzed, with a mean age of 41.2 years. There was a slight male predominance (56.8%), and the majority of patients were from rural areas (73.0%), with farming as the most common occupation. Actinomycetoma was the predominant type (67.6%), while eumycetoma accounted for 32.4% of cases. White grains were the most frequently observed (62.2%). The recurrence rate was 10.8%. No statistically significant association was found between barefootedness or history of trauma and mycetoma type (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Madura foot predominantly affects rural, economically active individuals in North-Eastern Nigeria, with actinomycetoma being the most common subtype. Favorable outcomes can be achieved with combined medical and surgical management. Early diagnosis, improved awareness, and better access to healthcare are essential in reducing disease burden and preventing complications.
cell therapies
2025-04-20 | Immune response in BALB/c mice to an attenuated strain of Nocardiabrasiliensis.
We recently developed an attenuated strain of Nocardia brasiliensis HUJEG-1, named NBP200, through 200 continuous passaging. When administered to naïve mice, this attenuated strain confers resistance to infection with the wild-type strain. Although the immune response to the parental strain has been previously studied, the analysis of the immune response to the attenuated strain will help to understand the immune mechanisms involved in resistance against this microorganism. Initially, experimental mice were divided into two groups and infected with either the attenuated or the wild-type strain to compare their responses. After 12 weeks, animals initially inoculated with NBP200 were challenged with the wild-type isolate (NBP0), while a control group of the same age was infected with NBP0. Flow cytometry was employed to analyze surface and intracellular markers, including gamma interferon, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17, in order to assess Th-cell responses in the spleen and infected footpad. Sera were collected at various time points for ELISAs and Western blot assays in order to characterize the humoral immune response. Levels of gamma interferon and IL-4 cells were similar in both groups, whether inoculated with the attenuated or wild-type strain. However, concentrations of IL-17 and IL-10 were notably higher in animals inoculated with the wild-type strain, especially at 90 days post-inoculation. In the mice inoculated with the attenuated strain there were not any observable mycetoma lesions, and the quantity of IL-10+ or IL-17+ cells was minimal. In the re-infected animals, the most significant difference was observed in the Treg response during the late stage, where an immunosuppressive microenvironment was not observed. IgG levels in mice infected with either NBP0 or NBP200 were similar. In contrast, those inoculated with NBP200 and challenged with NBP0 exhibited a robust humoral response characterized by antibodies against P61, as well as to other proteins not previously reported, including those with molecular weights of 13.8-, 15.8-, 66-, and 69-kDa. The attenuated strain and the re-infected group exhibited different modulation of the Th cell response. Immunized animals with NBP200 and challenged with NBP0, showed a rapid and strong IgG antibody response. These changes may be potential factors contributing to the protective immunity against the wild-type strain.
2020-07-06 | A novel experimental immunomodulatory therapy against Nocardia brasiliensis in a BALB/c murine model.
Mycetoma is recognized as a neglected tropical disease and there are still therapeutic challenges, especially in cases recalcitrant to standard therapy or with high risk of dissemination. Subcultures have been used previously to decrease the virulence of human pathogens. Previous reports have demonstrated that after carrying out 200 subcultures of Nocardia brasiliensis, a decrease in virulence was observed. To evaluate the effect of attenuated N. brasiliensis strains on the development of lesions in an established mycetoma infection. Female 8-12-week-old BALB/c mice were injected with N. brasiliensis suspension to establish a mycetoma. Sixty mice were selected and divided into three groups: two of these groups were inoculated in the dorsum with N. brasiliensis subcultured 200 and 400 times, respectively, while the third group served as control. The thickness of each lesion was measured with calipers every week for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, we observed that inoculation of 1 × 105 colony-forming units of attenuated N. brasiliensis strains was able to modify the natural history of the infection, with a decrease in the size of the lesions, particularly with P400, compared with the control group (P < 0.01). In this experimental evaluation of an immunomodulatory therapy with attenuated N. brasiliensis strains in a murine model, there was a greater stability in the size of the lesion over time in BALB/c mice inoculated with the P400 strain. This treatment could open the possibility of using the attenuated strain as immunomodulatory therapy in patients recalcitrant to standard therapy, with high risk of dissemination or who develop drug-related adverse effects.
1977-05-25 | Cell-mediated immunity in experimental Nocardia asteroides infection.
Experimental mycetoma-like lesions developed in guinea pigs after subcutaneous injection of Nocardia asteroides. Although delayed hypersensitivity appeared earlier, increased macrophage migration inhibition and microbicidal activity appeared after 7 weeks. When the lesions healed, high cell-mediated immunity was present. Cell-mediated immunity was transferred to normal recipient guinea pigs from healed donor guinea pigs by spleen cell transfer. Recipient guinea pigs showed marked protection against challenge with N. asteroides.
gene therapies
2021-10-27 | Nitric oxide determines the development of actinomycetoma by Nocardia brasiliensis in eNOS knockout C57BL/6 mice.
Mycetoma is a chronic human infectious disease that produces severe deformation frequently in the lower extremities. Etiological agents include fungi (eumycetoma) and bacteria (actinomycetoma) that produce similar clinical and microscopic changes. The clinical appearance includes swelling, abscesses, ulcers, scars and sinuses that drain purulent material with microbe microcolonies. The pathogenesis of actinomycetoma has been studied mainly in rodents. Using this approach, it was found that Nocardia brasiliensis produces proteases that may play a role in tissue damage, as well as immunosuppressive molecules, such as brasilicardin A. Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule with biological activities depending on its local concentration. Its effect on killing intracellular bacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been known for decades. NO plays an important role in innate and adaptive immunity. It can promote or suppress some biological activities despite its short half-ife. NO is produced by three different nitric oxide synthases (NOS). We used the genetic blockade of eNOS in C57BL/6 mice to demonstrate the role of NO in actinomycetoma development. Inflammation and actinomycetoma were prevented in genetically modified mice infected with N. brasiliensis. T cell proliferation was increased in these rodents, and antibody production, IL-6 and IL-10 expression were similar and TNF-α was lower.
proteins
2026-04-28 | Granulocyte-CSF Immunostimulation for Mycetoma Treatment
G-CSF enhances neutrophil recruitment and activation through STAT3-mediated transcriptional programs, increasing NET formation and fungicidal activity. Additionally, G-CSF promotes dendritic cell maturation via JAK2-STAT3 signaling, enhancing antigen presentation and adaptive immune responses against fungal antigens.
2026-03-02 | Antifungal activity of the antimicrobial peptide RP557 against priority fungal pathogens.
Background. Natural host defence molecules, part of innate immunity and the first line of defence, are evolutionarily conserved. Some pharmaceutical properties undesirable for clinical use led to the rational design of synthetic molecules with constructed peptide arrangements, giving a novel therapeutic avenue. A prior publication showed synthetic peptide RP557 inhibition and killing of fluconazole-sensitive and resistant Candida species isolates, biofilm inhibition, no resistance induction, direct membrane action, negligible mammalian cell toxicity and topical efficacy in a rodent vaginal candidiasis model. These findings highlight the relevance of investigating RP557 activity against other fungal pathogens.Objective. We evaluated the antifungal spectrum of the RP557 against World Health Organization-listed priority fungal pathogens, including endemic and skin fungal pathogens, both alone and in combination with commercial antifungal drugs.Methods. The antifungal spectrum was evaluated by broth dilution vs. clinical isolates, and we present 76 MICs (mcg ml-1) performed according to M27 or M38 CLSI documents, 35 checkerboard interactions with antifungals and 10 minimum fungicidal determinations.Results. Overall impression is robust activity vs. chromoblastomycosis and mycetoma species, Cryptococcus neoformans and Trichophyton spp.; broad MIC ranges within most species, least activity vs. Mucorales and Aspergillus spp.; and some promising drug interactions vs. Sporothrix spp. and Candida auris.Conclusion. Additional efficacy data in vivo is needed. Topical therapy could give local concentrations exceeding MICs, and burn or trauma prophylaxis or treatments are attractive potential targets owing to RP557 panmicrobial properties.
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