SARS-CoV-2 Post-Infection and Sepsis by <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em>: A Fatal Case Report—Focus on Fungal Susceptibility and Potential Virulence Attributes
The pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been responsible for approximately 6.8 million deaths worldwide, threatening more than 753 million individuals. People with severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection often exhibit an immunosuppress...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-02-01
|
| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/2/99 |
| _version_ | 1797617898726883328 |
|---|---|
| author | Lívia S. Ramos Luca Mokus Heloisa F. Frota Marcos V. Santos Simone S. C. Oliveira Manoel M. E. Oliveira Gisela L. Costa Ana Luísa Alves Andréa R. Bernardes-Engemann Rosane Orofino-Costa Ana Carolina Aor Marta H. Branquinha André L. S. Santos |
| author_facet | Lívia S. Ramos Luca Mokus Heloisa F. Frota Marcos V. Santos Simone S. C. Oliveira Manoel M. E. Oliveira Gisela L. Costa Ana Luísa Alves Andréa R. Bernardes-Engemann Rosane Orofino-Costa Ana Carolina Aor Marta H. Branquinha André L. S. Santos |
| author_sort | Lívia S. Ramos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been responsible for approximately 6.8 million deaths worldwide, threatening more than 753 million individuals. People with severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection often exhibit an immunosuppression condition, resulting in greater chances of developing co-infections with bacteria and fungi, including opportunistic yeasts belonging to the <i>Saccharomyces</i> and <i>Candida</i> genera. In the present work, we have reported the case of a 75-year-old woman admitted at a Brazilian university hospital with an arterial ulcer in the left foot, which was being prepared for surgical amputation. The patient presented other underlying diseases and presented positive tests for COVID-19 prior to hospitalization. She received antimicrobial treatment, but her general condition worsened quickly, leading to death by septic shock after 4 days of hospitalization. Blood samples collected on the day she died were positive for yeast-like organisms, which were later identified as <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> by both biochemical and molecular methods. The fungal strain exhibited low minimal inhibitory concentration values for the antifungal agents tested (amphotericin B, 5-flucytosine, caspofungin, fluconazole and voriconazole), and it was able to produce important virulence factors, such as extracellular bioactive molecules (e.g., aspartic peptidase, phospholipase, esterase, phytase, catalase, hemolysin and siderophore) and biofilm. Despite the activity against planktonic cells, the antifungals were not able to impact the mature biofilm parameters (biomass and viability). Additionally, the <i>S. cerevisiae</i> strain caused the death of <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> larvae, depending on the fungal inoculum, and larvae immunosuppression with corticosteroids increased the larvae mortality rate. In conclusion, the present study highlighted the emergence of <i>S. cerevisiae</i> as an opportunistic fungal pathogen in immunosuppressed patients presenting several severe comorbidities, including COVID-19 infection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:02:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1650568937bf4e388b04cc960e768915 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2414-6366 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T08:02:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
| spelling | doaj.art-1650568937bf4e388b04cc960e7689152023-11-16T23:39:54ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662023-02-01829910.3390/tropicalmed8020099SARS-CoV-2 Post-Infection and Sepsis by <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em>: A Fatal Case Report—Focus on Fungal Susceptibility and Potential Virulence AttributesLívia S. Ramos0Luca Mokus1Heloisa F. Frota2Marcos V. Santos3Simone S. C. Oliveira4Manoel M. E. Oliveira5Gisela L. Costa6Ana Luísa Alves7Andréa R. Bernardes-Engemann8Rosane Orofino-Costa9Ana Carolina Aor10Marta H. Branquinha11André L. S. Santos12Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, BrazilLaboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, BrazilLaboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, BrazilLaboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, BrazilLaboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, BrazilInstituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, BrazilInstituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, BrazilUnidade Docente-Assistencial de Dermatologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro 20551-030, BrazilLaboratório de Micologia, Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto (HUPE), Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro 20551-030, BrazilUnidade Docente-Assistencial de Dermatologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro 20551-030, BrazilLaboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, BrazilLaboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, BrazilLaboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, BrazilThe pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been responsible for approximately 6.8 million deaths worldwide, threatening more than 753 million individuals. People with severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection often exhibit an immunosuppression condition, resulting in greater chances of developing co-infections with bacteria and fungi, including opportunistic yeasts belonging to the <i>Saccharomyces</i> and <i>Candida</i> genera. In the present work, we have reported the case of a 75-year-old woman admitted at a Brazilian university hospital with an arterial ulcer in the left foot, which was being prepared for surgical amputation. The patient presented other underlying diseases and presented positive tests for COVID-19 prior to hospitalization. She received antimicrobial treatment, but her general condition worsened quickly, leading to death by septic shock after 4 days of hospitalization. Blood samples collected on the day she died were positive for yeast-like organisms, which were later identified as <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> by both biochemical and molecular methods. The fungal strain exhibited low minimal inhibitory concentration values for the antifungal agents tested (amphotericin B, 5-flucytosine, caspofungin, fluconazole and voriconazole), and it was able to produce important virulence factors, such as extracellular bioactive molecules (e.g., aspartic peptidase, phospholipase, esterase, phytase, catalase, hemolysin and siderophore) and biofilm. Despite the activity against planktonic cells, the antifungals were not able to impact the mature biofilm parameters (biomass and viability). Additionally, the <i>S. cerevisiae</i> strain caused the death of <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> larvae, depending on the fungal inoculum, and larvae immunosuppression with corticosteroids increased the larvae mortality rate. In conclusion, the present study highlighted the emergence of <i>S. cerevisiae</i> as an opportunistic fungal pathogen in immunosuppressed patients presenting several severe comorbidities, including COVID-19 infection.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/2/99COVID-19fungal infectionhydrolytic enzymesbiofilm formation<i>Tenebrio molitor</i> |
| spellingShingle | Lívia S. Ramos Luca Mokus Heloisa F. Frota Marcos V. Santos Simone S. C. Oliveira Manoel M. E. Oliveira Gisela L. Costa Ana Luísa Alves Andréa R. Bernardes-Engemann Rosane Orofino-Costa Ana Carolina Aor Marta H. Branquinha André L. S. Santos SARS-CoV-2 Post-Infection and Sepsis by <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em>: A Fatal Case Report—Focus on Fungal Susceptibility and Potential Virulence Attributes Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease COVID-19 fungal infection hydrolytic enzymes biofilm formation <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> |
| title | SARS-CoV-2 Post-Infection and Sepsis by <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em>: A Fatal Case Report—Focus on Fungal Susceptibility and Potential Virulence Attributes |
| title_full | SARS-CoV-2 Post-Infection and Sepsis by <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em>: A Fatal Case Report—Focus on Fungal Susceptibility and Potential Virulence Attributes |
| title_fullStr | SARS-CoV-2 Post-Infection and Sepsis by <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em>: A Fatal Case Report—Focus on Fungal Susceptibility and Potential Virulence Attributes |
| title_full_unstemmed | SARS-CoV-2 Post-Infection and Sepsis by <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em>: A Fatal Case Report—Focus on Fungal Susceptibility and Potential Virulence Attributes |
| title_short | SARS-CoV-2 Post-Infection and Sepsis by <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em>: A Fatal Case Report—Focus on Fungal Susceptibility and Potential Virulence Attributes |
| title_sort | sars cov 2 post infection and sepsis by em saccharomyces cerevisiae em a fatal case report focus on fungal susceptibility and potential virulence attributes |
| topic | COVID-19 fungal infection hydrolytic enzymes biofilm formation <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/2/99 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT liviasramos sarscov2postinfectionandsepsisbyemsaccharomycescerevisiaeemafatalcasereportfocusonfungalsusceptibilityandpotentialvirulenceattributes AT lucamokus sarscov2postinfectionandsepsisbyemsaccharomycescerevisiaeemafatalcasereportfocusonfungalsusceptibilityandpotentialvirulenceattributes AT heloisaffrota sarscov2postinfectionandsepsisbyemsaccharomycescerevisiaeemafatalcasereportfocusonfungalsusceptibilityandpotentialvirulenceattributes AT marcosvsantos sarscov2postinfectionandsepsisbyemsaccharomycescerevisiaeemafatalcasereportfocusonfungalsusceptibilityandpotentialvirulenceattributes AT simonescoliveira sarscov2postinfectionandsepsisbyemsaccharomycescerevisiaeemafatalcasereportfocusonfungalsusceptibilityandpotentialvirulenceattributes AT manoelmeoliveira sarscov2postinfectionandsepsisbyemsaccharomycescerevisiaeemafatalcasereportfocusonfungalsusceptibilityandpotentialvirulenceattributes AT giselalcosta sarscov2postinfectionandsepsisbyemsaccharomycescerevisiaeemafatalcasereportfocusonfungalsusceptibilityandpotentialvirulenceattributes AT analuisaalves sarscov2postinfectionandsepsisbyemsaccharomycescerevisiaeemafatalcasereportfocusonfungalsusceptibilityandpotentialvirulenceattributes AT andrearbernardesengemann sarscov2postinfectionandsepsisbyemsaccharomycescerevisiaeemafatalcasereportfocusonfungalsusceptibilityandpotentialvirulenceattributes AT rosaneorofinocosta sarscov2postinfectionandsepsisbyemsaccharomycescerevisiaeemafatalcasereportfocusonfungalsusceptibilityandpotentialvirulenceattributes AT anacarolinaaor sarscov2postinfectionandsepsisbyemsaccharomycescerevisiaeemafatalcasereportfocusonfungalsusceptibilityandpotentialvirulenceattributes AT martahbranquinha sarscov2postinfectionandsepsisbyemsaccharomycescerevisiaeemafatalcasereportfocusonfungalsusceptibilityandpotentialvirulenceattributes AT andrelssantos sarscov2postinfectionandsepsisbyemsaccharomycescerevisiaeemafatalcasereportfocusonfungalsusceptibilityandpotentialvirulenceattributes |