@article{SpringerWaltherRickertsetal.2019,
  author    = {Springer, Jan and Walther, Grit and Rickerts, Volker and Hamprecht, Axel and Willinger, Birgit and Teschner, Daniel and Einsele, Hermann and Kurzai, Oliver and Loeffler, Juergen},
  title     = {Detection of Fusarium Species in Clinical Specimens by Probe-Based Real-Time PCR},
  series = {Journal of Fungi},
  volume    = {5},
  journal   = {Journal of Fungi},
  number    = {4},
  issn      = {2309-608X},
  doi       = {10.3390/jof5040105},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-193111},
  pages     = {105},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {The mold Fusarium is a ubiquitous fungus causing plant, animal and human infections. In humans, Fusarium spp. are the major cause of eye infections in patients wearing contact lenses or after local trauma. Systemic infections by Fusarium spp. mainly occur in immunosuppressed patients and can disseminate throughout the human body. Due to high levels of resistance to antifungals a fast identification of the causative agent is an urgent need. By using a probe-based real-time PCR assay specific for the genus Fusarium we analysed several different clinical specimens detecting Fusarium spp. commonly found in clinical samples in Germany. Also, a large collection of lung fluid samples of haematological patients was analysed (n = 243). In these, two samples (0.8\%) were reproducibly positive, but only one could be confirmed by sequencing. For this case of probable invasive fungal disease (IFD) culture was positive for Fusarium species. Here we describe a rapid, probe-based real-time PCR assay to specifically detect DNA from a broad range of Fusarium species and its application to clinically relevant specimens.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{KesselHogardtAspacheretal.2022,
  author    = {Kessel, Johanna and Hogardt, Michael and Aspacher, Lukas and Wichelhaus, Thomas A. and Gerkrath, Jasmin and Rosenow, Emely and Springer, Jan and Rickerts, Volker},
  title     = {Exclusion of Mucorales co-infection in a patient with Aspergillus flavus sinusitis by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)},
  series = {Journal of Fungi},
  volume    = {8},
  journal   = {Journal of Fungi},
  number    = {3},
  issn      = {2309-608X},
  doi       = {10.3390/jof8030306},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-267208},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Invasive fungal infections are associated with increased mortality in hematological patients. Despite considerable advances in antifungal therapy, the evaluation of suspected treatment failure is a common clinical challenge requiring extensive diagnostic testing to rule out potential causes, such as mixed infections. We present a 64-year-old patient with secondary AML, diabetes mellitus, febrile neutropenia, and sinusitis. While cultures from nasal tissue grew Aspergillus flavus, a microscopic examination of the tissue was suggestive of concomitant mucormycosis. However, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using specific probes targeting Aspergillus and Mucorales species ruled out mixed infection. This was confirmed by specific qPCR assays amplifying the DNA of Aspergillus, but not of Mucorales. These results provided a rational basis for step-down targeted therapy, i.e., the patient received posaconazole after seven days of calculated dual therapy with liposomal amphotericin B and posaconazole. Despite clinical response to the antifungal therapy, he died due to the progression of the underlying disease within two weeks after diagnosis of fungal infection. Molecular diagnostics applied to tissue blocks may reveal useful information on the etiology of invasive fungal infections, including challenging situations, such as with mixed infections. A thorough understanding of fungal etiology facilitates targeted therapy that may improve therapeutic success while limiting side effects.},
  language  = {en}
}