Karen Pendergrass, Standards Team

This review details how nutritional immunity shapes host–pathogen interactions through metal sequestration and intoxication, highlights key microbial metal acquisition systems, and discusses their implications for microbiome signatures and the development of novel antimicrobial therapies.

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (CP-S) is an analytical technique used to determine the elemental composition of a sample by ionizing the sample with an inductively coupled plasma and then measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of the ions. CP-S is a highly sensitive method, capable of detecting elements at trace and ultra-trace levels, making it valuable in […]

Candida albicans enables systemic Staphylococcus aureus infection via Als3p-mediated hyphal invasion. This “microbial hitchhiking” allows S. aureus to bypass epithelial barriers, with major implications for immunocompromised patients.

This comparative study evaluated ketoconazole and hypochlorous acid for dermatophytosis in cats and dogs. Ketoconazole outperformed OCl in microscopic clearance, though both showed strong clinical improvement. OCl may serve as a partial alternative pending further optimization.

Cold atmospheric plasma significantly inhibited T. rubrum and M. canis growth in vitro, matching the efficacy of ciclopirox olamine. Daily 10-minute AP treatments proved most effective, acting through OS/NS mechanisms, offering a promising contact-free alternative to systemic or topical antifungals.

Ciclopirox and its salt form exhibit broad-spectrum antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activity via iron chelation and enzyme inhibition. With low resistance potential, they outperform many azoles and show promise in oncology, virology, and neuroinflammation, making them valuable tools in dermatology and beyond.

A single case of M. canis dermatophytosis in a dog was cured using Methylene blue-mediated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (B-PDT), with no recurrence after 6 months. This suggests B-PDT is a fast, effective, and safe treatment for dermatophytosis in companion animals.

Zinc ions enhanced siderophore production in fungi from Panax ginseng rhizosphere, with optimal levels at 150 µg/ml. Penicillium commune JHO produced ferrichrome-type siderophores, suggesting zinc may drive microbial adaptations in metal-rich environments with implications for plant health and bioremediation.

This study found that berberine and palmatine hydrochloride synergistically inhibit M. canis by disrupting cell structure and modulating virulence-related genes. The combination outperformed clotrimazole in vivo, showing strong potential for treating dermatophytosis.

Fluconazole downregulates the metallothionein gene in Microsporum canis, enhancing copper cytotoxicity. This ergosterol-independent antifungal mechanism reveals a novel vulnerability in M. canis and identifies metallothionein as a promising therapeutic target.