Mycetoma encompasses a diverse range of cutaneous and subcutaneous infections that present notable complexities, arising from either fungi (eumycetomas) or bacteria (actinomycetomas). Setting a distinguished mark in the realm of infectious diseases such as mycetoma, our company excels by providing specialized, all-inclusive services designed for researchers and scientists in this unique domain.
Overview of Mycetoma
Mycetoma is a chronic granulomatous inflammatory disease that affects the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and sometimes even bones. Prevalent in regions identified as the "mycetoma belt" like Africa, South America, and South Asia, this disease is characterized by distinct features such as the formation of localized swellings and sinus tracts that release grains comprising fungal or bacterial components.
Fig.1 Prevalence of mycetoma. (Develoux M., 2022)
Pathogenesis of Mycetoma
Mycetoma pathogens typically enter the body through breaks in the skin, such as wounds or injuries, locally incubate and proliferate, and then progress to visible lesions. Should the infection remain untreated, the pathogens have the potential to advance through muscular fascial spaces and lymphatics, extending their reach to muscles and bones. The consequences of such progression can be severe, leading to disfigurement, deformity, disability, limb amputation, and even death.
Fig.2 Histopathology of eumycetoma. (Hao, X., et al., 2022)
Vaccine Development for Mycetoma
Developing a vaccine for mycetoma is challenging due to the complex nature of the disease, the diversity of causative agents, and the chronicity of the infection. There is ongoing research into potential vaccine candidates for mycetoma, but no widely accepted vaccine is currently available.
- Peptide Vaccine
Predicted by bioinformatics that the peptide FFKEHGVPL is likely to be the first proposed epitope-based vaccine against fructose-bisphosphate aldolase of Madurella mycetomatis.
- Nocardia brasiliensis protease
The caseinolytic protease from a Nocardia brasiliensis cell extract induced IgM and IgG anti-protease antibodies and prevented mycetoma development in infected animals.
Therapeutics Development for Mycetoma
| Causative agents |
Drug Names |
Mechanism of Action |
Targets |
Research Phase |
| Eumycetoma |
Itraconazole |
Inhibit cell growth and promote cell death of fungi |
CYP51A1 |
Approved |
| Terbinafine |
Inhibit fungal ergosterol synthesis |
SQLE |
Approved |
| Ravuconazole |
Disrupt synthesis of ergosterol in the fungal cell membrane |
CYP51A1 |
Phase II trials |
| Fosravuconazole |
Inhibit cytochrome P450-dependent lanosterol 14α-demethylase |
CYP51A1 |
Clinical research |
| Actinomycetoma |
TMP-SMX |
Inhibits the enzyme systems related to bacterial tetrahydrofolic acid synthesis |
DHPS |
Approved |
| DA−7867 |
Active against a wide spectrum of actinobacteria |
/ |
Preclinical research |
Our Services
Our company stands at the forefront of infectious disease research, offering a unique advantage through advanced infectious disease models, vaccine development, and therapeutic development platforms. By supporting researchers with integrated solutions and cutting-edge tools, we are committed to driving progress in the fight against infectious diseases like mycetoma.
Featured Services of Mycetoma
- Mouse model inoculated with Nocardia brasiliensis in the right hind foot-pad
- Greater wax moth Galleria mellonella model of Madurella mycetomatis infection
- Others
Through our integrated methodology, we furnish researchers with a smooth pathway, spanning from experimental design to data analysis, allowing them to concentrate on progressing their endeavors and enriching the comprehension and therapy of infectious diseases such as mycetoma. If you are interested in our service, please don't hesitate to contact us.
References
- Develoux, Michel. "Epidemiologic Aspects of Mycetoma in Africa." Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) 8.12 (2022): 1258.
- Hao, Xingpei et al. "Mycetoma: Development of Diagnosis and Treatment." Journal of fungi (Basel, Switzerland) 8.7 (2022): 743.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use
only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
