Fungi and the microbiome finally got on my radar. Apologies to some, but there is a lot of different items on the microbiome radar screen.

“Small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIFO)… Two recent studies showed that 26 % (24/94) and 25.3 % (38/150) of a series of patients with unexplained GI symptoms had SIFO. …. but evidence for eradication is lacking.”Small intestinal fungal overgrowth [2015]

As I did with taxa years ago, I will be writing a blog on each one reviewing the literature. If there is sufficient data at the end, I may add it as a feature to Microbiome Prescription.

• CDC provides a list of known fungal diseases: Types of Fungal Diseases.
• For the current list of Fungi reviewed on this list, click Information of Different Types Of Fungi

One of my reader’s results motivated this choice. The data from a Thorne Microbiome Test. Unlike other fungi, no ranges are provided — implies that it is a rare fungi. The person also has a Crohn’s diagnosis.

Preventive for Fungi

The following are suggestions:

• Reduce and keep your living space humidity at 50% or lower (typically done by dehumidifiers). EPA recommends 30-50% [EPA]; we set our dehumidifiers for 35%.

Moisture parameters and fungal communities associated with gypsum drywall in buildings [2015]

• Use a HEPA filter appropriate to your space.
  Effectiveness of Airborne Fungi Removal by using a HEPA Air Purifier Fan in Houses [2018]
  Typically they are described as “Room Size: Up to 1500 sq.ft. maximum”. We are more aggressive and divide that by 4. For example we use 3 Austin Air HealthMate HEPA Air Purifier for our 900 sq.ft. living space.
• Check the north side of your building for mold. If found pressure wash it off and if possible, apply substances to inhibit them coming back.
• Check for mushrooms in lawns etc. If found, remove them and treat where you found them.

Remember, all fungi are not the same. Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Spices [2017] does not mention this fungi. Additionally, some spices are known to have Fungal Contamination of some Common Spices [2022] and Fungi and aflatoxins associated with spices in the Sultanate of Oman [2002] which included cloves (often deem an antifungal).

Basic Information

• The Nectriaceae comprise a family of fungi in the order Hypocreales. It was circumscribed by brothers Charles and Louis René Tulasne in 1865.^[1] In 2020, an Outline of fungi was produced and listed 70 genera and about 1,336 species.^[2] [Wikipedia]
• Associated to Fungal Eye Infection [ScienceDirect]
• General Information: Nectriaceae [ScienceDirect]
• “This genus is also frequently involved in vertebrate infection.^6,7 Although the conditions in host tissues of plants and animals are very different, nearly all 24 taxa that have been described to occur in human infections as real cases” [2019]
• “Fusarium, a well-known plant pathogen, has emerged as an important cause of invasive or disseminated infection in immunocompromised patients. Fusarium species, which are considered as the second most frequent mold in fungal infection, cause a broad spectrum of infections including keratitis, onychomycosis, endophthalmitis, and skin infection….In the last few decades, as the number of people with diabetes increases, the case report of Fusarium infection associated with a diabetic patient is also increasing.” [2019]

Treatment

• Garlic does not work for this fungi. It causes Fusarium Basal Rot on garlic (i.e. feeds off garlic)
  • Also seen on Tomato and lemon basis [src], potato, melons, sweet corn [src]
• Multiresistant Fusarium Pathogens on Plants and Humans: Solutions in (from) the Antifungal Pipeline? [2019]
  • “Resistance has been observed for amphotericin B, itraconazole, fluconazole and echinocandins, but variable MIC results are recorded with the newer triazoles (posaconazole, voriconazole, and isavuconazole).”