β-D-Glucan: Introduction, Principle, Clinical Significance, and Keynotes

Introduction β-D-Glucan (BDG) is a polysaccharide component of the fungal cell wall, widely present in species such as Candida, Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Pneumocystis jirovecii. Since it is released into the bloodstream during invasive fungal infections (IFIs), detection of BDG has become a valuable non-culture-based diagnostic …

Read more

Blastomyces-Antigen Testing: Introduction, Principle, Clinical Significance, and Keynotes

Introduction Blastomyces dermatitidis is a dimorphic fungus responsible for blastomycosis, a potentially life-threatening systemic mycosis. It is often found in soil enriched with decaying organic matter, especially near rivers and lakes. Traditional diagnosis relies on culture, microscopy, or histopathology, which may take several weeks. To …

Read more