Study of Correlation between Covid-19 and Mucormycosis during current pandemic situation

Abstract

Mucormycosis is an opportunist and invasive fungal disease. It is also known as “black fungus” caused by spores of Mucorales order, mainly Rhizopus oryzae. It damages lungs, brain, skin and other organs of the body. In this pandemic situation of Covid-19, most of the patients developed mucormycosis during or after the complete treatment of infection. It was observed that the infection of SARS CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) in the individuals leads to increases the risk of fungal diseases mainly mucormycosis due to increase in risk factors like GRP 78 over expression, increased iron levels, weakened immune system, etc. It was observed that the cases of mucormycosis increases rapidly in the 2^nd wave of Covid-19 in India as well as in other countries of whole world also. Antifungal drugs or surgeries or other therapies are adopted to save the lives of patients of mucormycosis or Covid-19 associated mucormycosis. But the fatality rate is still higher due to rapidly spreading of fungal infection in the body and brain of the patients. This article review that the possible mechanism of mucormycosis in covid as well as normal individuals, possible links between mucormycosis and Covid-19 & the factors responsible for the development of mucormycosis in Covid-19 affected individuals and the biotechnological approaches to reduce the infection rate of mucormycosis in Covid-19 infected individuals. This article also reviews currently used treatment methods for mucormycosis.