Generalized Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis Caused by Phialophora verrucosa: Report of a Case and Review of Literature

We report a case of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis due to Phialophora verrucosa in a 64-year-old Chinese farmer suffering from CD4+ lymphopenia. He presented with diffuse and infiltrated plaques involving the entire face including the eyes, neck, occiput, and extending to the dorsal regions of his torso. The patient is notable for the discrete multifocal nature of the illness in the absence of disseminated infection and rarity of P. verrucosa as a cause of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis.     

Recalcitrant Primary Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis Due to Phialophora verrucosa

Phialophora verrucosa has rarely been reported for causing phaeohyphomycosis, which tends to occur in immunocompromised individuals. The case of primary subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis due to P. verrucosa in an otherwise healthy Chinese female is presented. The girl presented with asymptomatic skin lesions when she was only 16 year old. Histological examinations revealed multiple dematiceous hyphael elements in the dermis and subcutaneous tissues. Fungal cultures were identified as P. verrucosa repeatedly based on the morphological features and confirmed by the internal transcribed spacer region nucleotide sequencing. The infection was so extremely recalcitrant that prolonged systemic antifungal regimens for 12 years revealed limited effect. The skin lesions slowly progressed and caused marked disfigurement despite the encouraging results of in vitro susceptibility. However, no relevant side effects have been reported in the course, and the patient gave birth to a healthy baby while under the maintenance treatment of itraconazole and terbinafine. This case is special in terms of the early onset, the rare clinical aspect of the pathogen, the discrepancy between in vitro and in vivo antifungal activities and especially the prolonged and recalcitrant course in such an otherwise healthy host.     

Report of chronic subcutaneous abscesses caused byExophiala spinifera

A case of phaeohyphomycosis with subcutaneous abscesses involving skin, muscle and bone was caused byExophiala spinifera. This is the first report ofE. spinifera causing bone degeneration in Recife-PE, Brazil.     

Subcutaneous Pseudallescheriasis in a renal transplant recipient

This paper reports a case of a single subcutaneous nodule caused byPseudallescheria boydii in a renal transplant recipient, possibly of nontraumatic origin. The patient was treated surgically and with itraconazole.     

A Case Report of Widespread Majocchi’s Granuloma in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Majocchi’s granuloma is an intracutaneous or subcutaneous granulomatous inflammation caused by invasion of dermatophytic fungus, especially Trichophyton rubrum. This type of lesion is misdiagnosed frequently without proper auxiliary examination. Here, we report a case of widespread Majocchi’s granuloma caused by T. rubrum in a 35-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus for 9 years. The patient was initially misdiagnosed as SLE-associated skin lesions, which delayed her treatment and resulted in severe multiple disseminated lesions. After confirmed as Majocchi’s granuloma, the patient was cured after 11-month treatment with terbinafine.     

Development of coral and zooxanthella‐specific microsatellites in three species of Pocillopora (Cnidaria,Scleractinia) from French Polynesia

Since the building of coral reefs results from the association of corals and zooxanthellae, their intracellular algal symbionts, genetic markers for both organisms are essential for studying the contribution of their respective dispersal to the resilience of endangered reef ecosystems. Very few microsatellites have been obtained in corals thus far. Here we report the successful cloning of six polymorphic microsatellites (allele number: 5–15) from Pocillopora verrucosa, P. meandrina and P. damicornis. Four of them amplified coral, and two amplified zooxanthella DNA.     

Mycoflora in cystic fibrosis: Some ecologic aspects of pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans

The mycotic and bacterial flora of 65 patients with cystic fibrosis was studied.C. albicans andP. aeruginosa were present in 33% and 43% of sputa samples, respectively; only 6.5% harbored both organisms. The mycotic flora of the nasopharynx, rectum and skin of the cystic fibrosis patients was similar to that of children with other chronic lung diseases and to that of normal children.In vitro studies clearly revealed inhibition ofC. albicans byP. aeruginosa. It is suggested thatP. aeruginosa, so prevalent with cystic fibrosis, has an inhibitory effect onC. albicans and that this interaction is effective to some extent in preventing candidal infection.Supported in part by Cancer Center Training Grant CA-08480 and Clinical Training Grant CA-08151 from the National Cancer Institute, and by ALSAC.     

Characterisation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonisation in cluster roots of shape Hakea verrucosa F. Muell (Proteaceae), and its effect on growth and nutrient acquisition in ultramafic soil

Ultramafic soils at Bandalup Hill (Western Australia) are characterised by high concentrations of Ni and low levels of P. Amongst the plant species that can sustain such hostile conditions, Hakea verrucosa F. Muell from a non-mycorrhizal family (Proteaceae) would be expected to rely on cluster roots to access P. However, the acidification of ultramafic soils by cluster roots might increase the dissolution of soil Ni, and therefore its availability to plants. Symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi, on the other hand, might help to reduce the uptake of Ni by H. verrucosa. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the mycorrhizal status of H. verrucosa, and assess any contribution from mycorrhizal fungi to its growth and nutrient status. Seedlings of H. verrucosa were first grown in undisturbed ultramafic soil cores from Bandalup Hill for 8 weeks to assess the presence of mycorrhizal fungi in their roots. In a second experiment, H. verrucosa seedlings were grown in the same ultramafic soil that was either steamed or left untreated. Seedlings were inoculated with an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal consortium from Bandalup Hill. Fungal hyphae, vesicles, as well as intracellular arbuscules and hyphal coils were observed in the cluster roots of H. verrucosa in both experiments. In the first experiment, 57% of the root length was colonized by AM fungi. Seedlings had high (between 1.4 and 1.9) shoot to root ratios and their roots had very few root hairs, despite growing in P-deficient soil. Steaming of the ultramafic soil increased the growth of seedlings and their nutrient uptake. Inoculation with AM fungi reduced the seedling growth in steamed ultramafic soil; however, it increased their shoot P and K concentration and also the shoot K content. The shoot Ni concentration of seedlings was not affected by the presence of AM fungi.     

Spontaneous Remission of Subcutaneous Scedosporiosis Caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scedosporium dehoogii</Emphasis> in a Psoriatic Patient

To date, only one case of post-traumatic endophthalmitis caused by Scedosporium dehoogii has been reported, but its contamination or colonization might not be precluded due to the absence of pathogenic isolation and/or pathological examination. We report the first case to our knowledge of S. dehoogii-induced subcutaneous scedosporiosis in a psoriatic patient. A 58-year-old man with 5-year history of psoriasis vulgaris and immunosuppressant therapy developed pyrexia and multiple subcutaneous abscesses on both knees. Direct microscopy of the yellowish pus showed masses of bright green short spores. Skin biopsy revealed some branched septate hyphae within the granuloma. Two aspirated pus specimens collected at a 1-week interval produced white cottony colonies on Sabouraud dextrose agar. Bacterial cultures of one blood and two purulent samples were negative, and fungal culture of blood sample was not performed. The isolate was identified as S. dehoogii using β-tubulin phylogeny and species-specific PCR with primer MSDE1/MSA2. Without addition of antifungal treatment, subcutaneous lesions disappeared spontaneously after immunosuppressant withdrawal and no relapse occurred during 64-month follow-up. The spontaneous recovery may result from immune reconstitution following immunosuppressant discontinuation.     

Plasma Cell Granuloma of The Thyroid: Report of Case and Review of Literature

ObjectiveTo report the 12th case of a patient with a plasma cell granuloma of the thyroid, a rare cause of goiter and hypothyroidism.MethodsWe present a case report of a woman with a plasma cell granuloma of the thyroid. The clinical and pathologic features of the lesion are described, the differential diagnosis is discussed, and the relevant literature is reviewed.ResultsPlasma cell granulomas are uncommon benign lesions most typically located in the lung and only rarely identified in other organs. Only 11 cases of plasma cell granuloma of the thyroid gland have been reported previously. We describe the case of a 55-year-old woman with a long history of hypothyroidism and compressive symptoms from an enlarging neck mass. A thyroidectomy was performed. On gross examination, the thyroid had been replaced by firm, white, fibrotic tissue with a multinodular appearance. On microscopy, the infiltrate consisted predominantly of plasma cells that were polyclonal with the expression of both kappa and lambda light chains. A minor component of CD5- and CD20-positive (T and B) lymphocytes was observed. These features were important for establishing the diagnosis of a plasma cell granuloma and distinguishing the lesion from a plasmacytoma.ConclusionThis is the 12th reported case of plasma cell granuloma of the thyroid gland, a very rare cause of either a diffuse or a nodular goiter and hypothyroidism. The presence of a polyclonal plasma cell population with the expression of both kappa and lambda light chains helps to distinguish a plasma cell granuloma from a malignant plasmacytoma of the thyroid gland. (Endocr Pract. 2008; 14:611-617)     

Lipases of Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Phialophora verrucosa

Lipase activity was demonstrable titrimetrically in the culture filtrates of Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Phialophora verrucosa on the 6th day of incubation reaching a peak on the 15th and 12th days respectively for the two fungi. Purified lipases of F. pedrosoi and P. verrucosa, with specific activities of 36.0 and 39.4 fold increase respectively, were obtained by cold acetone extraction, gel filtration followed by ion exchange chromatography. The lipases had the same optimum pH (5.5) and temperature (35° C). The molecular weights of the lipases of F. pedrosoi and P. verrucosa, estimated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, were 25000 and 20000, respectively and the enzymes showed broad susbstrate specificity. The possible role of lipase in the pathogenesis of infection caused by the fungi is discussed.     

Hyalohyphomycosis caused byPaecilomyces variotii: a case report,animal pathogenicity and ‘in vitro’ sensitivity

A case of cutaneous infection in a 25-year-old male caused byPaecilomyces variotii is described. Animal pathogenicity studies with normal and cortisone-treated mice revealed the predeliction ofP. variotii for skin and liver in both normal and cortisone-treated mice and for lungs and heart only in immunosuppressed mice. 5-fluorocytosine gave the best MIC value forP. variotii in vitro. This report documents for the first time thatP. variotii causes cutaneous infection.     

Unusual aspects of granulomatous dermatophytosis

Described are three male patients showing bizarre manifestations of granulomatous dermatophytosis, all in the hand region. One had a small infiltrated nodular lesion near the thumb which was mistaken for a common insect bite. The second had a violaceous-yellowish plaque, also on the thumb, composed of 2–3 small subcutaneous nodules. The third case had five reddish intracutaneous nodules on the dorsum of the hand. Puncture of these nodules revealed the presence of fungal elements and culture yielded T. rubrum in all cases. Each patient was also found to have a fingernail affected by the same agent. Histologic sections in each case showed granulation tissue in the dermis and hypodermis, mainly in the vicinity of hair fragments with spores. These lesions appeared to be variants of Majocchi's granuloma trichophyticum.     

The yield,physical and chemical properties of agar gel from Gracilaria species (Gracilariales,Rhodophyta) of the Kenya coast

Six species of Gracilaria, G. corticata J. Agardh, G. crassa Harvey, G. millardetii J. Agardh, G. salicornia (J. Ag.) Dawson, G. verrucosa (Huds.) Papenfuss and Gracilaria sp, collected from different stations along the Kenya coast were studied. The yield of hot water native agar extract ranges from 8.1–30% of dry weight, with G. verrucosa and G. salicornia having the greatest and the least yield, respectively. The gel-strength of 1.5% agar solution was highest in G. verrucosa (220 g cm^–2) and lowest in G. corticata (< 60 g cm – 2) whereas the highest gelling temperature was recorded for Gracilaria sp. (40.4 °C) and the lowest in G. verrucosa (28.9 °C). 3,6 anhydrogalactose content was the highest in G. verrucosa and the lowest in G. corticata while sulphate content was higher in the latter.     

Comparative Analysis of Extracellular Matrix and Cellular Carbohydrate Expression in the Sporotrichosis and Chromoblastomycosis

This work was based on the analysis of digital images of histochemical profile from subcutaneous lesions in sporotrichosis (ST) and chromoblastomycosis (CM) patients. An additional aim was the detection of carbohydrate expression using lectin histochemical analysis of the different carbohydrates in the fungal cell wall from four different species (Sporothrix schenckii, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Phialophora verrucosa, and Cladophialophora carrionii) associated with diseases mentioned earlier. Slides from tissue biopsies from ST and CM positive patients (n = 10, each) were stained according to routine techniques. Slides were incubated with 25 μg/ml of Con A lectins and WGA conjugated to peroxidase. Digital image analysis was carried out in a workstation using OPTIMAS™ software system. Routine histochemistry results indicated that there is significantly higher collagen deposition and elastic fibers in ST characteristic lesions compared with that found in CM cases. The ST interstitial fibrosis area was larger than in CM lesions. Comparative lectin binding showed a positive and intense lectin staining pattern in the cell wall of S. schenckii, suggesting a higher expression of glucose/mannose and N-acetyl glucosamine in their cell surface as evidenced by Con A and WGA, respectively. However, these lectins were not effective to recognize some carbohydrates moieties in the F. pedrosoi, P. verrucosa, and C. carrionii. Such findings contribute to additional information about specific recognition processes between fungal parasites and their host cell targets may be mediated by the interaction of carbohydrate-binding proteins, such as lectins, on the surface of one type of cell that combine with complementary sugars on the surface of another cells into fibro-connective tissues associated with lesions.     

Evaluation of protein <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">in vitro</Emphasis> digestibility of <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Palmaria palmata</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Gracilaria verrucosa</Emphasis>

Palmaria palmata and Gracilaria verrucosa are edible red seaweeds and potential protein sources for human or animal nutrition, so studies were conducted on their in vitro protein digestibility. After 30 min predigestion by pepsin followed by 6 h digestion into a cell dialysis containing porcine pancreatin, the in vitro protein digestibility of P. palmata and G. verrucosa, expressed in regard to casein digestibility, was 4.9% and 42.1%, respectively. The level of protein digestibility seems to be related to the amount of soluble fibre, which was 45.3% and 30.5%, respectively.     

Typification of Radlkofer's infrageneric names in Paullinia L. (Sapindaceae)

Ancillary to my revision ofPaullinia, the necessary lectotypifications for Radlkofer's infrageneric names are proposed. Those sectional names requiring lectotypification areNeurotoechus, Diphtherotoechus, Pleurotoechus, Pachytoechus, Xyloptilon, Neuroptilon, Anisoptilon, Isoptilon, Caloptilon, andPhygoptilon. SectionCryptoptilon, monotypic at the time of publication, is typified automatically byP. verrucosa Radlk. The generic namesEnourea andCastanella, reduced by Radlkofer to sectional status, retain their types.     

Mycoflora of the Finnish “sauna” (bath-house)

The investigation concerned the mycoflora of the old, in some cases already discarded, bath houses (sauna) situated in various parts of Finland for the purpose of finding the fungus,Phialophora pedrosoi, which causes chromoblastomycosis in man. The material, 220 specimens, consisting of thin shavings from the wooden floors and platforms, was collected from 78 bath houses. P. pedrosoi was not found in this investigation; the followingPhialophora-species:P. fastigiata, P. lagerbergii, P. lignicola andP. verrucosa were isolated, however.In total 98 various fungus species were isolated, the number of isolates was 1052. Phycomycetes represented 9.2 % of the species and 15.2 % of the isolates, Ascomycetes 4.1 % and 3.4 %, Basidiomycetes 4.1 % and 0.7 % and Fungi imperfecti 82.6 % and 80.7 % respectively of the species and the isolates. The species most frequently isolated from specimens were:Trichoderma viride, Mucor mucedo, Stemphylium consortiale, Rhinocladiella atrovirens, Arthrobotrys superba andPhialophora verrucosa.In all, 13 nematode-destroying fungus species were isolated belonging to the genera:Nematoctonus, Cephalosporium, Harposporium, Dactylaria, Arthrobotrys andDactylella. 60 % of the bath houses were infected by nematodes. Gliodendron gen. nov. with the speciesGliodendron balnicolum sp. nov. is described and illustrated.

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Zusammenfassung Die Untersuchung betraf die Mykoflora von alten, in manchen Fällen bereits aufgegebenen Badehäusern, die sich in verschiedenen Teilen Finnlands befanden, um den Pilz,Phialophora pedrosoi, den Erreger der Chromoblastomykose, zu finden. Das Material bestand aus 220 Einzelstücken, Spänen von Holzfußböden, die in 78 Badehäusern gesammelt wurden,Phialophora pedrosoi wurde in diesen Untersuchungen nicht gefunden. Die folgendenPhialophora-Arten sind isoliert worden:P. fastigiata, P. lagerbergii, P. lignicola, undP. verrucosa. Insgesamt sind 98 verschiedene Pilzarten isoliert worden. Die Anzahl der Isolierungen war 1052. Phykomyceten stellten 9,2 % von den Arten und 15,2 % der Isolierungen dar: Askomyceten 4,1 % und 3,4 %; Basidiomyceten 4,1 % und 0,7 %; Fungi imperfecti 82,6 % und 80,7 %. Die häufigst isolierten Arten waren:Trichoderma viride, Mucor mucedo, Stemphylium consortiale, Rhinocladiella atrovirens, Arthrobotrys superba undPhialophora verrucosa. Alles in allem wurden 13 Nematoden zerstörende Arten isoliert, die zu den folgenden Gattungen gehörten:Nematoctonus, Cephalosporium, Harposporium, Dactylaria, Arthrobotrys undDactylella. Sechzig Prozent der Badehäuser waren von Nematoden infektiert.Gliodendron gen. nov. ist mit der ArtGliodendron balnicolum, sp. nov. beschrieben und abgebildet worden.

     

Cutaneous zygomycosis caused byAbsidia corymbifera in a leukemic patient

A case of cutaneous zygomycosis caused byAbsidia coryabifera in a leukemic patient submitted to chemotherapy is reported. The lesion was located on the little finger of the right hand and probably resulted from a latent osteomyelitis. It progressed to form extensive necrotic area. No systemic infection was detected and the lesion did not appear to be associated with any trauma.     

Bioremediation efficiencies of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gracilaria verrucosa</Emphasis> cultivated in an enclosed sea area of Hangzhou Bay,China

Due to the discharge of nutrients into the East China Sea, severe eutrophication has appeared in Hangzhou Bay. Therefore, we cultivated Gracilaria verrucosa on a large scale in the Jinshan enclosed sea with an area of 1.72 km² in the northern part of Hangzhou Bay to perform bioremediation. The Fengxian enclosed sea with an area of 2.3 km² and 50 km far from Jinshan was used as the control. The results showed that the Hangzhou Bay was severely eutrophicated before G. verrucosa cultivation. During the period of cultivation between August 2006 and July 2007, the annual growth rate of G. verrucosa was 9.42% day⁻¹, and the sea water quality was improved from worse than grade IV to grades II–III, with the concentration of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and PO₄-P significantly lower than that in the Fengxian enclosed sea (p < 0.01). The concentration of NH₄-N, NO₃-N, NO₂-N, and PO₄-P after G. verrucosa cultivation was decreased by 54.12%, 75.54%, 49.81%, and 49.00%, respectively. The density of phytoplankton in the Jinshan enclosed sea with cultivation of G. verrucosa was 6.90 –126.53 × 10⁴ cells m⁻³, which was significantly lower than that in the Fengxian enclosed sea. In addition, species diversity, richness, and evenness was significantly increased after cultivation of G. verrucosa in the Jinshan enclosed sea compared with that in the Fengxian enclosed sea. The density of Skeletonema costatum, Prorocentrum micans, and Prorocentrum donghaiense, which were the usual species of red tides at the coastal sea of China, in the Jinshan enclosed sea with cultivation of G. verrucosa was significantly lower. Based on these results, if the water quality in the Jinshan enclosed sea were to be maintained at grade I (DIN ≤0.20 mg  L⁻¹) or II (DIN ≤0.30 mg  L⁻¹), 21.8 t or 18.0 t fresh weight of G. verrucosa need to be cultivated, respectively. These results indicated that large-scale cultivation of G. verrucosa could play a significant role in the bioremediation of Hangzhou Bay.