Ubiquinone system,GC contents and cellular fatty acid composition of species of the form-genusMalbranchea andCoccidioides immitis for chemotaxonomic study

Ubiquinone system, GC contents and cellular fatty acid (CFA) composition were analyzed as criteria for chemotaxonomy ofMalbranchea species andCoccidioides immitis, which are suggested to be phylogenetically related. Based on the major ubiquinone,Malbranchea spp. were divided into two groups, of which one group possessed the same major ubiquinone asC. immitis. Similar GC contents and CFA profiles were obtained for the species ofMalbranchea andC. immitis. On the basis of these criteria the relationships between the fungi are discussed.     

Inhibition of the mold phase of Coccidioides immitis by beta-ionine and dimethoxane

The mold phase ofCoccidioides immitis was exposed to varying concentrations of beta-ionone and dimethoxane in Sabouraud'sl Glucose Agar and the inhibitory concentration of each compound was determined. Beta-ionone demonstrated an inhibitory effect at 0.2 % or less, but completely inhibited the growth ofC. immitis above 0.2 %. Its mouse LD₅₀ was 4.4 × 10⁴ mg. Because of its great toxicity for mice, it could not be considered a possible candidate for chemotherapy. However, results suggested its use as a selective additive for an isolation medium. Dimethoxane demonstrated complete inhibition ofC. immitis at concentrations of 0.55 % and higher and some fungistatic effects at lower concentrations. Because the mouse IP toxicity dose was found to be rather low (0.65 mg/kg), it may have potential as a chemotherapeutic agent for coccidioidomycosis.     

Isolation of fungi from judean desert soil

Summary 1. Results of culture of thirty soil samples obtained from the Judean Desert on the western side of the Dead Sea are reported. These soil samples were obtained from caves found in the walls of the cliff leading to the plateau Massada, the level of the caves varying from sea level to 300 feet below.2. Two strains ofCryptococcus neoformans were recovered from soil obtained from a bat cave 300 feet below the top of the plateau.3. No evidence ofHistoplasma capsulatum orCoccidioides immitis was found.4. This evidence, coupled with negative skin test data reported previously, implies thatHistoplasma capsulatum andCoccidioides immitis are probably not inhabitants of soil in this part of Israel.     

Preparation and standardization of antigens of Histoplasma capsulatum and Coccidioides immitis

Methods have been developed for the separation and purification of various antigenically active cellular components ofH. capsulatum (34) andC. immitis (35), and chemical procedures have been employed in the characterization of these antigens. The concluding remarks illustrate the current trends in immunological studies ofH. capsulatum andC. immitis. Hopefully, these approaches will provide knowledge and insight into the basic biological properties ofH. capsulatum andC. immitis and should, in the future, culminate in the physicochemical characterization of their important antigens.     

Antigenic relationships between Aracoccidioides loboi and other pathogenic fungi determined by immunofluorescence

Summary The fluorescent antibody technique was used to study antigenic relationships betweenParacoccidioides loboi and other pathogenic fungi. The findings suggest thatP. loboi is more closely related antigenically to certainP. brasiliensis strains than to others and that it has antigens in common with the yeast form ofHistoplasma capsulatum, H. duboisii, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans and also the mycelial form ofCoccidioides immitis. Serum globulins from 3 cases of keloidal blastomycosis were labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. These conjugates showed slight or no reactivity withP. loboi, the yeast forms ofP. brasiliensis, H. capsulatum, H. duboisii andB. dermatitidis, However, they stained brightlyC. albicans, serotypes A and B, the tissue form ofC. immitis and the yeast form ofSporotrichum schenckii. Adsorption of these reagents withC. albicans eliminated all staining except that forS. schenckii. These patients had no history of clinical sporotrichosis.Deceased. Last address: Fundacão Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Requests for reprints should be sent to Dr.William Kaplan.Dr.Miranda is in private practice in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.     

For Coccidioidomycosis — A possible source of infectious spores and of therapeutic agents

Summary Thirty-nine plant samples collected from the desert and from the cactus garden of The University of Arizona were examined for their ability to support the growth ofCoccidioides immitis in agar culture. On this basis and the location of the fungal growth as well as the degree of development of the fungus, the plants could be divided into five categories. No fungal growth was observed over a period of eight weeks in association with five of the plants. Four plants permitted growth of the mold within the agar medium only. Another five allowed some growth on the plant material but sporulation was never encountered. The largest group consisted of twenty plants on which the fungus grew moderately and sporulated lightly. In association with five plants,C. immitis grew well and sporulated heavily.The findings suggest that some plants may contain substances that would be therapeutically useful and that others might serve as natural hosts on which the highly infective spores could be abundantly produced.     

Identification of pathogenic fungi in surgical and autopsy specimens by immunofluorescence

Summary A method is presented for the preparation of immune sera and detection by immunofluorescence ofC. immitis, S. schenckii, B. dermatitidis, C. neoformans, andC. albicans in surgical and autopsy material. Formalin fixation does not affect the antigens of the mycotic agents. There are no cross reactions except withC. immitis andC. neoformans, which can be differentiated by the site of the specific fluorescence in each organism.     

Inhibition of in vitro germination and spherulation ofCoccidioides immitis byAllium sativum

An aqueous extract of a dehydrated garlic preparation with uniform consistency inhibited all eight clinical isolates of the dimorphic fungus,Coccidioides immitis. The inhibitory and lethic concentrations were in the range of 3.12–6.25 mg/ml for both the saprophytic (mold) and parasitic (spherule) forms ofC. immitis. At 6.25-mg/ml concentration, the organism lost its viability within 6 h. The conversion of arthroconidia into spherules in a chemically defined liquid medium was prevented by garlic extract diluted to 1:320 (3.12 mg/ml). The data indicate that components of garlic readily inhibited the in vitro germination and spherulation of this medically important dimorphic fungus.     

Quelques champignons pathogènes,isolés du sol roumain,par la méthode de l'inoculation intrapéritonéale à la souris

Resumé En injectant, selon le procédé d'Ajello et al., dans la cavité péritonéale de la souris blanche, une suspension de terre prélevée de divers endroits et en ensemençant après un délai de 6 à 8 semaines des fragments du foie, de la rate, des poumons et des reins de l'animal inoculé, les auteurs ont décelé dans le sol roumain la présence des champignons suivants:Geotrichum candidum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Keratinomyces ajelloi (une souche pathogène) etCoccidioides immitis. Selon les auteurs, cette méthode d'isolement est capable de compléter la méthode deVanbreuseghem pour l'isolement des dermatophytes du sol. La présence duCoccidioides immitis dans le sol roumain mérite une mention spéciale, la coccidioidomicose étant, jusqu'en 1961, inconnue en Roumanie.

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Summary By injecting the supernatant from aqueous suspensions of different rumanian soil specimens intraperitoneally into white mice and subsequent culture of their livers and spleens, according to the procedure ofAjello et al., the authors were able to recover the following fungi:Geotrichum candidum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Keratinomyces ajelloi (a pathogenic strain) andCoccidioides immitis (two strains). In the author's opinion, this indirect isolation procedure may complete the method developed byVanbreuseghem for isolating dermatophytes from soil. The presence ofCoccidioides immitis in the rumanian soils needs special mention owing to the fact that coccidioidomycosis was unknown in Rumania until 1961.

     

Coccidioidin sensitivity in control,immunized and infected guinea pigs

Summary Delayed hypersensitivity to potent coccidioidin developed in guinea pigs immunized with deadC. immitis arthrospores and guinea pigs infected with an aerosol ofC. immitis arthrospores at weeks 1 and 2. Delayed hypersensitivity in control animals sensitized by repeated intradermal testing developed at weeks 3 and 4. The delayed hypersensitivity responses were characterized grossly by indurations larger than 25 mm² and could be seen at 6 and 24 hours after testing. Retesting reduced the size of the 24 hour indurations when compared to virginal reactions. The retest delayed reactions in infected animals had indurations at 24 and 48 hours that were larger than those in the other groups.In those animals that were skin test positive but not challenged no tube precipitins, agar gel precipitins, CF antibodies, anaphylaxis or immediate hypersensitivity were detected. Because of the inability to detect precipitins the early phase of the hypersensitivity seen at 6 hours was not considered an Arthus reaction.     

Elastase activity of fungi with anamorphs similar to Coccidioides immitis

The elastin digestion assay was examined to determine if it would facilitate the identification of Coccidioides immitis when non-pathogenic fungi resembling C. immitis are encountered. Fungal isolants tested have anamorphs that closely resemble the macroscopic or microscopic morphology of C. immitis. Elastin hydrolysis was measured by elastin-agar plate assays. Approximately 80% of the isolants hydrolyzed elastin; thus, the elastin digestion assay as a differential test appears to have little value.     

Serology of coccidioidomycosis

Summary We believe there is strong evidence to support a continuing search for coccidioidomycosis in new areas, in the Old World as well as in the New World, and in places with a climate and ecology different from the semi-arid conditions of the known endemic areas. Such an investigation would be justified in any population group where there is a high incidence of respiratory disease of unknown etiology. Very satisfactory and practical immunological techniques are available, but the present evidence indicates that the antigens used in these tests should be prepared from strains ofC. immitis recovered from the area to be investigated. Obviously this cannot be done at present, so such a program should be preceeded by an extensive survey of soil samples in the area in order to recover any existing native strains ofC. immitis. Whereas this would be the ideal situation, one could consider initiating the proposed study with coccidioidins prepared from selected strains of this fungus, incorporating as complete a spectrum of known antigens as is possible with our present knowledge, and keeping in mind that even this may not be adequate. We would welcome the opportunity to assist any investigator preparing to undertake a survey for coccidioidomycosis in his country.Paper read at the Eighth International Congresses for Tropical Medicine and Malaria, September 1968, Teheran (Iran).     

Coccidioidomycosis of the male reproductive tract

Coccidioides immitis infection of the male reproductive tract is a rare entity that can evade diagnosis and pose a dilemma in management. Initially, patients are often evaluated for malignancy or other infections such as tuberculosis. In the past, surgery was the only management option for C. immitis infection of the male reproductive tract, but azole therapy now provides an adjunct or an alternative. We describe two patients who received azole therapy for C. immitis infection of the male reproductive tract. One received fluconazole for prostatic disease, while one received surgery followed by itraconazole for testicular disease. After 12 months of therapy, both remain asymptomatic and have decreased antibody titers against C. immitis.Disclaimer: The Views expressed herein are those of the authors do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, Department of Defence, or the U.S. Government.     

Researches on the etiological agents of the american blastomycosis

Summary and conclusion We have been able to establish typical characteristics of the species, in artificial culture media, of the fungus causingPosadas-Wernicke's disease. Our work is base on the study of ten strains of the fungus and on their retrocultures — obtianed by inoculation of these strains in laboratory animals — in variosu culture media, among them cornmeal agar (Emmons media) which in our opinion is a medium indispensable for the differencing and for the classification of the fungus from other agents which produce syndromes of a like nature.A revision was made of the literature of the morphology of the causal agent ofPosadas-Wernicke's disease and an analysis of the predominant and characteristic fructification of the fungus. In attention to the above facts, we think that the fungus in question should be included in the genusAleurisma Link, 1809. Therefore, admitting the validity of this genus, we believe that the name of the etiological agent ofPosadas-Wernicke's disease should be changed toAleurisma immitis, the diagnosis being justified by the microscopic study inEmmons media and completed by the forms found in a medium rich in glycides. The diagnoses is the following: Aleurisma immitis. — In substratis pauperibus gignuntur hyphis mycelicis hyalinis, septatis, satis ramosis, ramulis in angulo pene recto; aleuriis abundantissimis, valde simplicibus, centralibus et regulariter seriatis, vel apicalibus, rarissime lateralibus, sessilibus, rare pedicellatis, rectangularibus, hyalinis, aliquoties in racemis et thyrsis dispositis. Spirae saepe videntur. In substratis carbohydratis plenis, chlamydosporis intercalaribus et apicalibus abundantibus; aleuriis et spiris nec numerosis aut typicis quam in pauperibus substratis.(so called Coccidioidomycosis)     

The identification of ergosterol and Δ9(11)-dehydroergosterol from mycelia ofCoccidioides immitis by reverse-phase high-performance liquid and gas chromatography and ultraviolet and mass spectrometry

A previous reported unidentified sterol, C₂₈H₄₂O, isolated from arthrospores and mycelia ofCoccidioides immitis, is identified here as Δ⁹⁽¹¹⁾-dehydroergosterol (ergosta-5,7,9(11),22-tetraen-3β-ol) by reverse-phase high-performance liquid and gas-liquid chromatography and ultraviolet and mass spectrometry. In addition, ergosterol (ergosta-5,7,22-trien-3β-ol) and Δ⁹⁽¹¹⁾-dehydroergosterol were found as fatty acid esters in approximate ratios of 3:1, respectively, in fresh acetone extracts of 4-day mycelial growth of several strains ofC. immitis.     

Environmental vVariability and coccidioidomycosis (valley fever)

Coccidioidomycosis (valley fever) is a disease endemic to arid regions in the western hemisphere, and is caused by the soil-dwellingfungus Coccidioides immitis (C. immitis). In this paper, we provide an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding valley fever and C. immitis as related to climatic conditions and habitat requirements. Previous research shows there is a relationship between temperature and precipitation, and outbreaks of coccidioidomycosis. Incidence of the disease varies seasonally as well as annually due to changing climatic conditions. However, the specific environmental conditions that may produce an outbreak of coccidioidomycosis are not well understood in space and time. Previous studies have attempted characterize C. immitis' habitat. Temperature, moisture, salinity, and pH of the soil have all been considered separately in the geographic distribution of the fungus. Medical and proactive intervention are served best, however, by an integrative strategy that folds climate and surface variables into spatially-explicit models. We conclude with recommendations for future research directions.     

Coccidioides immitis isolated from armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) in the state of Piauí, northeast Brazil

Natural infection of armadillos with Coccidioides immitis was studied in the state of Piauí, northeast of Brazil, endemic for coccidioidomycosis. In 1998, 26 nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) were captured in 4 different counties. The animals were sacrificed under deep anesthesia with ether. At necropsy fragments of spleen, liver, lungs and heart were homogenized and seeded onto Sabouraud dextrose agar with and without cycloheximide (BBL, USA). Part of each organ was also processed for histological examination. Suspected colonies of filamentous fungi observed after the second week of incubation at room temperature, exhibiting barrel-shaped arthroconidia alternating with empty spaces, were inoculated intraperitoneally into mice. Three armadillos proved to be infected with C. immitis. Mice inoculated with suspected colonies obtained from homogenized spleen of three and liver of two armadillos developed disseminated coccidioidomycosis and immature and mature spherules of C. immitis were disclosed in several organs. For the first time armadillos (D. novemcinctus) were found naturally infected with C. immitis, adding new data on the ecology and on a possible role of these ancestral mammals in the evolutionary life cycle of this fungus. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The genus Blastomycoides as a mycological entity

Summary Studies were made on some environmental factors promoting yeast-phase growth ofBlastomycoides in chemically defined media. With inclusion of different tryptophane desaminase inhibitors, pure yeast phase of growth was obtained. The same factors facilitate the development of perfect sexual forms and the observation of the cytological characteristics. Therefore,Blastomycoides, represented byBlastomyces dermatitidis, Bl. brasiliensis, Bl. cerolytica andBl. immitis (formerlyCoccidioides immitis), form a special genus which is very near to the Protomyces and represents a transitory phase between the Endomycetales and the Taphrinales. Although the vegetative mycelium of the Blastomycoides resembles the Aleurismaceae, they cannot be classified as such, especially because they are dimorphic fungi (filamentous-yeast) and their sexual forms are characteristic asci on a very primitive level.Blastomycoides not only represent a group of fungi causing grave visceral mycoses (blastomycoses) but they also are an indiscutable mycological entity, as yet represented in the genusBlastomycoides     

Experimental coccidioidomycosis: Effects of cyclophosphamide in immunologic responses

Rats were infected with Coccidioides immitis and injected with cyclophosphamide three days pre or post infection.Administration of the drug before the infection caused enhancement of DTH response and decrease of the colony forming units (CFU). Conversely, injection of the drug three days post infection produced contrary effects, indicating that a normal T-cell function is essential as a defense mechanism in C. immitis infection.