Immunological Studies on Dermatophytes II. Serological Reactivities of Mannans Prepared from Galactomannans I and II of Microsporum quinckeanum, Trichophyton granulosum, Trichophyton interdigitale, Trichophyton rubrum, and Trichophyton schoenleinii

The contribution of terminal galactofuranose residues to the antigenic specificity and to cross-reactivity of galactomannans isolated from five species of dermatophytes, Microsporum quinckeanum, Trichophyton granulosum, T. interdigitale, T. rubrum, and T. schoenleinii, was investigated. Galactofuranose units were removed from galactomannans I and galactomannans II by mild acid hydrolysis. The resulting mannans were tested for serological reactivity with rabbit antiserum to M. quinckeanum by qualitative precipitation in gel and by quantitative complement-fixation analyses. Our results showed that, with this antiserum, the galactofuranose residues contributed greatly to the antigenic specificity and to cross-reactivity of the galactomannans II, but these residues were less significant as antigenic determinants in the galactomannans I. We have shown that mannans isolated from three Candida species reacted with rabbit antiserum to M. quinckeanum.     

Immunological Studies on Dermatophytes I. Serological Reactivities of Neutral Polysaccharides with Rabbit Antiserum to Microsporum quinckeanum

Antiserum produced in the rabbit to autoclaved mycelial suspensions of Microsporum quinckeanum reacted with three neutral polysaccharides isolated from each of five species of dermatophytes, M. quinckeanum, Trichophyton granulosum, T. interdigitale, T. rubrum, and T. sch?nleinii. The serological reactivities of these polysaccharides, grouped as galactomannans I, galactomannans II, and glucans, were compared by qualitative precipitation analyses in gel and quantitative complement-fixation analyses. Significant differences were found among the glucans and galactomannans II but not among the galactomannans I of these species.     

Immunological Studies on Dermatophytes IV. Chemical Structures and Serological Reactivities of Polysaccharides from Microsporum praecox, Trichophyton ferrugineum, Trichophyton sabouraudii, and Trichophyton tonsurans

The chemical structures and serological specificities of polysaccharides isolated from four species of dermatophytes, Microsporum praecox, Trichophyton ferrugineum, T. sabouraudii, and T. tonsurans, were investigated. Each of these species yielded a mixture of crude polysaccharides which could be separated into three water-soluble, neutral polysaccharides free of nitrogen. These were grouped as galactomannan I, galactomannan II, and glucan. The galactomannans I were quite similar in chemical structure. When measured by complement fixation, their serological cross-reactivities were similar with rabbit antisera to each of these species except T. sabouraudii. The differences in their relative reactivities with this antiserum could be correlated with differences in structure and specificity of this antiserum for galactofuranose end groups. The galactomannans II differed both in chemical structure and in their serological reactivities with antisera to each of these species. The galactomannan II from T. ferrugineum differed most in chemical structure and was the least reactive serologically. The glucans also differed in both structure and serological reactivities.     

Use of arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction to differentiate Trichophyton dermatophytes

Abstract Dermatophytes such as Trichophyton species are common human pathogens, the infection of which results in dermatophytosis (also known as ringworm). Several laboratory tests are used routinely for the diagnosis of dermatophytosis, but they are either slow or lacking specificity. Through examination of genomic DNA from Trichophyton dermatophytes and other fungi in arbitrarily primed PCR, it was shown that a random primer 5'-ACCCGACCTG-3' produced bands of 4.3 kb, 1.9 kb, 1.7 kb and 0.7 kb in T. rubrum DNA, bands of 2.5 kb, 1.9 kb and 0.8 kb in T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale and T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes DNA, and bands of 2.5 kb, 1.9 kb, 1.5 kb and 0.9 kb in T. tonsurans DNA. This primer amplified bands of different sizes in other fungal DNA. Therefore, based on the distinct band patterns observed in arbitrarily primed PCR using this primer, T. rubrum , T. mentagrophytes and T. tonsurans dermatophytes could be rapidly differentiated.     

Antigenic relationship between downy and granular forms of Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum

One strain each of granular and downy varieties of Trichophyton mentagrophytes and two strains each of granular and floccose colonial types Trichophyton rubrum were used for preparation of antigens. The antigens were analyzed by double diffusion against homologous and heterologous antisera raised in rabbits. A total of 17 distinct antigens were recognized, seven of which were common to two dermatophytes. Granular and downy varieties of the Trichophyton species produced on additional line of nonidentity. Cross reactions failed to establish any relationship between similar morphologic forms of different dermatophytes. One isolate of T. rubrum, which was originally the floccose culture type but changed into the granular form after artificial infection, showed an antigenic relationship to the floccose culture.     

Cross-reactive polysaccharides from Trypanosoma cruzi and fungi (especially Dactylium dendroides)

Cross-reactivity between fungal and Trypanosoma cruzi polysaccharides, owing to common residues of beta-D-galactofuranose, beta-D-galactopyranose, and alpha-D-mannopyranose, was demonstrated by using rabbit immune sera against T. cruzi epimastigotes and sera from patients with Chagas' disease. Several chagasic (Ch) sera precipitated partly purified galactomannans from Aspergillus fumigatus and from T. cruzi epimastigotes and also the galactoglucomannan from Dactylium dendroides. Reaction of one Ch serum with T. cruzi galactomannan (GM) was completely inhibited by synthetic beta-D-Galf-(1----3)-Me alpha-D-Manp, and that of another Ch serum with a purified D. dendroides galactoglucomannan (GGM) was partly inhibited by (1----6)-linked (81%) or by (1----3)-linked (33%) beta-D-Galf-Me alpha-D-Manp. The beta-D-Galf-(1----3)-alpha-D-Manp epitope was present in both T. cruzi and D. dendroides polysaccharides. Rabbit anti-T. cruzi antisera precipitated A. fumigatus GM, T. cruzi antigenic extracts containing the lipopeptidophosphoglycan (LPPG), T. cruzi alkali-extracted GM, a synthetic GM, and D. dendroides GGM. Weak reactivities were obtained for a Torulopsis lactis-condensi GM containing beta-D-Galp terminal residues and for baker's yeast mannan with alpha-D-Manp-(1----3)-alpha-D-Manp-(1----2)-alpha-D-Manp+ ++-(1----2) side chains. An anti-LPPG rabbit serum precipitated D. dendroides GGM--a reaction inhibited (82%) by beta-D-Galf-(1----3)-Me alpha-D-Manp and. less efficiently, by a (1----5)-linked beta-D-Galf-tetrasaccharide. Sera from mice immunized with D. dendroides whole cells reacted with CL-strain trypomastigotes as shown by indirect immunofluorescence, by a Staphylococcus adherence test, but were not lytic. Mice immunized with D. dendroides were not protected against a challenge with virulent T. cruzi trypomastigotes.     

须癣毛癣菌的形态学及分子生物学鉴定

目的对临床上分离自人(36株)及狐狸(5株)的须癣毛癣菌菌株进行新的分类系统鉴定,并检测传统的分类方法是否能满足临床鉴定需要。方法①观察原鉴定为须癣毛癣菌菌株在沙氏培养基、1%蛋白胨培养基、溴甲酚紫乳固体葡萄糖琼脂培养基(BCP-MSG)和显微镜下形态学及尿素酶、毛发穿孔等生理学试验表现。②通过ITS区段和LSU区段分子生物学序列分析进行新的分类系统的菌种分型,并对传统形态学和生理学鉴定方法进行检测。结果①41株须癣毛癣菌形态学及生理学试验符合须癣毛癣菌(38株)和红色毛癣菌(3株)菌落的特点。②ITS区段序列分析发现ITS区段能将须癣毛癣菌和红色毛癣菌准确的鉴定到种,但无法明确其种内分型;而LSU区段序列分析可对36株(36/38)须癣毛癣菌有性型做出明确的鉴定。结论传统实验室鉴定方法仍具有其有效性及可靠性。通过分子生物学鉴定,临床分离的须癣毛癣菌皆为指(趾)间毛癣菌(38/38),而LSU区段的序列分析鉴定狐狸源性菌株皆属于本海姆节皮菌,有别于大多数人源性菌株有性型为万博节皮菌,对于须癣毛癣菌的菌种鉴定更优于ITS区段,但分子生物学试验还需结合形态学的观察,才能够对菌种做出正确的鉴定。     

Culture medium alkalinization by dermatophytes

95 dermatophyte strains (12 of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, 12 of T. tonsurans, 11 of T. rubrum, 12 of T. megninii, 12 of T. violaceum, 2 of T. schoenleinii, 1 of T. soudanense, 12 of M. canis, 8 of Microsporum gypseum, 1 of M. ferrugineum and 12 of Epidermphoyton floccosum). 1 of Aspergillus niger, 1 of A. ochraceus, 1 of Paecilomyces sp., 1 of Penicillium sp. and 1 of Candida albicans were grown in Sabouraud liquid medium for the study of pH variation over 6 weeks at room temperature and after 4 weeks at 37 degrees C. All the dermatophyte strains alkalinized the medium. The highest pH values after 2-3 weeks' development in room temperature were produced by T. mentagrophytes, M. gypseum and M. canis, and the lowest by T. rubrum and T. violaceum. After the 4th week the alkalinizing activity became more marked for T. mentagrophytes and remained stationary for T. violaceum, In the 5th week the values produced by T. tonsurans were higher than those for M. gypseum, and those for E. floccosum and T. megninii were higher than those of M. canis. A similar behaviour was observed for T. rubrum and T. megninii and for M. canis, M. gypseum and M. ferrugineum. There seems to be a relation between the alkalinizing capacity and the rapidity and amount of the growth. At 37 degrees C both alkalinization and range of variation of the pH values of the medium became more noticeable for the strains of each species.     

应用CLSI M38-A2方案测定须癣毛癣菌对抗真菌药物敏感性

目的:对我国代表地区须癣毛癣菌临床分离株作抗真菌药物敏感性测定,进一步验证CLSI的M38-A2方案.方法:选取我国南北方8个省市地区经表型和分子生物学鉴定的趾间型毛癣菌38株和苯海姆节皮菌6株,采用M38-A2方案测定氟康唑、伊曲康唑、伏立康唑、特比萘芬、灰黄霉素、联苯苄唑、环吡酮胺和阿莫罗芬等8种常见抗真菌药物的最小抑菌浓度(minimal inhibitory concentration,MIC).结果:氟康唑、伊曲康唑、伏立康唑、特比萘芬、灰黄霉素、联苯苄唑、环吡酮胺和阿莫罗芬对趾间型毛癣菌株的MIC值(μg/mL)范围分别为0.25-32、0.0312-1、0.0156-0.0625、0.000937-0.00781、0.0625-1、0.0312-2、1-2、0.00781-0.0625;对苯海姆节皮菌株的MIC值(μg/mL)范围分别为≥64、2、0.25-0.5、0.000937-0.00381、1、2-4、1-2、0.0312-0.0625.不同抗真菌药物对趾间型毛癣菌及苯海姆节皮菌的药敏有明显差别(P<0.001);趾间型毛癣菌和苯海姆节皮菌对伊曲康唑、灰黄霉素、环吡酮胺、伏立康唑和氟康唑的药敏差异有统计学意义,对特比萘芬、阿莫罗芬和联苯苄唑的药敏差异无统计学意义.结论:趾间型毛癣菌和苯海姆节皮菌之间对伊曲康唑、灰黄霉素、环吡酮胺、伏立康唑和氟康唑的药敏有明显差异.M38-A2方案有较好的重复性和稳定性,适合用来体外测定须癣毛癣菌对抗真菌药物的敏感性.     

Studies in the Epidemiology of Tinea Pedis. IX: Tinea Pedis and Erythrasma in New Patients at a Chiropody Clinic

The feet of 259 new patients at a chiropody clinic were examined for tinea pedis, onychomycosis, and erythrasma: 23% of men and 4% of women were infected by dermatophytes, and the nails of seven males were infected by non-dermatophytes. Of 200 patients examined under Wood''s light 37% showed the coral-red fluorescence of erythrasma.Of the 259 patients, 9.7% were infected by Trichophyton interdigitale, 2.7% by T. rubrum, and 1.5% by Epidermophyton floccosum. Reasons are given, based on the method of selection of the patients, for supposing that T. interdigitale is still the dominant cause of tinea pedis in the population at large, despite figures from dermatological clinics suggesting the dominance of T. rubrum. The high incidence of infection in males compared with females corresponds with similar findings in school-children.     

Antimicrobial effects of plant extracts on Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum and other micro-organisms

Extracts of 54 plant species were tested for ability to inhibit bacteria and fungi, especially Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum and Streptococcus mutans. The latter three species cause common dermal, mucosal, or oral infections in humans that are difficult to control effectively. Fifteen plant extracts produced detectable antimicrobial activity. The most active included Celastrus scandens root bark, Juglans nigra fruit husks, Kalmia latifolia leaves, Pelargonium xhortorum leaves, and Rhus glabra root bark. Five plant species inhibited Strep. mutans , four inhibited T. rubrum , and two inhibited C. albicans. Lindera benzoin , a common temperate zone shrub, showed evidence of selective toxicity. Extract of L. benzoin bark strongly inhibited C. albicans and T. rubrum , but did not affect any of the other microorganisms tested.     

Keratinolysis by poultry farm soil fungi

Two hundred and eleven dogs (including strictly house and stray dogs) and 170 cattle in and around the city of Madras, India were screened for the presence of dermatophytosis. 106 strains of dermatophytes (89 strains from dogs and 17 strains from bovines) were isolated. 57/106 strains were Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes and 42/106 strains were of the Microsporum gypseum complex. 5 strains of T. rubrum and 2 strains of T. simii were also obtained in culture. A predominance of M. gypseum complex isolates was recorded in stray dogs and cattle and T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum in strictly house dogs. The family history of the owners of the most of the dogs had clear records of dermatophytosis. Further, the owners of the 11 dogs that yielded T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes had either tinea corporis or tinea pedis. The etiological agent of all the 11 human cases was T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale. Similarly the owners of 4 of the 5 dogs that yielded T. rubrum were known T. rubrum patients. All these patients responded to oral griseofulvin or ketaconozole, but the recurrence of lesions was noted with the cessation of treatment. None of the patients had onychomycosis and the family history of all the patients revealed no reports of T. rubrum infections. The pet dogs were presumed to be the source of re-infection. Reversed transmission of dermatophytes from humans to animals may be the reason for the selective predominance of these organisms in strictly house dogs. They also may act as sources of reinfection. Most of the animals had small, occult, scattered lesions. These lesions may either go unnoticed or are ignored by the owners of the animals. The taxonomic status of T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes and T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale was aligned to their teleomorph Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii. Our study suggests that the periodic screening and medication of all live-stock are essential for the prevention and management of the public health problem caused by dermatophytes. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Serological differences among the dermatophytes.

Antigens were prepared from young mycelial growth of 20 species of dermatophytes, and tested by double diffusion against homologous and heterologous antisera raised in rabbits. 48 distinct antigens were recognised by the procedures used. Although there were a considerable number of common reactions, there were significant differences between species and groups. Species of Microsporum, with the exception of M. gypseum and M. persicolor, form a coherent group distinct from Epidermophyton and Trichophyton. All Trichophyton species investigated with the exception of T. ajelloi, were serologically closely related. M. gypseum, T. ajelloi and M. persicolor showed affinities with both Microsporum and Trichophyton, and possibly form an intermediate group. The system used does not permit differentiation of species by serological means, but gives a new dimension to the inter-relationships of these fungi.     

Taxonomy of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes/T. interdigitale Species Complex Harboring the Highly Virulent,Multiresistant Genotype T. indotineae

Mycopathologia - A severe outbreak of highly virulent and multi-resistant dermatophytosis by species in the Trichophyton mentagrophytes/T. interdigitale complex is ongoing in India. The correct...     

应用RAPD技术对我国不同地域红色毛癣菌分离株的遗传多样性研究

目的探讨我国不同地域红色毛癣菌分离株的遗传多样性。方法采用随机扩增DNA多态性(RAPD)方法对来源于我国不同地域(江苏南京,山东济南,广东广州)的32株红色毛癣菌临床分离株进行DNA多态性分析。结果红色毛癣菌种内差异明显,根据遗传相似性分成三大聚类群,与地域差异及取材部位无明显相关性,而与表型具有一定相关性。结论随机扩增DNA多态性方法可用于红色毛癣菌的DNA分型,其DNA带型具有一定的遗传变异性,与菌株表型有一定关系,与地域差异、侵犯部位无明显相关性。     

Immunology of dermatophytosis

By causing experimental lesions of dermatophytosis in rabbits inoculated and reinoculated with T. mentagrophytes var. granulosum and T. rubrum a study was carried out of the state of cellular immunity response, during infection, and also of the antigens responsible for the sensitization. Cellular immunity response was detected using the leucocyte migration test (L.M.T.) in the presence of antigenic compounds of the 'Keratinase' of Eleuterio et al.     

Relationships of Phenylobacterium immobile and purple nonsulfur bacteria on the basis of surface antigens

Abstract Indirect immunofluorescence tests with antisera against whole cells of Phenylobacterium immobile strains revealed a serological relationship to Pseudomonas vesicularis, Aquaspirillum itersonii and Rhodospirillum rubrum , three members of the purple nonsulfur bacteria (group I) and also to Gluconobacter oxydans and Azotobacter vinelandii . Antisera against whole cells of Gluconobacter oxydans and Pseudomonas vesicularis reacted positively with the Phenylobacterium immobile strains, tested. Furthermore, a serological relationship of Gluconobacter oxydans to Acetobacter aceti , and of Pseudomonas vesicularis to Pseudomonas diminuta and Aquaspirillum itersonii could be demonstrated.     

Antifungal effects of herbal essential oils alone and in combination with ketoconazole against Trichophyton spp

AIMS: To determine the effects of herbal essential oils on Trichophyton spp. growth and to evaluate the effects of Pelargonium graveolens oil and its main components citronellol and geraniol combined with ketoconazole against Trichophyton spp. METHODS AND RESULTS: Growth inhibition of six Trichophyton spp. by herbal essential oils was accessed and the combined effects of P. graveolens oil and its main components citronellol and geraniol were evaluated using a checkerboard microtitre assay against T. schoenleinii, T. erinacei and T. soudanense. The essential oil fraction of P. graveolens and its main components, geraniol and citronellol, exhibited strong synergism with ketoconazole against T. schoenleinii and T. soudanense, with fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices in the range of 0.18-0.38. CONCLUSIONS: The antifungal effects of ketoconazole against Trichophyton spp. are enhanced significantly by administering it in combination with the essential oil fraction of P. graveolens or its main components, because of strong synergism, especially against T. soudanense and T. schoenleinii. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The combination of ketoconazole and the essential oil fraction from P. graveolens or its main components for treatment of infections caused by Trichophyton species may reduce the minimum effective dose of ketoconazole, and thus minimize the side-effects of ketoconazole.     

Polysaccharides of green Arabica and Robusta coffee beans

Two independent procedures for the quantitative determination of the polysaccharide content of Arabica Caturra (Coffea arabica var. Caturra) and Robusta ROM (Coffea canephora var. ROM) green coffee beans showed that they both contained identical amounts of polysaccharide. Cell wall material (CWM) was prepared from the beans and partial solubilisation of component polysaccharides was effected by sequential extraction with water, 1 M KOH, 0.3% NaClO2, 4 M KOH and 8 M KOH. The monosaccharide compositions of the CWMs were similar, although Arabica beans contained slightly more mannose than Robusta. In the latter, more arabinogalactan was solubilised during preparation of the CWM and the water-soluble fraction of the CWM contained higher amounts of galactomannan than in Arabica. Linkage analysis indicated that the galactomannans possessed unbranched to branched mannose ratios between 14:1 and 30:1 which is higher than previously reported. No major difference in the structural features of the galactomannans between species was found. The arabinogalactans were heterogeneous both with regard to the degree of branching and the degree of polymerisation of their arabinan side-chains. Compared to Arabica, Robusta appeared to contain greater amounts of arabinogalactans with longer side chains. It is concluded that there was no detectable difference between the Arabica and Robusta varieties of this study in their absolute polysaccharide content or in the gross structural features of their galactomannans. Differences were apparent both in the structural features and ease of solubility of the arabinogalactans but a more detailed study of several varieties of Arabica and Robusta will be required to determine whether these differences occur consistently between species.     

家庭内红色毛癣菌病患者间菌株差异性分析

目的用PCR技术比较分离自同一家庭红色毛癣菌病患者的菌株差异性,分析家庭内多发的红色毛癣菌病的致病菌株是家内相互感染,还是家外感染。方法以家庭内多发的皮肤癣菌病患者为研究对象,分离致病菌株并以传统方法鉴定菌种。再分别用随机扩增多态性DNA(RAPD)和巢式PCR特异扩增红色毛癣菌的串联重复亚元件(TRSS:TRS-1/TRS-2)产生的指纹图谱分析种内株间有无差异性。结果纳入实验的16株菌分离自8个家庭,用形态学等方法及种特异引物均鉴定为红色毛癣菌。RAPD显示4个家庭内的菌株间有差异性,TRS-1区PCR指纹图谱显示5个家庭内菌株有株间差异,TRS-2区能鉴定出2个家庭内菌株间有差异。综合各方法共区分出6个家庭内的菌株间有带型差异。结论该研究提示家庭内多发红色毛癣菌病从家外途径感染率高于家内感染。TRS-1区PCR指纹图谱对红色毛癣菌的菌株区分度高于RAPD,更适于红色毛癣菌株间分型。结合多种分子分型方法可最大限度发现不同菌株间的差异。