Malassezia Folliculitis in China

Superficial Malassezia folliculitis was diagnosed in 1-1.5% of all dermatology patients seen in a Dermatology Out-Patient clinic in Urumqi City, Xinjiang province, west China. It was most prevalent in healthy, middle-aged males in the warm seasons. This disease, first reported in 1969, is usually diagnosed as a systemic disease of immuno-compromised patients. Our findings indicate it is a relatively common superficial skin disease that can be managed with ketoconazole or itraconazole.     

马拉色菌毛囊炎67例临床分析

2006年6月～2008年6月期间我所诊治马拉色菌毛囊炎108例。对于其中资料齐全的67例，我们进行了分析，报告如下。     

Secreted Hydrolytic and Haemolytic Activities of Malassezia Clinical Strains

Mycopathologia - Malassezia yeasts are opportunistic pathogens associated with a number of skin diseases in animals and humans. The free fatty acids released through these organisms’ lipase...     

马拉色菌相关病例的探讨

目的探讨马拉色菌与相关皮肤病的特殊临床症状,提高对其的认识及疗效。方法回顾性分析相关病例的特殊临床表现、真菌学检查及治疗。结果3例临床表现为鳞屑性红斑患者的皮损中发现大量马拉色菌菌丝,经在含脂质的培养基上生长出球形马拉色菌,抗真菌治疗有效。1例表现为甲营养不良的患者甲屑中发现有大量马拉色菌菌丝。结论在非花斑癣患者的皮损中发现大量马拉色菌,可能与其外用皮质类固醇激素制剂有关。     

Skin diseases associated with Malassezia species in humans. Clinical features and diagnostic criteria

Malassezia yeasts not only cause the well known pityriasis versicolor and folliculitis, but also play an important role in other skin diseases, including seborrheic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis. The presence of Malassezia yeasts may be confirmed by direct microscopic examination and cultures of skin scrapings. In pityriasis versicolor the direct microscopic examination is the rapidest and surest test for confirming the clinical diagnosis. The preparation will show a cluster of globose budding spores with thick or double wall and short hyphae. For detecting Malassezia in the other diseases the cultures is preferable. Culture is useful both for confirming the clinical diagnosis and for epidemiological investigations. The identification of the Malassezia species is not easy. The microscopic observation of the colony direct towards the identification of Malassezia species, but it is not enough to identify the colonies definitely. Several biochemical tests are necessary for a precise identification, such as catalase reaction, growth on media without lipid sources, ability to utilize hydrophilic emulsifiers as sole lipid source, esculin test, tryptophan test.     

Molecular Epidemiology of Malassezia globosa and Malassezia restricta in Sudanese Patients with Pityriasis Versicolor

Pityriasis versicolor is a superficial infection of the stratum corneum caused by Malassezia yeasts. The cutaneous Malassezia globosa and Malassezia restricta in Sudanese patients with pityriasis versicolor were elucidated using a molecular-based, culture-independent method and compared with that in healthy individuals. Scale samples were collected by applying an Opsite? transparent dressing to lesional and non-lesional sites on 29 Sudanese patients with pityriasis versicolor and 54 healthy individuals. Malassezia DNA was extracted directly from the samples. The overall level of colonization by Malassezia globosa and Malassezia restricta was analyzed by real-time PCR using a TaqMan probe. The overall level of colonization by Malassezia at the lesional sites was higher than that at the non-lesional sites for all body sites, including the face, neck, cheeks, and trunk (2.7- to 6.0-fold increase). Both M. globosa and M. restricta were detected in patients and healthy individuals. However, M. globosa predominated at lesional sites, whereas the level of colonization by both species was similar in healthy individuals.     

马拉色菌相关人群及正常人群耳耵聍中马拉色菌带菌情况的调查

目的调查马拉色菌相关人群及正常人群耳耵聍中马拉色菌带菌情况。方法用结晶紫染色法对96例被调查人群耳耵聍进行马拉色菌检测,同时作培养,并以标准株作对照,用生理生化方法将耵聍中分离到的79株马拉色菌进行分类。结果马拉色菌相关人群耳耵聍中马拉色菌的直接检出率为91．84％（45／49）,培养阳性率为81．63％（40／49）,其中厚皮马拉色菌8株（16．33％）,合轴马拉色菌10株（20．41％）,糠秕马拉色菌22株（44．90％）。正常人群耳耵聍马拉色菌直接检出率为89．36％（42／47）,培养阳性率为78．72％（37／47）,其中厚皮马拉色菌5株（10．64％）,合轴马拉色菌8株（17．02％）,糠秕马拉色菌23株（48．93％）,斯洛菲马拉色菌1株（2．13％）。结论马拉色菌为正常人群及马拉色菌相关人群外耳道正常菌群,两组人群中马拉色菌的分离率和菌种分布无显著性差异。     

Onychomycosis due to Malassezia.

The records of fifty patients presenting Malassezia spp. associated onychomycosis were compiled from two different mycology laboratories from Medellín, Colombia. Malassezia spp. was isolated by culture as the only etiological agent in 32% of the cases and associated to a yeast of the genus Candida in 30% of the cases. In 22% of the cases although Malassezia spp. was observed by direct examination, it was no isolated but others species were obtained. No etiological agent was isolated by culture in 16% of the cases. We found evidence of the Malassezia spp.- Candida relationship in 48% of the cases by either direct examination or by culture isolation. The level of detection of Malassezia spp. by culture isolation was of 62% as compared to the direct examination. Results showed similar patterns of distribution of epidemilogical factors for both entities: onychomycosis by Candida albicans and onychomycosis by Malassezia spp.     

The pathogenesis of Malassezia yeasts

The genus Malassezia includes twelve species of yeast, many of which have been mainly associated with human and canine diseases. Malassezia pachydermatis colonizes the skin and mucosal sites of healthy dogs and cats. Despite being part of the normal cutaneous microflora, Malassezia spp. yeast may become pathogenic under certain circumstances. This article reviews the factors related to both host and yeast which affect the pathogenical or commensal phenotypes of Malassezia yeasts.     

关注青海

青海是我们国家一个很重要的水资源发源地。这里不但有长江、黄河、澜沧江,它们的径流量黄河占了49％,长江和澜沧江也有相当的水量来自青海;另外还有两条河,一条是黑河,一条是石羊河,也是水流量相当丰富的大河。黑河起源于青海省的祁连山,对河西走廊的农牧业生产影响非常大,它除了对甘肃省的粮仓——张掖一带的农业生产起支撑作用外,     

Focus on Antibodies

Cover illustration: Focus on Antibodies. This issue of Biotechnology Journal features relevant articles about antibody production, stability and humanization. Clearly, these developments contribute to make antibodies the most successful biopharmaceuticals, which are slowly but surely dominating the market (already constituting more than 30%percnt; of therapeutics). Images © Photodisc Inc. (ELISA) and Jenny Woof (human IgG1).