Analysis of Malassezia microbiota in healthy superficial human skin and in psoriatic lesions by multiplex real-time PCR

Yeasts from the genus Malassezia are members of the normal biota of human skin, and may play a role in dermatopathology. Our previous study of the fungal microbiota from healthy subjects and from patients with psoriasis using clone library analysis revealed the presence of five Malassezia species and four uncharacterized phylotypes. We now compared the Malassezia microbiota from six healthy body locations and two psoriatic lesions, and evaluated its stability over time using multiplex real-time PCR. Samples from each body location were obtained monthly, for 4 months. Dual-labeled probes were designed to recognize four Malassezia sp. and two uncharacterized groups, and a genus-specific probe was also developed. A good correspondence was obtained between real-time PCR data and clone library analyses. Malassezia restricta was the most abundant species in the majority of samples, and high amounts of Malassezia globosa were also detected. The uncharacterized phylotype 1 was usually detected in lower proportions, nevertheless it was present in most samples. The microbiota was host-specific and relatively stable over time. In accordance with our previous observations, no significant dichotomy between samples from healthy skin and from psoriatic lesions was found; the samples clustered according to the subject, rather than health status.     

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。     

人体菌群与类风湿性关节炎相关性的研究进展

类风湿性关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis,RA)是一种慢性炎症性自身免疫性疾病,严重影响患者生理以及心理健康。尽管过去20多年RA的治疗进展迅速,但我们对RA的病因学仍知之甚少。研究表明,RA的发病与遗传、环境以及免疫这三大因素息息相关。众所周知,人体菌群与这三大因素亦有着密切的联系。越来越多的临床试验及动物实验指出,人体菌群失调在RA病程的发生发展中起着至关重要的作用。本综述整理近年来人体菌群与类风湿性关节炎相关性的研究进展,通过循证人体菌群,为类风湿性关节炎的诊断、预防和治疗提供新思路。     

The diversity of Pityrosporum (Malassezia) yeasts in vivo and in vitro

Conclusions In considering the diversity of the lipophilic yeasts it has been shown that in vivo both spherical and oval yeasts may be found in normal conditions on the skin and also associated with hyphae in scales from pityriasis versicolor. There is however generally a different distribution pattern on the body for two forms. This may indicate a different ecology for two distinct varieties or the varying conditions at each site may influence changes in the cell shape of a single species. It is striking that the spherical yeasts (P. orbiculare) have not been found in animals. In vitro, several morphological variants can be maintained, but the change from one form to another which is the subject of a number of reports will be one deciding factor leading to the opinion that P. orbiculare and P. ovale are synonymous. However, physiological differences such as growth rate, their viability in subculture and the analysis of proteins, are all characteristics which alone would be insufficient to support a taxonomic division but when added together confirm the morphological separation of isolates. It remains to be seen if DNA studies, which have so far unified the anthropophilic, lipid dependant Pityrosporum yeasts, will in fact continue to show that they should be confined to a single species.This paper was presented at the X^th congress of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology at Barcelona, Spain from June 27 to July 1, 1988.     

粪便微生物宏基因组来源L-天冬酰胺酶的性质表征及应用研究

l-天冬酰胺酶是氨基酸代谢的关键酶,广泛应用于食品和医药领域,肠道菌群及其产生的l-天冬酰胺酶与宿主健康和疾病关系密切。【目的】获取肠道微生物来源的新型l-天冬酰胺酶,并对其进行性质表征和应用研究。【方法】以西黑冠长臂猿粪便微生物宏基因组为模板,克隆l-天冬酰胺酶基因,并在大肠杆菌中表达;对表达出的酶进行酶学性质研究,并用于处理薯条和癌细胞。【结果】克隆获得l-天冬酰胺酶基因NCasn5,全长996 bp,重组酶NCasn5分子量大小为37.296 kDa,最适pH为8.0,最适温度为60 ℃,K_m和V_max值分别为(3.33±0.21) mmol/L和(836.30±13.91)µmol/(min·mg),37 ℃体外血清半衰期约69 h。NCasn5能降低薯条中69.35%的丙烯酰胺含量,抑制人肝癌细胞QGY-7703和人恶性黑色素瘤细胞A-375细胞的生长。【结论】本研究获得的新型l-天冬酰胺酶,具有良好的热稳定性和较长的血清半衰期,不仅无谷氨酰胺酶活性,还能减少油炸薯条中丙烯酰胺的含量,也能诱导癌细胞QGY-7703和A-375凋亡,在食品加工及医药领域具有潜在的应用价值。     

Recent developments in the immunology and biology of Malassezia species

Malassezia spp. are members of the normal cutaneous flora, but are also associated with several cutaneous diseases. Recent studies of the interaction of Malassezia spp. with melanocytes, fibroblasts, keratinocytes and dendritic cells have highlighted their potential to modulate the immune response directed against them. In normal skin they may downregulate the inflammatory response, allowing them to live as commensals. In contrast, in atopic/eczema dermatitis syndrome and psoriasis, they may elicit an inflammatory response that contributes to the maintenance of lesions. Future research may define ways to influence this inflammatory cycle and hence to control or prevent exacerbations of these diseases.     

人类肠道菌群与疾病关系的元基因组学研究进展

人体的生理健康除受自身基因的调控外,还受到肠道菌群的影响。人体肠道内的细菌有1 000～1 150种,其中160种为优势菌种,存在不同类型的生态学相互作用。肠道细菌的300多万个基因被视为人类的"第二基因组",在正常人体健康状态下,肠道微生物种群处于平衡状态,而在宿主患病期,菌群失调或紊乱。采用元基因组学研究能在更高更复杂层次上揭示肠道菌群之间的生命运动规律。本文系统综述了元基因组学对肠道菌群与肥胖、糖尿病、炎症性肠病等疾病之间关系的研究进展。     

Vibrotactile thresholds at the sole of the foot: Effect of vibration frequency and contact location

Studies of vibration perception in the glabrous skin of the human hand have identified four mechanoreceptor channels, with each channel showing characteristic variations in thresholds with variations in the frequency of vibration and the area of vibration excitation. To advance understanding of the channels mediating vibration perception on the sole of the foot, this study determined how thresholds depend on the frequency of vibration, the location on the foot (the big toe, the ball of the foot, and the heel), and the gap between a vibrating probe and a fixed surround. Thresholds at the three locations were obtained at the 12 preferred one-third octave centre frequencies from 20 to 250?Hz using a 6-mm diameter probe with both a 10-mm and a 20-mm diameter surround. With the 10-mm surround, the displacement thresholds at all three locations showed flat responses from 20 to 40?Hz. With both the 10-mm and the 20-mm surround, the displacement thresholds at the three locations showed “U-shaped” responses from 40 to 250?Hz. Relative to thresholds obtained with the 20-mm surround, thresholds obtained with the 10-mm surround were lower at the toe and the heel with 20- and 25-Hz vibration, but higher at the ball of the foot with 31.5- to 250-Hz vibration. It is concluded that absolute thresholds for the perception of vibration at the sole of the foot show important variations with location and with contact conditions and tend to be mediated by the NP I channel in the range from about 20 to 40?Hz and the P channel from about 40 to 250?Hz.     

Characterization of the skin fungal microbiota in patients with atopic dermatitis and in healthy subjects

Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) are highly susceptible to viral, bacterial, and fungal skin infections because their skin is dry and this compromises the barrier function of the skin. Therefore, the skin microbiota of patients with AD is believed to be different from that of healthy individuals. In the present study, the skin fungal microbiota of nine patients with mild, moderate, or severe AD and ten healthy subjects were compared using an rRNA clone library. Fungal D1/D2 large subunit analysis of 3647 clones identified 58 species and seven unknown phylotypes in face scale samples from patients with AD and healthy subjects. Malassezia species were predominant, accounting for 63%-86% of the clones identified from each subject. Overall, the non-Malassezia yeast microbiota of the patients was more diverse than that of the healthy individuals. In the AD samples 13.0 ± 3.0 species per case were detected, as compared to 8.0 ± 1.9 species per case in the samples taken from healthy individuals. Notably, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus diffluens, and Cryptococcus liquefaciens were detected in the samples from the patients with AD. Of the filamentous fungal microbiota, Cladosporium spp. and Toxicocladosporium irritans were the predominant species in these patients. Many pathogenic fungi, including Meyerozyma guilliermondii (anamorphic name, Candida guilliermondii), and Trichosporon asahii, and allergenic microorganisms such as Alternaria alternata and Aureobasidium pullulans were found on the skin of the healthy subjects. When the fungal microbiota of the samples from patients with mild/moderate to severe AD and healthy individuals were clustered together by principal coordinates analysis they were found to be clustered according to health status.     

Characterization of macrophage-like cells in the external layers of human small and large intestine

Summary In the external layers of human small and large intestine macrophage-like cells were characterized by immunohistochemical, histochemical and electronmicroscopical methods. Using immunohistochemistry and a number of monoclonal antibodies, the presence and distribution of phenotypic subpopulations of macrophages were evaluated. In all locations macrophage-like cells were identified with antibody EBM11, which recognizes CD68 antigen, C3bi which recognizes CD11b, and partly with an antibody which recognizes protein 150,95 (CD11c). Macrophage-like cells in the external muscle layer were HLA-DR-positive (expressing the MHC class-II antigen), in contrast to macrophage-like cells in the subserosa and submucosa. Macrophage-like cells in the external muscle layer were mostly acid phosphatase-negative, and at the electron-microscopic level they were found to have features of macrophages: primary lysosomes, coated vesicles and pits. However, very few secondary lysosomes were present. Birbeck granules were not observed. It is concluded that in the external muscle layer of human small and large intestine numerous macrophages of a special type are present. It is discussed whether this cell type plays a role in gastrointestinal motility and/or has an immunological function.     

4种中草药及其复方抗马拉色菌体的外药敏实验

目的观察苦参、当归、侧柏叶和白鲜皮及观察苦参、当归、侧柏叶和白鲜皮、混合药液与主要有效成分对4株CBS马拉色菌标准株的体外抑菌效果。方法通过液基稀释法,用含橄榄油的液体培养基测定各药液对马拉色菌的抑制作用。结果最小抑菌浓度（MIC）由小到大排列分别为：白鲜碱、苦参碱、苦参、侧柏叶、氧化苦参碱、侧柏叶＋当归（二仙丸）、混合药液（侧柏叶＋当归＋苦参＋白鲜皮）、白鲜皮、二仙丸＋苦参、苦参＋白鲜皮、二仙丸＋白鲜皮、槲皮素、当归、阿魏酸。结论4种中草药及其混合药液、主要有效成分均有抑制马拉色菌的作用。     

Selection of bacteria originating from a human intestinal microbiota in the gut of previously germ-free rats

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was applied to separate PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes originating from human microbiota associated (HMA) rat faeces as well as from the human faecal sample used for inoculation of the animals. Subsequently, a total of 15 dominant bands were excised from the DGGE gels, cloned and sequenced. Comparison of the obtained sequences with the Ribosomal Database revealed that species of Bacteroides/Prevotella and Faecalibacterium gave rise to the majority of the dominant bands in the human sample and in the HMA rats. In the HMA rats, two dominant bands, which were not present in the human DGGE profile, originated from species of Ruminococcus. With the exception of the Ruminococcus sequences, sequences originating from both rats and human samples were represented in all major branches of a maximum parsimony tree, indicating that the rat feed and gut environment allows colonization of the dominant taxonomic units from the human microbiota, but additionally selects for Ruminococci. Bands representing Prevotella and Faecalibacterium, which were found in identical positions of the DGGE gels originating from human and HMA rat faecal samples, originated from completely identical sequences, indicating that the same strains of these species were dominating in the human and rat samples.     

南海海军部队特发性瘙痒症患者皮肤马拉色菌定植调查

目的研究南海海军部队特发性皮肤瘙痒症患者皮肤马拉色菌的检出以及菌种的构成,探讨马拉色菌与特发性瘙痒症之间的相关性。方法对采自56例特发性瘙痒症患者与50例健康者的鳞屑标本进行真菌学镜检及采用菜子油培养基培养,根据菌落形态和生理生化特点进行菌种鉴定。结果观察组与对照组镜检阳性率分别为74．10％和72．00％,X2=0．344,P〉0．05两者比较无统计学意义。而镜检马拉色菌孢子密度Ⅲ级以上（每10个高倍视野≥50个者）,观察组与对照组分别为74．70％和38．89％,X2=20．30,P〈0．01。两者统计学比较差异有显著性意义。观察组168份标本共分离出143株马拉色菌,阳性率85．12％。其中合轴马拉色菌97株（67．83％）,球形马拉色菌26株（18．18％）,糠秕马拉色菌19株（13．29％）,钝形马拉色菌1株（0．70％）。对照组分离出马拉色菌107株,阳性率71．33％;其中糠秕马拉色菌55株（51．40％）,合轴马拉色菌33株（30．84％）,球形马拉色菌14株（13．08％）,钝形马拉色菌5株（4．67％）。菌种检出率和菌种构成差异均有显著性（X2=2．99,P〈0．01和7。X2=51.16,P〈0．01）。结论南海海军部队特发性瘙痒症患者皮肤马拉色菌载量较正常人高,其优势菌是合轴马拉色菌。     

Intestinal microbiota in human health and disease: the impact of probiotics

The complex communities of microorganisms that colonise the human gastrointestinal tract play an important role in human health. The development of culture-independent molecular techniques has provided new insights in the composition and diversity of the intestinal microbiota. Here, we summarise the present state of the art on the intestinal microbiota with specific attention for the application of high-throughput functional microbiomic approaches to determine the contribution of the intestinal microbiota to human health. Moreover, we review the association between dysbiosis of the microbiota and both intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases. Finally, we discuss the potential of probiotic microorganism to modulate the intestinal microbiota and thereby contribute to health and well-being. The effects of probiotic consumption on the intestinal microbiota are addressed, as well as the development of tailor-made probiotics designed for specific aberrations that are associated with microbial dysbiosis.     

Preliminary studies on the mechanism of infection and characterization of Malassezia pachydermatis in association with canine otitis externa

A study on the mechanism of infection and the characterization of Malassezia pachydermatis in connection with canine otitis externa was conducted.The ability of this yeast to grow uninhibited in intimate contact with the diversity of other microbial isolants of the canine aural canal was demonstrated. Canine cerumen seemed to promote the growth of this yeast.Although the source of infection is still obscure, M. pachydermatis managed to survive in soil and dust at different temperatures for four weeks.Among the commonly used diagnostic media, Sabouraud's dextrose agar was shown to be the most supportive for the growth of this yeast.The study was presented in parts on the 65th and 66th Conference of Research Worker in Animal disease CRWAD in Chicago, Illinois, 1984 and 1985.     

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers in the brown sole,Pleuronectes herzensteini

New microsatellite DNA markers from brown sole were developed and characterized. Fourteen primer sets were designed from 40 microsatellite regions. Eight of 14 loci exhibited variations comprising 8–31 alleles. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.611 to 0.833 and from 0.647 to 0.968 among 36 individuals, respectively. Phz3, Phz8 and Phz12 significantly deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, and there was a significant linkage disequilibrium between Phz2 and Phz12. Seven of eight loci conformed to the Mendelian manner of inheritance in a full‐sib family. Seven to four loci of three related species were cross‐amplified by primers for brown sole.     

Temporal bone CT in the diagnosis of acquired diseases of the external auditory canal

CT was used to examine 50 patients (100 temporal bones) aged 10 days to 60 years who had no signs of lesion of the external auditory canal (EAC) and 23 patients (27 temporal bones) aged 13 to 65 years who had clinical manifestations of acquired stenosis or obturation of the EAC. Polypositional CT of the temporal bone is the most informative technique of visualization of the osseous part of the EAC, at the same time the anterior and posterior EAC walls were evaluated in the axial projection and the upper and lower EAC walls were assessed in the coronary projection. According to CT data, formation of the osseous part of the EAC occurs within the first 7 years of a child's life. In the presence of EAC changes, CT may assess their pattern (a soft tissue or osseous one), their magnitude and location along the walls of the canal, the tympanic membrane, and other structures of the temporal bone. CT reveals the causes of acquired EAC obturation, stenosis, and atresia: osteocartilaginous exostoses, osteomas, polyps of the EAC, tumors of the temporal bone, as well as obturative keratosis and posttraumatic stenosis of the EAC. The detected EAC changes determine further management policy in a patient.