小鼠念珠菌感染模型和抗感染免疫

目前,临床相关的小鼠念珠菌感染疾病模型种类日益增多.与早期小鼠念珠菌感染模型相比,近期感染模型与临床上免疫抑制机会性念珠菌感染患者的感染方式、感染的发展进程、临床表现、靶器官临床病理组织学特征更相近.建立了特定免疫缺陷小鼠(如转基因/基因敲除小鼠等);感染源从白色念珠菌转向非白念珠菌(如近平滑念珠菌、光滑念珠菌等);感染方式从局部口腔-消化道感染逐步转变为血源性深部多器官组织感染.特定模型的建立更深入地探讨了宿主-念珠菌感染源之间相互的免疫机制.细胞介导的免疫反应在宿主抗念珠菌感染免疫反应中占主导,吞噬细胞直接杀伤真菌;细胞分化为Th1和Th2型细胞,分泌相关细胞因子进行免疫调控.体液免疫中一些保护性抗体也具有一定的保护作用.     

Epidemiological investigations of oral Candida Albicans

Using a gargle-rinse technique, the oral cavities of 103 volunteers were sampled and cultured for the presence ofCandida albicans. Thirty-six (33.95 %) were positive forC. albicans, including 14 females and 22 males. Sixty-four subjects, including negative controls, were placed on treatment regimes of a pre-sleep gargle-rinse with either sterile distilled water (W) or Cepacol® Mouthwash/Gargle (C). The possible effects of ambient temperature, diet, age, sex, and mouthwash use on oralC. albicans levels are illustrated and discussed, including some evidence for familial endemicity. On simulated sporadic or continuous mouthwash use, some individuals showed statistically significant reductions in oralC. albicans flora, whereas others had biologically significant reductions that were not confirmed statistically. A few originally negative individuals developed non-persistent lowC. albicans counts on one or two days. Total bacterial counts were made for 32 subjects, for most of whom biologically significant reductions were obtained, although the counts were highly variable and erratic. The data support the concept that a reduction in oralC. albicans does not lead to an increase in total bacterial flora, and vice versa.with the technical assistance ofAlyce R. Schmitt Paper 741, Department of Botany, The Ohio State University. This investigation was supported by a research grant form the Wm. S. Merrell Co., Cinninnati, O.     

Prevalence of Candida nivariensis and Candida bracarensis in Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Candida nivariensis and Candida bracarensis were isolated from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Candida nivariensis and Candida bracarensis were found in presumptive Candida glabrata isolates, which were identified using the API Candida system. We retrospectively re-examined vaginal presumptive Candida glabrata isolates for Candida nivariensis and Candida bracarensis from January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2012, via detection of the ITS1 region and the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene. Among 301 presumptive Candida glabrata isolates, 293 isolates were confirmed as C. glabrata (97.34 %), 7 isolates were identified as C. nivariensis (2.33 %) and 1 isolate was identified as C. bracarensis (0.33 %). The C. nivariensis and C. bracarensis isolates were confirmed by sequencing. All C. nivariensis isolates were susceptible to nystatin and susceptible or susceptible dose-dependent to fluconazole, itraconazole, miconazole, and clotrimazole. The C. bracarensis isolate was susceptible to nystatin and the tested azoles. Among the seven patients with VVC caused by C. nivariensis and who were treated with various antifungal agents, only one patient achieved mycological eradication at both the day 7–14 and day 30–35 follow-ups. The C. bracarensis isolate was isolated from a symptomatic pregnant woman; additional data for this patient were unavailable. We conclude that C. nivariensis and C. bracarensis existed in the vaginal samples of patients with VVC. Therapeutic efficacy in the patients with C. nivariensis was poor and inconsistent with the observed in vitro antifungal susceptibility, which requires further study.     

Etiological Significance of Candida Albicans in Otitis Externa

A study covering 79 patients (42 males, 37 females) of different age groups clinically diagnosed as otomycosis were investigated mycologically to elucidate the role of Candia albicans, an opportunistic polymorphic yeast, in otitis externa. C. albicans was diagnosed as the sole pathogen in two patients (1 male and 1 female) aged 18 and 20 years, respectively. The organism was repeatedly demonstrated in the aural specimens both by direct microscopy as well as culture isolation. Both the patients had unilateral otomycosis and used antibiotic solution and removed wax with wooden stick. The topical application of one per cent clotrimazole lotion showed good response both clinically as well as mycologically. The growing significance of opportunistic fungi emphasizes on comprehensive studies to establish the etiologic role in various clinical disorders in human and animal medicine.     

Genetic Analysis of Prototrophic Natural Variants of Candida Albicans

To facilitate genetic analysis of Candida albicans natural variants, we have isolated a dominant mycophenolic acid-resistant mutant. Mycophenolic acid-resistant auxotrophs were used to analyze prototrophic natural variants by spheroplast fusion. The fusion products were shown to be heterozygous for many of the parental chromosomes by molecular and genetic criteria. Using this approach, we have found that one type of morphologic variation is due to a recessive change and identified three dominant 5-fluorocytosine-resistant mutants. Rare fusion products express recessive parental markers. These exceptional progeny should be useful for linkage analysis and strain construction.     

Identification of Candida albicans using the chromogenic medium Albicans ID

The correct identification of the microrganism is the base for epidemiological studies and treatment of infections. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of the chromogenic media Albicans ID (bioMerieux, France) in the identification of Candida albicans. A total of 190 yeasts strains were evaluated in the study. A rate of 100% of all C. albicans (80) and Candida dubliniensis (five) strains exhibited blue color. Nevertheless, the blue color was also observed with cultures of Candida rugosa (3/5) and Candida tropicalis (3/17). Albicans ID cromogenic media presented specificity rate of 90% and positive and negative predictive values of 88% and 100%, respectively, in the identification of C. albicans.     

Comparison of a Newly Developed Latex Agglutination Test and an Immunodiffusion Test in the Diagnosis of Systemic Candidiasis

A newly developed latex agglutination (LA) test and a modified immunodiffusion (ID) test were evaluated. The antigen used was a homogenate of Candida albicans. A total of 167 antisera were employed in the evaluation. They included 36 sera from clinically well persons; 78 from patients with various clinical forms of candidiasis; 52 from patients with proven cases of aspergillosis, blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, nocardiosis, paracoccidioidomycosis, sporotrichosis, and tuberculosis; and one serum from a patient with toruloposis. Use of the LA test in conjunction with the ID test permitted the detection of more than 90% of 43 proven candidiasis cases. Of all the heterologous cases and normal human sera tested, LA reactions were noted with 3 of 10 cryptococcosis case specimens, 1 of 9 tuberculosis case specimens, and with the torulopsemia case serum. In contrast, the only heterologous serum reactive in the ID test was that from the patient with torulopsemia. Torulopsis glabrata and C. albicans antisera gave identical reactions in LA and ID tests with T. glabrata or C. albicans antigens. ID tests with selected antigens, however, permitted differentiation of rabbit and human T. glabrata antibody from that of C. albicans antibody. Six different precipitins were recognized with the C. albicans antigens. The occurrence of multiple precipitin lines and high LA titers was suggestive of severe candidiasis. The LA test, in contrast to the ID test, appeared to have prognostic value. Together, the LA and ID tests provided a simple, rapid, and accurate means of detecting and monitoring infections by species of Candida.     

耐氟康唑的白假丝酵母菌主动外排机制初探

目的:了解对氟康唑耐药的白假丝酵母菌主动外排系统及主动外排基因CDR1的表达水平。方法:检测氟康唑敏感性和耐药性白假丝酵母菌对罗丹明6G主动外排情况,筛选出主动外排系统功能增强的菌株;采用Northern blot技术检测主动外排系统功能增强的菌株的CDR1基因的表达。结果:在由葡萄糖提供能量的体系中,5株耐药菌株外排罗丹明6G较敏感菌株明显增加,Northern blot发现其中4株CDR1基因表达水平升高。结论:耐氟康唑白假丝酵母菌主动外排基因CDR1表达升高。     

Repeated Use of Gal1 for Gene Disruption in Candida Albicans

A technique which has the potential to allow repeated use of the same selectable marker to create gene disruptions in Candida albicans has been developed. In this approach, originally described for Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the selectable marker is flanked by direct repeats. Mitotic recombination between these repeats leads to elimination of the selectable marker. A module in which the GALq1 gene is flanked by direct repeats of the bacterial CAT gene was constructed and used to disrupt one copy of the URA3 gene in a gal1 mutant. Gal- revertants were selected by plating on 2-deoxy-D-galactose (2DOG). The frequency of 2DOG-resistant colonies recovered was 20 times higher than that obtained with a similar construct not flanked by direct repeats. Of these, 20% had lost the GAL1 gene by recombination between the direct repeats. The GAL1 gene was used again to disrupt the remaining wild-type copy of the URA3 gene of one of these gal1 isolates, resulting in a stable ura3 mutant. This technique should be generally applicable to derive homozygous gene disruptions in this diploid organism.     

Relevance of Partitioning DLCO to Detect Pulmonary Hypertension in Systemic Sclerosis

We investigated whether partitioning DLCO into membrane conductance for CO (DmCO) and pulmonary capillary blood volume (Vcap) was helpful in suspecting precapillary pulmonary (arterial) hypertension (P(A)H) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with or without interstitial lung disease (ILD). We included 63 SSc patients with isolated PAH (n=6), isolated ILD (n=19), association of both (n=12) or without PAH and ILD (n=26). Partitioning of DLCO was performed by the combined DLNO/DLCO method. DLCO, DmCO and Vcap were equally reduced in patients with isolated PAH and patients with isolated ILD but Vcap/alveolar volume (VA) ratio was significantly lower in the isolated PAH group. In patients without ILD, DLCO, DmCO, Vcap and Vcap/VA ratio were reduced in patients with isolated PAH when compared to patients without PAH and both Vcap/VA and DLCO had the highest AUC to detect PAH. In patients with ILD, Vcap had the highest AUC and performed better than DLCO to detect PH in this subgroup. In conclusion, Vcap/VA was lower in PAH than in ILD in SSC whereas DLCO was not different. Vcap/VA ratio and DLCO had similar high performance to detect PAH in patients without ILD. Vcap had better AUC than DLCO, DmCO and FVC/DLCO ratio to detect PH in SSC patients with ILD. These results suggest that partitioning of DLCO might be of interest to detect P(A)H in SSC patients with or without ILD.     

Growth inhibitory properties of chalcones to Candida

The growth inhibitory properties of derivatives of chalcone (1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-one) were studied against oral Candida species, including C. albicans. C. tropicalis and C. glabrata. The antifungal activities of 2-hydroxychalcone and 2,5-dihydroxychalcone were so high that they inhibited the growth of most strins at the concentration of 200 μg ml^-1, whereas chalcone was less active (to a limited number of strains) or inactive. 2-Hydroxychalcone was active only against C. glabrata. The other chalcones without a 2-hydroxyl group showed no significant antifungal activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration of 2-hydroxychalcone was 75 μ ml-1 to all strains of three Candida species sensitive to it. The antifungal property was based on a fungicidal action. The structure-activity relationship indicates that the presence of a hydroxyl group at the 2-position potentially improves the antifungal property.     

Clonal Strain Persistence of Candida albicans Isolates from Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis Patients

Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) is a primary immunodeficiency disorder characterised by susceptibility to chronic Candida and fungal dermatophyte infections of the skin, nails and mucous membranes. Molecular epidemiology studies of CMC infection are limited in number and scope and it is not clear whether single or multiple strains inducing CMC persist stably or are exchanged and replaced. We subjected 42 C. albicans individual single colony isolates from 6 unrelated CMC patients to multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Multiple colonies were typed from swabs taken from multiple body sites across multiple time points over a 17-month period. Among isolates from each individual patient, our data show clonal and persistent diploid sequence types (DSTs) that were stable over time, identical between multiple infection sites and exhibit azole resistant phenotypes. No shared origin or common source of infection was identified among isolates from these patients. Additionally, we performed C. albicans MLST SNP genotype frequency analysis to identify signatures of past loss of heterozygosity (LOH) events among persistent and azole resistant isolates retrieved from patients with autoimmune disorders including CMC.     

The Systemic Control of Growth

Growth is a complex process that is intimately linked to the developmental program to form adults with proper size and proportions. Genetics is an important determinant of growth, as exemplified by the role of local diffusible molecules setting up organ proportions. In addition, organisms use adaptive responses allowing modulating the size of individuals according to environmental cues, for example, nutrition. Here, we describe some of the physiological principles participating in the determination of final individual size.     

Phases of Berry Growth in Vitis vinifera

The course of berry growth in Vitis vinifera has been interpreteddifferently by various authors. Divisions into two, three orfour phases have been postulated, though, in the latter cases,without any objective criteria for their delimitation. To clarifythis point, investigations were carried out with the cultivarsBacchus and Madeleine. Fresh and dry wt curves showed a double sigmoid course and threetransition points could be clearly defined. The central transitionpoint, occurring around 42 d after anthesis, may be definedas the change-over from the first to the second growth phase.Both the course of the fresh weight curve when plotted logarithmicallyand the relative growth rates argue against there being a phaseof slow growth at the beginning of the first growth phase. Indeed,the relative increase in fresh weight is maximal at the beginningof the first growth phase. The delimitation of a separate phase of little or no growthin the region of the transition from the first to the secondgrowth phase is not supported. The definitions of such phaseboundaries is arbitrary. The smaller the number of seeds perberry, the earlier is the first growth phase ended and the secondgrowth phase, including veraison, begun. During the first growth phase there is high cell division activity.The average area of an epidermal cell reached its minimum at8–11 d after anthesis, with a simultaneous strong increasein cell number. The maximal number of epidermal cells was attainedtowards the end of the first growth phase. The growth of the embryo showed no relation to the double-sigmoidalgrowth of the pericarp. Final embryo size was reached at 70–75d after anthesis. Seed d. wt, on the other hand, showed a biphasicincrease. The results presented here support the division of berry growthof V. vinifera into just two phases. Vitis vinifera L., grape vine, berry growth, growth phases     

Micafungin for Candida Albicans Pacemaker-Associated Endocarditis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

We report on the treatment with micafungin of a pacemaker-associated endocarditis due to Candida albicans. Antifungal therapy was able to reduce vegetation size from 5 to 1 cm making possible the transvenous removal of the device without a high risk of pulmonary embolism. Noteworthy, a high micafungin concentration was documented into the lead vegetation (10 μg/g of vegetation tissue) and this may have contributed to the striking size reduction of vegetation.