In vitro susceptibility ofPityrosporum ovale (Malassezia furfur) to human androgenic steroids

Cells ofPityrosporum ovale that colonize human pilosebaceous units are constantly exposed to cutaneous androgenic steroids. The aim of our study was to find out whetherP. ovale is susceptible to these hormones. Three strains ofP. ovale were grown in vitro in the presence of various concentrations oftestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, androstanedione, 5--dihydrotestosterone andprogesterone (10, 100, and 1000 µg/ml; agar dilution assays). In addition, three strains ofCandida albicans were also exposed to equal concentrations of the same androgens. As a result, allP. ovale strains were suppressed by 1000 µg/mlandrostenedione, which was the strongest inhibitor. The other androgenic steroids also significantly reducedP. ovale growth at different concentrations, depending on the hormone used and the strain tested.Progesterone was inhibitory at the highest concentration for oneP. ovale strain only.Candida albicans was not affected by any of the androgens. These findings demonstrate an in vitro susceptibility ofP. ovale to high concentrations of human androgenic steroids. A relevance of this interaction for the in vivo fungus-host relation is not apparent.     

正常人耵聍中马拉色菌菌种构成研究

目的研究正常人耵聍中马拉色菌菌种构成及同一宿主耵聍中菌种是否一致。方法采集45名健康志愿者双侧耵聍,0.1%曲拉通X-100溶解稀释后接种于含菜籽油培养基,生化及形态学方法鉴定到种,同时提取菌种DNA,用真菌通用引物ITS1/ITS4做PCR扩增并测序鉴定。结果有44例(97.78%)双侧耵聍中均培养出马拉色菌(共分离出88株菌),菌种构成:糠粃马拉色菌29株(32.95%)、斯洛菲马拉色菌23株(26.14%)、合轴马拉色菌18株(20.45%)、球形马拉色菌11株(12.50%)、限制性马拉色菌7株(7.95%)。44例(88株菌)中双侧耵聍菌种相同者有38例(76株菌)(一致率86.36%)。结论正常人耵聍中马拉色菌菌种分布较广,主要菌种为糠秕马拉色菌。同一宿主双侧耵聍中马拉色菌菌种具有一定的一致性。     

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。     

Microtubular and actin cytoskeletons and ultrastructural characteristics of the potentially pathogenic basidiomycetous yeast Malassezia pachydermatis

Microtubular and actin cytoskeletons were investigated in the lipophilic yeast Malassezia pachydermatis by fluorescence and electron microscopy. To detect microtubules by indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal anti-tubulin antibody, a prolonged incubation with lysing enzymes was necessary due to its very thick cell wall. Cytoplasmic microtubules were detected in interphase and a spindle with astral microtubules was seen in M-phase. The disintegration of cytoplasmic microtubules and migration of the nucleus to the bud before mitosis were characteristic features of the basidiomycetous yeast Malassezia pachydermatis. The visualisation of F-actin structures (patches, cables and cytokinetic rings) by fluorescence microscopy using both monoclonal anti-actin antibody and rhodamine-phalloidin failed, but actin was detected by electron microscopy with immunogold labelling. Clusters of gold particles indicating actin structures were detected at the plasma membrane of cells with unique cortical ultrastructural features characteristic of the genus Malassezia. A possible association of these with the actin cytoskeleton is suggested.     

Screening of plant extracts for antimicrobial activity against bacteria and yeasts with dermatological relevance

There is cumulative resistance against antibiotics of many bacteria. Therefore, the development of new antiseptics and antimicrobial agents for the treatment of skin infections is of increasing interest. We have screened six plant extracts and isolated compounds for antimicrobial effects on bacteria and yeasts with dermatological relevance. The following plant extracts have been tested: Gentiana lutea, Harpagophytum procumbens, Boswellia serrata (dry extracts), Usnea barbata, Rosmarinus officinalis and Salvia officinalis (supercritical carbon dioxide [CO2] extracts). Additionally, the following characteristic plant substances were tested: usnic acid, carnosol, carnosic acid, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, harpagoside, boswellic acid and gentiopicroside. The extracts and compounds were tested against 29 aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and yeasts in the agar dilution test. U. barbata-extract and usnic acid were the most active compounds, especially in anaerobic bacteria. Usnea CO2-extract effectively inhibited the growth of several Gram-positive bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-resistant strains - MRSA), Propionibacterium acnes and Corynebacterium species. Growth of the dimorphic yeast Malassezia furfur was also inhibited by Usnea-extract. Besides the Usnea-extract, Rosmarinus-, Salvia-, Boswellia- and Harpagophytum-extracts proved to be effective against a panel of bacteria. It is concluded that due to their antimicrobial effects some of the plant extracts may be used for the topical treatment of skin disorders like acne vulgaris and seborrhoic eczema.     

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.     

Allergenic evaluation of Malassezia furfur crude extracts

Crude extracts of the lipophilic yeast Malassezia furfur were obtained from 2, 6, 10 and 28 day old cultures. The in vitro cultivation periods corresponded, respectively, to the lag phase, middle of the log phase, end of log phase and the decline phase of the growth curve, which was based on viable cell counts obtained with a fluorescent viability test. Biochemical analyses showed that the protein and carbohydrate contents were greater in day 10 extracts. Seventy patients with different allergic manifestations and 30 healthy volunteers were skin prick tested using the extracts. Of these, thirteen (18.57%) patients gave positive responses. SDS PAGE gradient electrophoretic profiles of the preparations indicated that the 28 day extracts contained the greatest number of protein bands with molecular weights ranging mostly between 30 and 94 kDa. Immunoblots incubated with individual patient sera showed that four IgE binding M. furfur allergens of approximately 88, 61, 52 and 39 kDa were present in the 28 day extracts. The components identified could be used for detecting IgE mediated responses to M. furfur among individuals affected with different allergic conditions.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

Identification of (1→6)-β-d-glucan as the major carbohydrate component of the Malassezia sympodialis cell wall

Members of the genus Malassezia are commensal fungi found on the skin of both human and domestic animals and are associated with skin diseases including dandruff/seborrheic dermatitis, pityriasis versicolor, and atopic eczema (AE) in humans. In this study we have characterized the cell-wall carbohydrates of Malassezia sympodialis, one of the species most frequently isolated from both AE patients and healthy individuals. Cells were grown in liquid Dixon media at 32 °C, harvested, and processed using a standard Fehling’s precipitation methodology for the isolation of mannan and a standard base/acid extraction for (1→3)-β-d-glucans. Using these classic extraction methods we were unable to isolate precipitable mannan or insoluble (1→3)-β-d-glucan. However, acidification and addition of methanol to the remaining Fehling’s-treated sample resulted in a very clean precipitate. This material was characterized by GPC-MALLS, 1D and 2D NMR, and GC-MS for monomer-type and linkage-type composition. We determined that trace amounts of both mannan and branched (1→3, 1→6)-β-d-glucan were present in the recovered precipitate, but not linear (1→3)-β-d-glucan. Surprisingly, NMR analysis indicated that (1→6)-β-d-glucan was the major carbohydrate component isolated from M. sympodialis cell wall. GC-MS linkage analysis confirmed the (1→6)-β-d-glucan structure. Based on these studies we have determined that the M. sympodialis cell wall contains (1→6)-β-d-glucan as the major carbohydrate component along with trace amounts of mannan and (1→3, 1→6)-β-d-glucan. In addition, these data indicate that modification of the classic mannan isolation methodology may be useful in the simultaneous isolation of both mannan and (1→6)-β-d-glucan from other fungi.     

糠秕马拉色菌酵母态和菌丝态蛋白差异表达的研究

目的通过双向电泳及串联质谱技术鉴定糠秕马拉色菌酵母态及菌丝态差异蛋白,在蛋白水平探讨两态转化机制及致病机理。方法分别诱导糠秕马拉色菌标准株酵母态和菌丝态菌体,利用玻璃珠研磨和超声波破碎细胞壁,三氯乙酸/丙酮沉淀获取总蛋白。双向电泳分离蛋白,PDQuest软件比对找出差异蛋白点。电喷雾串联质谱对差异点进行肽段测序,用Mascot和NCBI的Blast软件经蛋白质数据库鉴定蛋白质。结果经双向电泳分离的糠秕马拉色菌酵母态、菌丝态蛋白各有800多个蛋白点、64个蛋白点表达量有3倍以上差异,其中11个为酵母态特有,9个菌丝态特有。在选取的40个差异点中,成功鉴定出22个点,共16个蛋白。经Mascot和Blast软件检索,有明确功能的蛋白中,肌动蛋白、丝切蛋白等9个蛋白在菌丝态上调,谷胱甘肽转移酶、细胞支架信号蛋白等5个蛋白下调。结论鉴定出16个蛋白分别与细胞代谢、运动、氧化应激等功能相关,为了解糠秕马拉色菌表型转换机制和致病机理提供重要信息。