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ABSTRACT: We report a case of Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii (a teleomorph of Trichophyton interdigitale) infection around the nostrils in a 3-year-old girl. The culture was negative, so the pathogenic agent was identified using polymerase chain reaction-based sequencing of the crusts taken from the lesion on the nostril. Treatment with oral itraconazole and topical 1% naftifine/0.25% ketoconazole cream after a topical wash with ketoconazole shampoo was effective.
Pediatric Dermatology 12/2012; · 1.07 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report a case of a patient infected by Candida albicans which was identified by direct extraction of DNA from a positive transparent dressing and a swab. The patient was a 32-year-old male who complained of erosion in his inguinal region. Large patches of erythema and erosion were present in his inguinal and perianal region, with soya-bean like residue discharge. He was diagnosed with erythrasma and treated with antibiotics but his clinical condition did not improve. KOH examination furnished a positive result for candidiasis. Morphologic characteristics confirmed his infection was caused by Candida albicans. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1/4 polymerase chain reaction products, amplified from positive transparent dressing and cotton swab with discharge and from primary culture isolates, established the Candida albicans lineage. The patient was cured by treatment with itraconazole 200 mg twice a day orally in combination with topical wash with 2 % ketoconazole shampoo and topical use of 1 % naftifine-0.25 % ketoconazole cream.
Mycopathologia 07/2012; · 1.65 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Penicillium marneffei is a dimorphic fungus that responds to changes in temperature. We performed a comparative analysis of gene expression in mycelial- and yeast-phase P. marneffei cells using high-throughput DNA microarrays. A total of 1,884 differentially expressed genes with annotations in the gene ontology (GO) database were identified between P. marneffei mycelial and yeast cells. These differentially expressed genes mainly belong to 18 categories in the organism's ontology, including reproduction, immunity, metabolism, signaling, etc. Bioinformatics suggests that these differentially expressed genes may help explain the resistance to adverse environments and the virulence of P. marneffei. Nine genes from the results of the DNA microarray experiment were selected for further analysis with real-time quantitative PCR to validate the differential expression. Our data provide a global description of the transcriptional response accompanying adaptation to high temperature in yeast.
Medical mycology: official publication of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology 05/2012; 50(8):835-42. · 2.13 Impact Factor
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Mycoses 05/2011; 54(5):e634-7. · 2.25 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We report a rare case of kerion celsi of the scalp caused by Microsporum gypseum in a boy 1 month after he received dermatoplasty for a scalp injury from a road accident. Species identification was performed by observation of morphologic and biochemical characteristics and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) 1 and 2. Treatment with oral terbinafine and topical naftifine-ketoconazole cream after washing the hair with ketoconazole shampoo was effective.
Medical mycology: official publication of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology 01/2011; 49(1):90-3. · 2.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Reported isolation rates of Malassezia yeast from human skin show geographic variations. In China, the populations of the Han (1,182.95 million) and Tibetan (5.41 million) ethnic groups are distributed over 9.6 and 3.27 million square kilometers respectively, making biodiversity research feasible and convenient. Malassezia furfur clinical strains (n = 29) isolated from different individuals, with or without associated dermatoses, of these two ethnic groups (15 Han and 12 Tibetan) were identified and analyzed with DNA fingerprinting using single primers specific to minisatellites. Using the Bionumerics software, we found that almost all M. furfur clinical isolates and type strains formed five distinct group clusters according to their associated skin diseases and the ethnic groups of the patients. These findings are the first to focus on the genetic diversity and relatedness of M. furfur in the Tibetan and Han ethnic groups in China and reveal genetic variation associated with related diseases, host ethnicity and geographic origin.
Medical mycology: official publication of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology 12/2010; 48(8):1034-8. · 2.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We describe the first case of cutaneous infection caused by Chaetomium atrobrunneum and Clavispora lusitaniae in a one-and-a-half-year-old boy with acute and severe inflammation around his left eyelid. He presented to our outpatient center with a 6-day history and previously ineffective antibacterial therapy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed hyphae and spores were on the surface of the crusty exudates and also penetrated into it, and the microbiology study further showed their characteristic cultural features. Fungal isolates were identified by the amplification and sequencing of the 26S RNA gene and of the ITS region, as C. lusitaniae and C. atrobrunneum. Up until now, most known clinical records of these rare species have shown them as agents of deep mycosis. Due to the emergency situation, medications were administered promptly and confirmed by subsequent fungal identification and successful therapeutic outcome. This article illustrates the importance of recognizing fungal infections, especially those caused by uncommon pathogens. Limitations in the routine identification procedures and therapeutic options of this emerging opportunistic agent are also discussed in this report.
Mycopathologia 12/2009; 169(5):373-80. · 1.65 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We present a familial infection caused by Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii. The proband is a 4-year-old boy, who had played with rabbits at his rabbit-farm neighbor. He complained of pruritus and pain in his scalp, which displayed redness, alopecia and painful cysts and eventually discharged pus and scabbed. Several erythema on his face and abdomen were also presented. He was diagnosed as having impetigo but antibacterial agents were not effective and his clinical condition did not improve. Several days later, his parents also developed facial erythema and scaling. The development of a kerion in the boy and tinea corporis in his parents were diagnosed based on the positive KOH examination. Morphologic and biochemical characteristics confirmed that their infections were caused by the zoophilic Trichophyton mentagrophytes, while sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1/4 polymerase chain reaction products, amplified from primary culture isolates, established its Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii lineage. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis indicated these isolates might be the same strain and that infection cruciata occurred in this family. Semi-quantitative analysis of these strains indicated multiple and main enzymatic activities of alkaline phosphatase, beta-glucosaccharase. The boy was cured through treatment with itraconazole 100 mg/day orally in combination with topical washes with 2% ketoconazole shampoo, and his parents were successfully treated by topical application of terbinafine cream.
Medical mycology: official publication of the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology 01/2009; 47(5):539-44. · 2.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This is a case of vocal cord aspergillosis in a 36-year-old woman whose chief complaint was progressive hoarseness and vocal fatigue of one month duration. These symptoms followed the use of systemic administration of penicillin, cefotaxime natrium and dexamethasone to treat her rhinitis and asthma. Fiberoptic laryngoscopy revealed whitish plaques involving both vocal cords. Microscopic examination of KOH preparations and histopathology studies of tissue revealed dichotomously branching, hyaline, septate hyphae. Morphological and molecular biological identification of the fungal growth in cultures inoculated with clinical specimens from the patient indicated that the etiologic agent was Aspergillus fumigatus. The patient was cured with oral itraconazole without any side effects.
Medical Mycology 08/2008; 46(5):475-9. · 2.46 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This is a case of seborrheic dermatitis (SD) barbae from which Malassezia furfur (M. furfur) was isolated. The patient was a 57-year-old Dutch male, who was hospitalized for fever and weakness of extremities. He presented with symmetrical erythema with an abundance of greasy chaffy scales on his beard area. No reasons were detected for his fever following a routine search. M. furfur was identified through mycological examination, including direct microscopic examination, culture, Tween test, esculine splitting test and DNA sequencing, of samples from the skin lesions. The patient was treated with oral itraconazole capsules (200 mg, b.i.d. for 8 days, then 200 mg o.d. for 13 days), washing his scalp and face with 2% ketoconazole shampoo (once a day) and topical application of a cream containing 1% naftifine hydrochloride and 0.25% ketoconazole (b.i.d.). After treatment the fever subsided and the SD lesion gradually healed. M. furfur was not isolated again from skin scrapings and 7 days later therapy was terminated and no recurrence was noted after one week follow-up since the cessation of treatment.
Medical Mycology 07/2008; 46(6):611-4. · 2.46 Impact Factor
