Shu Chen

Publications (2)2.17 Total impact

• Article: An unusual case of granulomatous lymphadenitis due to Prototheca zopfii var. portoricensis in an immunocompetent man in China.

  Qiangqiang Zhang, Xinhua Weng, Li Li, Liping Zhu, Shunlei Yu, Shu Chen, Yun Xiang, Huiying Wan, Yuping Ran, Kefei Kang
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  ABSTRACT: Protothecosis is an uncommon human infection caused by Prototheca. Prototheca spp can be considered as saprophytes, and in spite of their frequency in the environment, they are of low virulence and may cause chronic infection with low-grade inflammation in humans. At present, only three species are recognized: Prototheca wickerhamii, Prototheca zopfii and Prototheca stagnora. Of these, the former two have been associated with human disease. This study was an investigation of the clinical and microbiological features of a case of granulomatous lymphadenitis due to P. zopfii var. portoricensis in an immunocompetent man in China. We report the case of a 39-year-old male, who presented with swollen lymph nodes, from which the organism was isolated and identified by the RapidID Yeast Plus test (Remel, Santa Fe, NM, USA) and PCR molecular analysis. The pathogenicity of the isolate was confirmed in a mouse model and antifungal drug susceptibility testing was carried out. The pathogen was identified as Prototheca zopfii. The DNA sequence of the 18S SSU rDNA regions of the isolate strain were 100% (1205/1205) identical with Prototheca zopfii var. portoricensis. Antifungal susceptibility tests revealed that it was sensitive to amphotericin B, but resistant to 5-flucytosine, fluconazole, ketoconazole, and itraconazole. The patient responded to treatment with intravenous itraconazole and amphotericin B. Based on the patient's symptoms and microscopic evaluation, cultures, and molecular analyses of the isolate, granulomatous lymphadenitis due to P. zopfii var. portoricensis was diagnosed. P. zopfii var. portoricensis as a causative agent of human lymphadenitis in an immunocompetent case has not been reported, though a few cases of protothecosis have been reported in China. The real number of protothecosis cases may be greater than that reported in the literature. Thus, clinicians should be vigilant for any unknown cause of granulomatous lymphadenitis and should undertake an intensive histopathology, mycology examination, and even molecular analysis to rule out or confirm a potential Prototheca infection.
  International journal of infectious diseases: IJID: official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases 09/2010; 14 Suppl 3:e32-5. · 2.17 Impact Factor
• Article: [Detecting rpoB gene mutation in rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis by using the reverse dot-blot hybridization method].

  Wen Wang, Wei Pan, Weirong Jin, Xinhua Weng, Ran Yan, Bei Su, Shu Chen, Wenhong Zhang, Hongzhou Lu, Zhongtian Qi
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  ABSTRACT: To establish a simple, rapid and sensitive hybridization method for detecting drug-resistance relevant gene mutation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Fourteen single-strand specific probes designed to detect mutated and/or wild rpoB gene in Mycobacterium tuberculosis were spotted and fixed on nylon membranes, and PCR products labeled with biotin were obtained by using down-stream primer labeled with biotin, then hybridized and analyzed with streptavidin-HRP and TMB. Twenty-three rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates and 11 rifampin-sensitive isolates were analyzed. The gene mutations were consistent with the DNA sequencing and the in vitro susceptibility test in 30/34 and 28/34 of the isolates, respectively. Mutations of Ser-531 were present in 11 of the 23 rifampin-resistant isolates, followed by His-526, Leu-533, and no mutation was found in 13 isolates, including 2 rifampin-resistant isolates. Mutations in loci 516 and 513 were not detected. Reverse dot-blot hybridization may be of potential use for the rapid diagnosis of rifampin-resistant tuberculosis.
  Zhonghua jie he he hu xi za zhi = Zhonghua jiehe he huxi zazhi = Chinese journal of tuberculosis and respiratory diseases 11/2002; 25(10):591-4.