Distribution of Malassezia species in pityriasis versicolor and seborrhoeic dermatitis in Greece. Typing of the major pityriasis versicolor isolate M. globosa

BACKGROUND: The expansion of the genus Malassezia has generated interest in the epidemiological investigation of the distribution of new species in a range of dermatoses, on which variable results have been reported from different geographical regions. No data are thus far available from South-east Europe (Greece). OBJECTIVES: To study the distribution of Malassezia species in pityriasis versicolor (PV) and seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) and to investigate whether polymorphisms in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 region facilitate detection of M. globosa and M. sympodialis subtypes. METHODS: In total, 109 patients with PV and SD and positive Malassezia cultures were included in the study. Age, gender, primary/recurrent episode, disease extent and clinical form of PV were recorded. ITS 1 polymorphisms of M. globosa and M. sympodialis type and clinical strains were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. RESULTS: Malassezia globosa was the prevalent species isolated from PV and SD either alone (77% and 39%, respectively) or in combination (13% and 18%, respectively) with other Malassezia species. The pigmented form of PV was strongly correlated with the female gender. PCR-SSCP differentiated five subgroups of M. globosa with one being associated with extensive clinical disease. All M. sympodialis isolates displayed a homogeneous ITS 1 PCR-SSCP profile. CONCLUSIONS: Malassezia species isolation rates were in agreement with those reported from South-west Europe. PCR-SSCP of the ITS 1 is useful for highlighting prospective clinical implications of M. globosa subtypes.     

花斑糠疹和马拉色菌毛囊炎菌种分布特点分析

目的探讨花斑糠疹和马拉色菌毛囊炎的菌种分布特点。方法从临床诊断为花斑糠疹和马拉色菌毛囊炎的患者分离培养菌种,通过形态学和生理生化学方法鉴定菌种,并比较两组患者菌种分布情况。结果共收集花斑糠疹病例161例,培养阳性121株,其中合轴马拉色菌46株,糠秕马拉色菌13株,球形马拉色菌29株,钝性马拉色菌33株;马拉色菌毛囊炎135例,培养阳性114株,其中合轴马拉色菌52株,糠秕马拉色菌43株,球形马拉色菌13株,钝性马拉色菌6株。两种疾病菌种分布差异有显著性(P<0.005)。结论花斑糠疹和马拉色菌毛囊炎菌种分布存在差异,可能为两种疾病不同临床表现的原因之一,但结果尚需慎重解释,需要分子水平的进一步研究。     

从花斑癣患者的皮损区及非皮损区分离和鉴定马拉色菌

目的 研究花斑癣患者皮损区及非皮损区马拉色菌菌种构成;不同解剖部位、皮损颜色及各菌种的分布情况;患者病情和年龄与菌种构成的关系。方法 用无菌胶带粘取113例花斑癣患者皮损区及非皮损区共629个部位的皮屑,分别接种于含菜子油培养基中分离马拉色菌,用生理生化及形态学方法鉴定菌种。结果 皮损区与相对应的非皮损区马拉色菌分离阳性率无差别,非皮损区额部和胸背部分离阳性率高于上、下肢。共分离到565株马拉色菌,鉴定出合轴马拉色菌(44.78%)、糠秕马拉色菌(32.94%)、球形马拉色菌(11.68%)、钝形马拉色菌(5.84%)及限制马拉色菌(4.76%)共5个种,有27处(5.01%)同时分离到两种菌。皮损区与非皮损区菌种构成无明显差别,限制马拉色菌主要从额部分离出。菌种构成与皮损面积无关,但与皮损颜色和患者年龄有关。皮损颜色与病程无关。结论 花斑癣患者皮损区与非皮损区马拉色菌分离阳性率和菌种构成基本一致,与病情无关,而不同解剖部位、皮损类型及年龄患者的菌种构成有一定差异。     

Identification of Malassezia yeast species isolated from patients with pityriasis versicolor

Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a disease with worldwide distribution. Twelve different species of Malassezia yeast have been described. The objective of this study was to determine which species of Malassezia are more prevalent in patients with pityriasis versicolor. Samples were collected by scraping the lesions of 87 patients with a clinical suspicion of pityriasis versicolor. The samples were then submitted to fungal microscopy and culture to identify the species. The species found were: Malassezia sympodialis (30%), Malassezia furfur (25.7%), Malassezia globosa (22.7%), Malassezia restricta (12.1%), Malassezia obtusa (7.6%) and Malassezia slooffiae (1.5%).     

马拉色菌与人角质形成细胞株共同培养液对培养人黑素细胞生长及酪氨酸酶mRNA表达的影响

目的:观察不同马拉色菌与人角质形成细胞株共同培养液对培养人黑素细胞生长及酪氨酸酶mRNA表达的影响,探讨花斑癣的色素改变是否与马拉色菌的不同菌种有关。方法:将球形、钝形、糠秕、合轴马拉色菌分别与人角质形成细胞株共同培养,24 h后收集上清液,按一定比例加入黑素细胞培养体系中继续培养24 h:①用四甲基偶氮唑兰比色法观察对黑素细胞生长的影响;②用实时荧光定量PCR法测定黑素细胞酪氨酸酶mRNA的表达。结果:各共同培养液对黑素细胞生长无明显影响,但除球形马拉色菌与人角质形成细胞共同培养液可上调黑素细胞酪氨酸酶mRNA的表达(P<0.05)外,未见其它种马拉色菌与人角质形成细胞株共同培养液对黑素细胞酪氨酸酶mRNA的表达有影响。结论:球形马拉色菌与人角质形成细胞株共同培养液刺激黑素细胞后,能提高酪氨酸酶mR-NA的表达,该菌可能与花斑癣的色素沉着有关。     

Malassezia globosa as the causative agent of pityriasis versicolor

BACKGROUND: The taxonomic revision carried out in 1996 on the genus Malassezia, which now comprises seven different species, made necessary a re-evaluation of the data concerning the ecology and pathogenicity of these lipophilic yeasts. Very little has been published since then. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work was to contribute to the knowledge of the aetiology of pityriasis versicolor (PV) with a mycological study made according to the new species. METHODS: Ninety-six patients with PV completed the study. In all of them, samples were taken from the lesions for direct microscopy with KOH+ Parker ink and culture. Samples were also taken from normal skin of the trunk and the forehead of the same patients for culture. Cultures were made in modified Dixon medium in Petri dishes, incubated at 31 degrees C and the isolates were identified by morphological and physiological characteristics. RESULTS: In the PV lesions, direct microscopy always showed the typical mixture of globose blastoconidia and pseudomycelium. Only one patient, having received previous topical antimycotic treatment, was negative. The spherical yeasts observed in vivo were morphologically identical to the globose yeasts characteristic of M. globosa. In culture, M. globosa was found in 97% of cases, alone in 60% of them and associated with M. sympodialis in 29% and M. slooffiae in 7%. These two species were also found in similar percentages on the clinically uninvolved skin of the trunk, whereas M. globosa was not isolated at these sites. However, on the forehead, a small number of colonies of M. globosa was recovered in 12% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the data previously reported and strongly suggest that M. globosa in its mycelial phase is the causative agent of PV.     

从夫妻双方的头皮屑中分离和鉴定马拉色菌

目的 探讨夫妻双方的头皮屑中马拉色菌的带菌情况，菌种构成及夫妻间共用梳子与马拉色菌菌种一致性的关系，方法 采用Leeming和Notman培养基，Dixon培养基和含菜子油培养基分别同时培养114对夫妻的头皮屑，观察培养阳性率与头皮屑严重程度的关系。根据生理生化学及形态学特点鉴定菌种，并比较在这3种培养基中菌落初长时间及对菌种有无选择性。结果 从114对夫妻（共228人0中153人的头皮屑中分离到马拉色菌，阳性率为67.11%。培养阳性率与头皮屑的严重程度有正相关关系，3种培养基共分离到马拉色菌，阳性率为67.11%。培养阳性率与头皮屑的严重程度有正相关关系。3种培养基共分离到459株马拉色菌，从中鉴定出合轴马拉色菌（33.33%)，球形马拉色菌（25.05%)，限制马拉色菌（15.47%)，糠秕马拉色菌（13.73%)和钝形马拉色菌（12.42%)共5个种，3种培养基对菌种无选择性，但在含菜子油的培养基中菌落初长时间最短，同一头皮屑在3种培养基上分离到同一菌种有129人（56.58%)，分离到2种菌的有24人（10.53%)，共用梳子的夫妻双方的头皮屑中菌种相同者（35.96%)显著多于菌种不同者（13.16%)；夫妻间共用梳子者头皮屑中菌种相同者（50.67%)显著多于非共用梳子者（7.69%)。结论 头皮屑中的优势菌种主要为合轴和球形马拉色菌，夫妻双方的头皮屑中马拉色菌菌种一致率较高，而夫妻间共用梳子组的菌种一致率更高，提示马拉色菌可在夫妻之间传播，共用梳子可能是重要的传播媒介。     

马拉色菌与花斑癣色素改变的相关性初探

目的探讨马拉色菌与花斑癣皮疹色素改变及色氨酸产色三者之间的关系.方法从花斑癣患者皮损分离马拉色菌株,采用国际通用的生化鉴定方法鉴定,然后在不同浓度L-色氨酸的培养基上培养7 d,观察产色反应.结果每个菌种均有产色反应阳性和阴性菌株,产色反应阳性菌株更易引起皮损色素沉着(P＜0.005),且产色反应阳性标本颜色按色氨酸浓度递减而变淡.结论菌株的产色反应与马拉色菌的种属分类无必然的联系,色氨酸参与了马拉色菌产色反应.     

Quantitative analysis of Malassezia in the scale of patients with psoriasis using a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that Malassezia is associated with the development of skin lesions in psoriasis because of the response of the scalp lesions in psoriasis to antifungal agents. Malassezia restricta and M. globosa are the two major members of the cutaneous Malassezia flora in patients with psoriasis, although they have not been analysed quantitatively. OBJECTIVES: This study quantified the two major cutaneous Malassezia species in psoriatic scale from different body sites using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. METHODS: Scale samples were collected from lesional and nonlesional skin of 20 Japanese patients with psoriasis and fungal DNA was extracted from the samples directly. All the Malassezia species, including the two major species M. globosa and M. restricta, were quantified with high accuracy, using a real-time PCR assay. RESULTS: Colonization by M. restricta was approximately five times higher at all body sites than colonization by M. globosa. Malassezia colonization was significantly lower in patients with hyperlipidaemia than in patients with normolipidaemia. CONCLUSIONS: Malassezia restricta is the predominant species in psoriatic scale.     

南通和南京马拉色菌毛囊炎临床调查及致病菌种分析

目的 探讨南通和南京马拉色菌毛囊炎的易感因素及致病菌种在不同地区、不同部位马拉色菌毛囊炎中的菌种分布情况。方法 对符合病例收集纳入标准的患者进行问卷调查,取毛囊内容物进行真菌涂片、培养;并根据形态学和生理生化特征进行菌种鉴定。结果 241例临床诊断为马拉色菌毛囊炎的患者,真菌涂片204例阳性,涂片阳性率84.65%;收集标本259份,共得阳性株213株,其中马拉色菌209株,念珠菌4株（占1.54%）,真菌培养阳性率82.24%。菌种鉴定：209株马拉色菌活化菌种后,可供鉴定的马拉色菌菌株186株,共检测到6个菌种的马拉色菌,其中糠秕马拉色菌111株（59.68%）、斯洛菲马拉色菌43株（23.12%）、合轴马拉色菌17株（9.14%）、球形马拉色菌9株（4.84%）、厚皮马拉色菌4株（2.15%）、钝形马拉色菌2株（1.08%）。不同个体、不同部位的菌种分布：胸部、后背、腹部和面颈部以糠秕马拉色菌为主,上肢、肩部和头顶以斯洛菲马拉色菌为主,下肢均为球形马拉色菌。同一个体、不同发病部位存在不同的菌种,主要为糠秕马拉色菌合并合轴或斯洛菲马拉色菌。 结论 南通和南京马拉色菌毛囊炎存在6种马拉色菌致病菌种,糠秕和斯洛菲马拉色菌是主要的致病菌种。     

从包皮龟头炎患者皮损处分离鉴定马拉色菌

目的：了解马拉色菌属各菌种在包皮龟头炎皮损处的构成及其在发病中的作用。方法：从患处取材直接镜检查见马拉色菌孢子和(或)菌丝的包皮龟头炎患者作为研究对象。用胶带法取材后分别接种在含菜子油的培养基及无放线菌酮的沙堡培养基分离菌种。依据生理生化和形念学特点及转种到科玛嘉显色培养基和米粉吐温80琼脂培养结果鉴定出马拉色菌和(或)念珠菌。结果：81例患者中有57例(70．37％)培养并鉴定出马拉色菌(共60株)，其中糠秕马拉色菌20株(33．33％），合轴马拉色菌18株(30．00％)，钝形马拉色菌17株(28．33％)，球形马拉色菌5株(8．33％)。有37例同时分离到念珠菌(其中72．97％为白念珠菌）。44例仅检出马拉色菌的患者中有23例接受抗真菌治疗。结论：糠秕马拉色菌、合轴马拉色菌、钝形马拉色菌是包皮龟头炎患者皮损处的主要菌种；马拉色菌可能单独或与念珠菌协同引起包皮龟头炎。     

Molecular analysis of Malassezia microflora in seborrheic dermatitis patients: comparison with other diseases and healthy subjects

Malassezia species colonize the skin of normal and various pathological conditions including pityriasis versicolor (PV), seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) and atopic dermatitis (AD). To elucidate the pathogenic role of Malassezia species in SD, Malassezia microflora of 31 Japanese SD patients was analyzed using a PCR-based, culture-independent method. Nested PCR assay using the primers in the rRNA gene indicated that the major Malassezia species in SD were M. globosa and M. restricta, found in 93 and 74% of the patients, respectively. The detection rate and number of each species varied similarly in SD, PV and healthy subjects (HSs), whereas AD showed higher values. Real-time PCR assay showed that the lesional skin harbored approximately three times the population of genus Malassezia found in nonlesional skin (P<0.05), and that M. restricta is a significantly more common species than M. globosa in SD (P<0.005). Genotypic analysis of the rRNA gene showed that the M. globosa and M. restricta from SD patients fell into specific clusters, and could be distinguished from those collected from HSs, but not from those colleted from AD patients. Our results indicate that certain strains of M. restricta occur in the lesional skin of SD patients.     

从花斑糠疹皮损分离的马拉色菌随机扩增多态性DNA研究

目的 用随机扩增多态性DNA方法研究分离自花斑糠疹的马拉色菌种间和株间差异,了解随机扩增多态性DNA分析（RAPD）与生理生化方法在菌种分型上的差异及菌株DNA型别和菌种间的关系。方法 用氯化苄法提取马拉色菌标准株（10株7个种）和临床分离株（47株）的基因组DNA,其中临床株分离自34例花斑糠疹患者,经形态学和生理生化方法鉴定为5个种（合轴马拉色菌、糠秕马拉色菌、钝形马拉色菌、球形马拉色菌、限制马拉色菌）,用4种随机引物（S22、S24、S25、S33）对菌株DNA做PCR随机扩增,NTSYS软件自动生成树状分支图。结果 绝大多数标本均可被4种引物扩增而获得清晰条带,其中2种引物（S22、S24）的条带更为稳定、清晰。共82条DNA片段被扩增,所有菌株均可见种间和株间多态性。有4例患者皮损同时分离出不同种的菌株显示遗传相似性高,在树状图中归入一类。结论 来自同一宿主的不同菌株遗传趋同现象提示马拉色菌的种特异性、菌种演化与宿主间存在密切关系。     

Speziesdifferenzierung von Hefen der Gattung Malassezia mittels Fourier-Transform-Infrarot-Spektroskopie

BACKGROUND: 83 Malassezia strains (65 wild isolates and 18 reference strains) were differentiated to the species level using conventional methods including morphological and biochemical features. These strains were further analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IRS).RESULTS: FT-IRS analysis allowed a clear separation of Malassezia strains according to species-specific cluster formation. The main differences were found between Malassezia furfur and other Malassezia species. In addition, within the species Malassezia furfur, a separation in two similar groups could be demonstrated. A disadvantage of FT-IRS is the relatively expensive apparatus. A great advantage is the speed and simplicity of the procedure, producing results within minutes.CONCLUSION: In pityriasis versicolor, Malassezia globosa was the dominant species found in 62% of cases. In addition, Malassezia furfur was found in 60% of dandruff cases.     

Molecular analysis of Malassezia microflora in the lesional skin of psoriasis patients

Systemic and focal infections by microorganisms have been known to induce or exacerbate psoriasis. To investigate the role of Malassezia species in the development of psoriasis, we analyzed the Malassezia microflora in psoriasis patients using a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, and compared it with those in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients and healthy subjects. Fungal DNA was directly collected from the lesional and non-lesional skin of the trunk of 22 psoriasis patients by applying a transparent dressing. The extracted DNA was amplified by using specific primers designed for the PCR in the intergenic spacer or internal transcribed spacer area of the ribosomal RNA. All nine of the Malassezia species were detected at different rates from the 22 psoriasis patients. The overall detection rates in lesional and non-lesional skin of M. restricta, M. globosa and M. sympodialis were high (96%, 82% and 64%, respectively), whereas the detection rates of the other species were relatively low. However, there was no difference in the rates between lesional and non-lesional skin areas. The average number of Malassezia species detected in overall sites of the psoriasis patients was 3.7 +/- 1.6 species, although this fact showed no correlation with the severity of the symptoms. The number of Malassezia species detected was 4.1 +/- 1.9 in the AD patients, and 2.8 +/- 0.8 in the healthy subjects, suggesting that the skin microflora of psoriasis patients and AD patients show greater diversity than that of healthy subjects.     

Cutaneous Malassezia flora in atopic dermatitis differs between adults and children

BACKGROUND: Malassezia species are suspected to be involved in the development of skin lesions in atopic dermatitis (AD) when the response of adult AD to anti-inflammatory treatments is poor. However, a comparative analysis of Malassezia flora between adults and children with AD has not been performed. OBJECTIVES: To compare the cutaneous Malassezia flora between adults and children with AD. METHODS: Scale samples were collected from skin lesions of 58 patients with AD in the head and neck regions (28 males and 30 females; 31 children and 27 adults), and fungal DNA was extracted from the samples directly. The number and identities of the Malassezia species were analysed with high accuracy using a polymerase chain reaction-based culture-independent method. The in vivo level of anti-Malassezia IgE antibody was also assayed. RESULTS: Malassezia restricta was the predominant species in the children with AD, while both M. restricta and M. globosa predominated in the adults. The adults showed increased sensitization in terms of anti-Malassezia-specific IgE responses in the sera to both M. globosa and M. restricta in comparison with the children. CONCLUSIONS: The cutaneous Malassezia flora differs significantly between the two age groups.     

花斑癣、马拉色菌毛囊炎、脂溢性皮炎马拉色菌诱发因素分析

目的调查昆明地区花斑癣、马拉色菌毛囊炎、脂溢性皮炎马拉色菌诱发因素,并比较三种疾病的诱发因素有无差异。方法收集花斑癣、马拉色菌毛囊炎、脂溢性皮炎(头皮屑)的病例,用自制的调查表对入选病例进行诱发因素调查,比较诱发因素在三种疾病间有无差异。结果共收集158例病例,男104例,女54例,平均年龄29.4岁,多汗、油性皮肤患者所占比例均超过60%,系统或局部使用糖皮质激素是马拉色菌毛囊炎的危险因素。结论马拉色菌感染好发于男性青壮年,多汗者易发生花斑癣,油性皮肤及使用糖皮质激素易发生马拉色菌毛囊炎。     

Cutaneous Malassezia microbiota of healthy subjects differ by sex, body part and season

Malassezia is a component of normal cutaneous resident microbiota. The aim of this study was to quantitatively clarify the differences in cutaneous Malassezia microbiota in healthy subjects by sex, body part and season. Samples were collected from the forehead, cheek, upper chest and upper back of 20 healthy men and 20 healthy women (average age 32 years) in summer and winter by the swab method. Malassezia DNA was analyzed using a real-time PCR system. As a result, in sex, body parts and season, men, the upper trunk and summer showed the highest total numbers of cutaneous Malassezia species on average. There were also differences depending on the analytical method. The predominant species were M. restricta on the face of men, M. globosa and M. dermatis on the upper trunk of men, and M. globosa and M. sympodialis on the upper trunk of women. This study clarified that the cutaneous Malassezia microbiota of healthy subjects differed by sex, body part and season.     

Cell-mediated immunity to the mycelial phase of Malassezia spp. in patients with pityriasis versicolor and controls

BACKGROUND: Malassezia is the aetiological agent of pityriasis versicolor. The mycelial phase of the organism predominates in lesions of pityriasis versicolor. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the cell-mediated immune (CMI) response to the mycelial phase of Malassezia in patients with this disease, which has not previously been studied. METHODS: The CMI status of 12 patients with pityriasis versicolor and 12 age- and sex-matched controls to mycelial antigen(s) of the organism was examined. The responses to the mycelial form of three strains of the organism were assessed using lymphocyte transformation and leucocyte migration inhibition assays. RESULTS: The transformation responses of the lymphocytes from both patients and controls gave transformation indices < or = 3, although the responses of lymphocytes from patients with pityriasis versicolor to the mycelial form of Malassezia strains were generally higher than those of the controls. In the leucocyte migration inhibition assay, leucocytes from patients with pityriasis versicolor and controls responded to the mycelial antigens of three different Malassezia strains; however, there was no significant difference in leucocyte response between patients with pityriasis versicolor and controls. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pityriasis versicolor do not therefore have a CMI deficiency to Malassezia mycelial antigens but fail to generate a protective CMI response to mycelial antigens over and above that of control individuals during active disease.     

Hyperkeratotic head and neck Malassezia dermatosis

BACKGROUND: Pityriasis versicolor (tinea versicolor) is a common skin disorder due to Malassezia usually affecting adolescents and young adults, more frequently in the tropics. Facial involvement, isolated or not, is not frequent in white adults. OBJECTIVE: Here, we report a possible atypical hyperkeratotic form of dermatosis of the face, in two young immunocompetent Caucasian patients, particularly recalcitrant to therapy. RESULTS: Skin scrapings grew yeasts belonging to the genus Malassezia, including both M. globosa and M. sympodialis. This unusual variant needs long-term therapy with systemic and topical imidazoles together with facial cleansing. CONCLUSION: We propose the name hyperkeratotic head and neck Malassezia dermatosis for this distinctive clinical entity. This variant of pityriasis versicolor should be considered in the differential diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis and dermatitis neglecta.