Trichophyton eboreum sp. nov. isolated from human skin

An unusual dermatophyte was isolated from the plantar scales of a human immunodeficiency virus-positive man with tinea pedis. Morphology, physiology, and molecular data provided evidence to support the new species Trichophyton eboreum. This dermatophyte is characterized by rapid growth on common mycological media, a flat powdery off-white colony, formation of clavate microconidia, smooth- and thin-walled cylindrical or club-shaped macroconidia with two to nine cells, the presence of hook-shaped hyphae, the production of cleistothecium-like structures and spiral hyphae in older cultures, positive hair perforation, the absence of pigmentation on potato glucose agar, the absence of a requirement for vitamins, a weak positive urease reaction, no growth at 37 degrees C, resistance to 5% NaCl, resistance to fluconazole, good growth on human epidermal keratin, and the production of various enzymes on different media by the API-ZYM test. More than 5% divergence from any known species of dermatophyte was revealed by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer of the rRNA gene.     

Rescue of lethal molybdenum cofactor deficiency by a biosynthetic precursor from Escherichia coli

Substitution therapies for orphan genetic diseases, including enzyme replacement methods, are frequently hampered by the limited availability of the required therapeutic substance. We describe the isolation of a pterin intermediate from bacteria that was successfully used for the therapy of a hitherto incurable and lethal disease. Molybdenum cofactor (Moco) deficiency is a pleiotropic genetic disorder characterized by the loss of the molybdenum-dependent enzymes sulphite oxidase, xanthine oxidoreductase and aldehyde oxidase due to mutations in Moco biosynthesis genes. An intermediate of this pathway-'precursor Z'-is more stable than the cofactor itself and has an identical structure in all phyla. Thus, it was overproduced in the bacterium Escherichia coli, purified and used to inject precursor Z-deficient knockout mice that display a phenotype which resembles that of the human deficiency state. Precursor Z-substituted mice reach adulthood and fertility. Biochemical analyses further suggest that the described treatment can lead to the alleviation of most symptoms associated with human Moco deficiency.     

Activation of influenza A viruses by trypsin treatment.

A comparative analysis has been carried out on the infectivity of virus of several influenza A strains grown in different host systems. Strains A/swine/Shope/31 (Hsw1N1), A/PR/8/34 (HON1), A/FM/1 (H1N1), A/Singapore/1/57 (H2N2), A/equine/Miami/1/63 (Heq2Neq2), and A/chick/Germany/49 (Hav2Neq1) exhibit host-dependent differences in infectivity. Virions grown in embryonated eggs and cultures of chorioallantoic membrane cells are highly infectious, whereas virions grown in cultures of chick embryo cells have a low infectivity that significantly increases after treatment in vitro with trypsin. In contrast, fowl plague viruses do not show host-dependent variations in infectivity. Virions grown in all host systems tested are highly infectious, and the infectivity of virions grown in chick embryo cells cannot be enhanced by trypsin treatment.The activation of virus particles appears to be based on the cleavage of hemagglutinin glycoprotein HA. This concept is supported by the following observations: (i) In virions of low infectivity only uncleaved glycoprotein HA can be detected. Virions of high infectivity exhibit complete or at least partial cleavage of the hemagglutinin. (ii) The activation of virions by trypsin treatment is always paralleled by cleavage of HA. (iii) Cleavage of HA is the only effect which can be detected after trypsin treatment. The neuraminidase is neither inactivated nor removed from the virion. (iv) Studies on recombinants of virus N and fowl plague virus (Rostock) show that host-dependent variation of infectivity and activation by trypsin, features specific for parent virus N, are found only with recombinant N(H)-FPV/Ro(N) but not with recombinant FPV/Ro(H)-N(N).Efficient plaque formation and serial passages are possible only if highly infectious particles are formed in a given host system. Thus, all strains analyzed undergo, in the absence of trypsin, successive growth cycles in eggs and chorioallantoic membrane cells and form plaques in chorioallantoic membrane cells. In contrast, in chick embryo cells only viruses containing the fowl plague virus hemagglutinin produce plaques and replicate under multiple cycle conditions without the addition of trypsin.The data show that cleavage of HA is not a precondition for virus assembly and hemagglutinating activity, but that it is necessary for infectivity. These findings are compatible with the hypothesis that, in addition to its role in adsorption, the hemagglutinin has another function in the infection process and cleavage is required for this function.     

Wilson disease: novel mutations in the ATP7B gene and clinical correlation in Brazilian patients

Wilson disease (WD) is a rare inherited autosomal recessive disorder caused by a defect in a metal transporting P-type ATPase, resulting in copper overload in various tissues and cells. The aim was to assess both the phenotype in Brazilian WD patients and the corresponding ATP7B genotype. Sixty subjects belonging to 46 pedigrees diagnosed as WD were included in this study. Direct sequencing of all 21 exons within ATP7B and their flanking introns was performed. Demographic, clinical, laboratory and histopathological data at the time of diagnosis were obtained. We identified twenty-five mutations, twelve of them reported for the first time. The c.3402delC mutation had the highest allelic frequency (30.8%), followed by the c.2123T>C (p.L708P) (16.7%). Exons 8 and 15 were the site of 62.5% of the mutations. The common European mutation c.3207C>A (p.H1069Q) was not present at all. Phenotype varied greatly among individuals with the same ATP7B genotype. Our data confirm the heterogeneity of ATP7B genotype in Brazilian WD patients. The mutational spectrum is compatible with the Brazilian history of Mediterranean immigration; however, new mutations, and different frequencies and phenotype associated with the previously known mutations characterize this population. Exons 8 and 15 should be preferentially screened in WD cases from Brazil. Phenotype variation among subjects with the same ATP7B genotype suggests that modifying factors play an additional role in the pathogenesis of WD.     

Genome-scale reconstruction of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae metabolic network

The metabolic network in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was reconstructed using currently available genomic, biochemical, and physiological information. The metabolic reactions were compartmentalized between the cytosol and the mitochondria, and transport steps between the compartments and the environment were included. A total of 708 structural open reading frames (ORFs) were accounted for in the reconstructed network, corresponding to 1035 metabolic reactions. Further, 140 reactions were included on the basis of biochemical evidence resulting in a genome-scale reconstructed metabolic network containing 1175 metabolic reactions and 584 metabolites. The number of gene functions included in the reconstructed network corresponds to approximately 16% of all characterized ORFs in S. cerevisiae. Using the reconstructed network, the metabolic capabilities of S. cerevisiae were calculated and compared with Escherichia coli. The reconstructed metabolic network is the first comprehensive network for a eukaryotic organism, and it may be used as the basis for in silico analysis of phenotypic functions.     

Microglial Reaction in the Rat Cerebral Cortex Induced by Cortical Spreading Depression

The response of microglial cells to cortical spreading depression (CSD) was studied in rat brain by immunocytochemistry. CSD was elicited for one hour by the topical application of 4M potassium chloride solution and the microglial reaction examined immunocytochemically after 4, 16, 24 and 72 hours. CSD was sufficient to induce a microglial reaction throughout the cortex at 24 hours. Activated microglial cells furthermore showed a striking de-novo expression of major histocompatibility complex class II antigens. In contrast, no microglial reaction was observed in the cortex of sham-operated animals. This microglial reaction in response to CSD was not associated with histologically detectable neuronal damage. These results support the view that microglial cells are extremely sensitive to changes of the brain microenvironment. Their activation may be related to changes of ion homeostasis in the brain which are not sufficient to trigger neuronal injury.     

Deletion of the ferric uptake regulator Fur impairs the in vitro growth and virulence of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

In order to investigate the role of the ferric uptake regulator Fur in the porcine lung pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, we constructed an isogenic in-frame deletion mutant, A. pleuropneumoniae Deltafur. This mutant showed constitutive expression of transferrin-binding proteins, growth deficiencies in vitro, and reduced virulence in an aerosol infection model.     

c-Fos-dependent induction of the small ras-related GTPase Rab11a in skin carcinogenesis

Malignant transformation of mouse skin by tumor promoters and chemical carcinogens, such as the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), is a multistage process leading to the formation of squamous cell carcinomas. It has been shown that mice lacking the AP-1 family member c-Fos exhibit an impaired transition from benign to malignant skin tumors. Here, we demonstrate enhanced expression of the small Ras-related GTPase Rab11a after short-term TPA treatment of mouse back skin. Expression of Rab11a in vivo and in vitro critically depended on c-Fos, because TPA application to the back skin of c-Fos-deficient mice and to mouse embryonic fibroblasts did not induce Rab11a mRNA or protein expression. Moreover, dexamethasone, which is a potent inhibitor of AP-1-mediated transactivation that exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor promoting activities, inhibited TPA-induced expression of Rab11a. Within the Rab11a gene promoter, we identified a functional AP-1 binding element that exhibited elevated c-Fos binding activity after TPA treatment of keratinocytes. Enhanced expression was not restricted to chemically induced mouse skin tumors but was also found in tumor specimens derived from patients with epithelial skin tumors. These data identify Rab11a as a novel, tumor-associated c-Fos/AP-1 target and may point to an as yet unrecognized function of Rab11a in the development of skin cancer.     

In vivo and in vitro effects of imidacloprid on sheep keds (Melophagus ovinus): a light and electron microscopic study

The effects of imidacloprid (Advantage) on sheep keds (Melophagus ovinus Linné 1758) were studied in vivo and in vitro by means of direct observation (monitored on video tape) and by light and electron microscopy. It was found that: 1. Imidacloprid acted rapidly on all motile stages of the sheep keds. Within 3–4 min after exposure they became immobile and their legs and the abdomen started tetanic trembling movements for 15–30 min, leading to death. 2. The compound is apparently taken up by the body, since it also acted on those sheep keds that had been exclusively exposed to imidacloprid-contaminated filter papers. 3. The compound is available and active for more than 1 month in the wool of sheep; even rainfall does not reduce its efficacy. Body contact between treated mother sheep and their lambs protects them from infestation with these ectoparasites. 4. The compound initiates an ultimately lethal destruction of the ganglia, nerve chords and related muscle fibers, as can be seen in electron micrographs. Received: 7 October 2000 / Accepted: 18 October 2000