The ribosomal DNA of the Zygomycete Mucor miehei

The ribosomal DNA from the Zygomycete Mucor miehei has been characterised. The complete rDNA unit was cloned by heterologous PCR using primers whose sequence matched conserved regions of the rDNA from related fungal species. The sequence of the overlapping PCR products revealed the existence of a repeated unit of 9574 bp. The genes encoding the different rRNA species were identified by their homology to the corresponding sequences from other fungi. We estimate that the rDNA unit is present in the genome of M. miehei in about 100 copies. This estimation was made by comparing the intensity of its hybridisation signal in a Southern blot with that of the mmp gene coding for aspartyl protease, which was assumed to be contained in single copy. The size and structure of the M. miehei rDNA unit was similar to that of other fungi. The genes encoding the 25S, 18S and 5.8S RNAs are closely linked within the repeated unit which also contains the 5S gene. This latter gene appears to be transcribed in the opposite direction. The 25S, 18S and 5.8S genes showed 70–80% homology to the corresponding genes from other fungi, whereas the degree of homology for the 5S gene was much lower. The highest homology (about 80%) corresponded to the few available sequences from other Mucor species. Homology to genes from other Zygomycota was no higher than that observed for genes from the Ascomycota or Basidiomycota fungi. Received: 21 December 1999 / 1 March 2000     

An amalgam of pathogenic and beneficial endophytic fungi colonizing four Dendrobium species from Meghalaya,India

Endophytic fungi are known to play an important role in driving the evolution of plants by conferring adaptational advantages to their host through the production of secondary metabolites and phytohormones. In this study, we evaluated the diversity and phylogenetic relationship of endophytic fungal communities from four Dendrobium species viz., Dendrobium chrysanthum, Dendrobium heterocarpum, Dendrobium hookerianum, and Dendrobium longicornu of Meghalaya, India. A total of 51 culturable endophytic fungi were isolated from the four selected orchid species. The isolates were identified based on nuclear large subunit sequences into 33 species. Approximately 91% of the isolates showed affinity to Ascomycetes, while 9% of the isolates showed BLAST search similarity to Basidiomycetes. The most common genera were Trichoderma and Xylaria. The most prevalent genera were Fusarium, which was detected in all the four Dendrobium species followed by Diaporthe, which was present in three Dendrobium species viz., D. chrysanthum, D. hookerianum, and D. heterocarpum. The Shannon index value of endophytic fungal communities was the highest in D. chrysanthum (2.66), while D. longicornu (1) had the highest Evenness index. The present study revealed that endophytic fungi in these orchids are an amalgam of pathogenic and beneficial fungi, which have, at the least, switched their lifestyle to asymptomatic endophyte in their host. To our knowledge, this is the first such report on the diversity of endophytic fungi in the four selected Dendrobium species from Meghalaya, India.     

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目的探索人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）感染或艾滋病（AIDS）患者口腔真菌定植状况及菌种分布,为HIV感染或AIDS患者真菌感染防治提供理论依据。方法选择2013年6—12月在新疆医科大学第一附属医院感染科就诊的HIV感染或AIDS患者30例,由口腔科采用咽拭子法收集口腔分泌物,通过真菌培养实验分析口腔真菌定植状况。结果 30例HIV感染或AIDS患者中,阳性带菌者19例,阳性率为63.3%。阳性带菌者年龄2~52岁;其中男13例（68.4%）、女6例（31.6%）;维吾尔族15例（78.9%）,汉族4例（21.1%）。阳性带菌者中携带白色念珠菌15例（78.9%）。结论白色念珠菌为HIV感染或AIDS患者口腔真菌定植的主要菌种。阳性带菌者年龄分布广泛。     

酵母样真菌感染的菌群临床分布与药敏分析

目的了解临床酵母样真菌的感染类型、分布及其对常用抗真菌药物的敏感性,为临床诊断治疗提供正确的用药依据。方法采用常规方法分离培养真菌,用法国生物梅里埃公司生产的ATB Expression微生物自动鉴定/药敏分析仪进行真菌鉴定和药敏分析。结果396株酵母样真菌中,白色假丝酵母菌检出率最高(72.3%),其次为热带假丝酵母菌(15.91%),光滑假丝酵母菌(6.82%)。酵母样真菌对5-氟胞嘧啶、两性菌素B、氟康唑、依曲康唑的敏感性分别为98.02%,98.43%,77.38%,77.76%。结论临床酵母样真菌感染以白色假丝酵母菌为主,对5-氟胞嘧啶、两性菌素B敏感性较高,对氟康唑、依曲康唑有不同程度的耐药,因此,药敏监测是非常必要的,临床医生应根据药敏结果合理使用抗真菌药物。     

胆石病胆道细菌种类及抗生素应用

目的探讨本地区胆石病胆道细菌种类、变迁及抗生素应用。方法总结和分析3年来我院手术治疗的329例胆石病胆汁细菌培养和药物敏感试验结果。结果大肠埃希菌阳性率最高，并呈逐年上升趋势。耐青霉素酶青霉素类敏感性呈逐年下降，目前已不能有效控制感染。三、四代头孢菌素加甲硝唑或替硝唑尚较为敏感，但耐药性亦呈上升趋势。氟喹诺酮类药物敏感性下降最快。结论胆石病在基层用药不规范及其他原因导致的细菌耐药性越来越严重，如果不加以控制，有可能导致更加严重的胆道感染。     

Neonatal renal candidiasis

A case is presented of renal candidiasis complicated by obstructive uropathy in a 4 month old infant. Management was successful with surgical decompression combined with peri-operative amphotericin B, followed by 3 weeks of oral ketoconazole and subsequently 6 weeks of oral fluconazole. Fluconazole was substituted for ketoconazole owing to persistant candiduria, and achieved rapid urinary sterilization. Fluconazole is an effective and less toxic alternative to prolonged courses of amphotericin B in the treatment of neonatal renal candidiasis.     

Quantitative analysis of fungal DNA in chronic rhinosinusitis

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Fungi have been recognized as important pathogens in sinusitis; however, they are equally present in patients with and without sinusitis. The authors postulated that the quantity of fungal DNA in the nose is determinant of disease, is greater in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, and is directly correlated to their quality of life. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective recruitment of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. METHODS: Objective quality of life data were collected using three validated questionnaires: the Sinonasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-20), Medical Outcomes Short-Form 36 Survey (SF-36), and Guy Marks Asthma Questionnaire (GMAQ). Endoscopically guided middle meatus mucosal samples were collected from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and normal control subjects. Fungal-specific polymerase chain reaction was performed on each sample. Every fungal-positive sample underwent fungal-specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis. Statistical analysis was used to correlate fungal DNA quantities with outcomes indices between groups. RESULTS: Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis had a mean SNOT-20 index of 32.0 as compared with a SNOT-20 index of 17.3 (P <.01) in the normal control subjects. There were no statistical differences between the groups' indices for the SF-36 or GMAQ outcomes questionnaires. Four of 19 (21.1%) patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and 7 of 19 (36.8%) normal control subjects had positive findings for fungal DNA using polymerase chain reaction. The median relative quantity of fungal DNA to human DNA for chronic rhinosinusitis and control samples was identical (0.13) using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. CONCLUSION: The quantity of fungal DNA in the middle meatus did not differ in patients with and without chronic rhinosinusitis and was not correlated with quality of life outcomes. Therefore, the quantity of fungi does not explain pathogenicity in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. However, because of small sample size, the study must be replicated in a larger patient population.     

In vitro antagonistic activity of monoterpenes and their mixtures against 'toe nail fungus' pathogens

The antibiotic effect of the active ingredients in Meijer medicated chest rub (eucalyptus oil, camphor and menthol) as well as the inactive ingredients (thymol, oil of turpentine, oil of nutmeg and oil of cedar leaf) were studied in vitro using the fungal pathogens responsible for onychomycosis, such as the dermatophytes Tricophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Epidermophyton fl occosum and Epidermophyton stockdale. The zones of inhibition data revealed that camphor (1). menthol (2). thymol (3). and oil of Eucalyptus citriodora were the most efficacious components against the test organisms. The MIC(100) for mixtures of these four components in various carrier solvents revealed that formulations consisting of 5 mg/mL concentrations of each have a potential to be efffective in controlling onychomycosis.     

A review of the epidemiology of tinea unguium in the community

Tinea unguium is a common, chronic fungal infection of the nails. Many epidemiological studies have looked at the frequency with which this condition is seen in hospital outpatients clinics or mycological laboratories along with other dermatomycoses. Only recently have studies begun to emerge looking at the prevalence of this condition in populations. Hospital and mycological laboratory-based studies give valuable information about tinea unguium prevalence in a particular clinic, but cannot be compared with other studies due to confounding factors inherent in the different people attending individual clinics. From population-based studies the prevalence of tinea unguium lies between 2 and 8%. Tinea unguium increases steadily with age. It is infrequent but definitely found in children. With the increasing life expectancy in the Western world the prevalence of tinea unguium is likely to increase further without adequate prevention and treatment.