Publications
| Title | Abstract | Year(sorted ascending) Filter | PMID Filter |
|---|
| many globally isolated ad hybrid strains of cryptococcus neoformans originated in africa. | interspecific and intervarietal hybridization may contribute to the biological diversity of fungal populations. cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic yeast and the most common fungal cause of meningitis in patients with aids. most patients are infected with either of the two varieties of c. neoformans, designated as serotype a (c. neoformans var. grubii) or serotype d (c. neoformans var. neoformans). in addition, serotype ad strains, which are hybrids of these two varieties, are commonly isola ... | 2007 | 17708680 |
| genotype-based differentiation of the cryptococcus neoformans serotypes by combined pcr-rflp analysis of the capsule-associated genes cap10 and cap59. | this report describes an indirect identification method for cryptococcus neoformans serotypes developed using combined restriction enzyme pattern analysis of two pcr-amplified portions of the capsule-associated genes cap10 and cap59. the method relies on the recognition of the sequence conformation of nine serotype-related polymorphic sites by the analysis of four restriction profiles. a 610 nucleotides long trait of the cap10 gene was digested with the enzymes sty i or sal i and a 597 nucleotid ... | 2007 | 17710618 |
| typing and patterns of cellular morphological alterations in cryptococcus neoformans and cryptococcus gattii isolates exposed to a panel of killer yeasts. | cryptococcus neoformans and cryptococcus gattii are encapsulated basidiomycetous yeasts that cause meningoencephalitis. the action of killer yeasts on the growth of one hundred genotypically characterized c. neoformans var. neoformans, c. neoformans var. grubii, and c. gattii clinical and environmental isolates was evaluated. killer studies were performed on yeast malt-methylene blue (ym-mb) agar petri dishes, and a dendrogram was obtained based on a quantitative data matrix using the diameter o ... | 2007 | 17710619 |
| study of common functional genetic polymorphisms of fcgr2a, 3a and 3b genes and the risk for cryptococcosis in hiv-uninfected patients. | a pilot candidate gene association study was conducted to investigate the role of three common functional genetic polymorphisms of the low-affinity fc gamma receptors, fcgr2a (131h/r), fcgr3a (158f/v) and fcgr3b (na1/na2) in cryptococcus neoformans infections in individuals not infected with hiv. the fcgr2a 131rr and fcgr3a 158vv genotypes were over-represented [or: 1.67 (1.05-2.63) and 2.04 (1.06-4.00), respectively] whereas the fcgr3b na2na2 was under-represented in patients with cryptococcosi ... | 2007 | 17710620 |
| seizure in non-hiv cryptococcal meningitis. | the authors studied the prevalence of seizure in non-hiv cryptococcal meningitis. | 2007 | 17710968 |
| in vitro mating of colombian isolates of the cryptococcus neoformans species complex. | within the cryptococcus neoformans species complex, two species and five serotypes are recognized: c. neoformans (var. grubii, serotype a; var. neoformans, serotype d and a hybrid, serotype ad) and c. gattii (serotypes b and c). mating types a and alpha are designated by a single locus, with the mating type alpha being most prevalent in serotype a and d strains. | 2007 | 17713641 |
| monoclonal antibody to fungal glucosylceramide protects mice against lethal cryptococcus neoformans infection. | glucosylceramides (glccer) are involved in the regulation of cryptococcus neoformans virulence. in the present study, we demonstrate that passive immunization with a monoclonal antibody to glccer significantly reduces host inflammation and prolongs the survival of mice lethally infected with c. neoformans, revealing a potential therapeutic strategy to control cryptococcosis. | 2007 | 17715331 |
| diversity of microflora in the gut and casts of tropical composting earthworms reared on different substrates. | the diversity of fungi, bacteria, yeast, actinomycetes and protozoa were analysed in the gut and casts of eudrilus eugeniae, lampito mauritii, eisenia fetida and perionyx excavatus, both qualitatively and quantitatively as influenced by different feed substrates like clay loam soil, cowdung and pressmud. while actinomycetes (streptomyces albus, s. somaliensis, nocardia asteroides, n. caviae and saccharomonosporia) were not digested by any of these species of worms, protozoa (amoeba proteus, a. t ... | 2007 | 17717992 |
| mediastinal cryptococcal abscess diagnosed by eus-fna. | 2007 | 17719038 | |
| aids-associated central nervous system cryptococcosis: a brazilian case study. | in recent years the effect of haart in patients with aids has been great at decreasing the incidence of opportunistic infections. nonetheless, patients with aids living in developing countries still present with severe central nervous system cryptococcosis, with high mortality rates. the study of the clinical-epidemiological-laboratory aspects of the patients treated before the haart era might be useful in an assessment of the impact of these drugs in the prognosis of cases. | 2007 | 17721106 |
| teaching neuroimage: cryptococcal brain pseudocysts in an immunocompetent patient. | 2007 | 17724279 | |
| synthesis of chlorogenic acid derivatives with promising antifungal activity. | derivatives of chlorogenic acid or its analogues were synthesized by coupling protected chlorogenic acid or its analogues with p-octyloxyaniline and selected amino acids. most of the compounds exhibited significant potency against cryptococcus neoformans and candida species with low toxicity to brine shrimps. the 4,5-dihydroxyl groups in the quinic acid moiety were necessary for the activity and introduction of a free amino group increased the inhibitory activity against aspergillus fumigatus. | 2007 | 17761420 |
| hiv infection mimicking autoimmune disorder. | a 13-yr-old girl born to healthy parents presented with cough, fever, easy fatiguability, photosensitivity and alopecia. she had clubbing and diffuse crackles in the chest on examination. her ct scan of the chest showed evidence of bronchiectasis with consolidation. investigations for tuberculosis and collagen vascular disease were negative. in due course she developed features of raised intracranial tension. her blood for hiv elisa was positive with cd4 counts of 17/ microl. her csf, sputum, bl ... | 2007 | 17785905 |
| serotype and mating type characterization of cryptococcus neoformans by multiplex pcr. | cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast, etiological agent of cryptococcosis. the species is commonly associated with pigeon droppings and plant materials. the aim of the present work was to verify the presence of the yeast in pigeon droppings, and to identify the isolates obtained in serotypes and mating types (mat). ten samples of pigeon droppings were collected in the rural area of the city of alfenas, brazil. samples were inoculated in agar niger medium for fungal isolation and 22 i ... | 2007 | 17823747 |
| sequence analysis and expression of a blue-light photoreceptor gene, le.phra from the basidiomycetous mushroom lentinula edodes. | we cloned and sequenced a photoreceptor gene (le.phra) from the basidiomycete lentinula edodes. the product of le.phra, le.phra (924 aa residues) contained a serine-rich region, an lov domain and two pas domains. it was clearly smaller than other fungal lov domain-containing blue-light photoreceptors such as coprinopsis cinerea dst1 (1,175 aa), neurospora crassa wc-1 (1,167 aa), and cryptococcus neoformans wc-1 (1,141 aa). the le.phra gene was found to be transcribed at all stages of the fruitin ... | 2007 | 17827679 |
| alternate-day versus once-daily administration of amphotericin b in the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis: a randomized controlled trial. | animal studies and case series have demonstrated the dose-dependent efficacy and long half-life of amphotericin b deoxycholate (abd), providing the rationale for our randomized controlled study to compare once-daily (od) (1 mg/kg) and alternate-d (ad) (2 mg/kg) administration of abd in the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis in patients with aids hospitalized at king chulalongkorn memorial hospital, thailand, from 2003 to 2004. of 28 patients, 15 and 13 received od and ad administration, respec ... | 2007 | 17852947 |
| cytological diagnosis of cryptococcal peritonitis on peritoneal fluid. | 2007 | 17854088 | |
| disseminated cryptococcal infection in a patient with severe psoriasis treated with efalizumab, methotrexate and ciclosporin. | 2007 | 17854358 | |
| phenolic compounds and antimicrobial activity of olive (olea europaea l. cv. cobrançosa) leaves. | we report the determination of phenolic compounds in olive leaves by reversed-phase hplc/dad, and the evaluation of their in vitro activity against several microorganisms that may be causal agents of human intestinal and respiratory tract infections, namely gram positive (bacillus cereus, b. subtilis and staphylococcus aureus), gram negative bacteria (pseudomonas aeruginosa, escherichia coli and klebsiella pneumoniae) and fungi (candida albicans and cryptococcus neoformans). seven phenolic compo ... | 2007 | 17873849 |
| comparative evaluation of capsular polysaccharide-specific igm and igg antibodies and f(ab')2 and fab fragments as delivery vehicles for radioimmunotherapy of fungal infection. | the applicability of radioimmunotherapy with organism-specific monoclonal antibodies to treatment of infectious disease in experimental models has been recently shown for fungal, bacterial, and viral infections. to identify the best delivery vehicle for radioimmunotherapy of human pathogenic fungus cryptococcus neoformans (cn), we have done comparative evaluation of capsular polysaccharide-specific antibodies with igg1 and igm isotypes and f(ab')2 and fab fragments. | 2007 | 17875799 |
| cerebellar cryptococcoma in an immunocompetent child. case report. | this is the first report of a cerebellar cryptococcoma in a previously healthy, hiv-negative child. cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungus that typically affects patients who are hiv-positive and other patients with compromised immune systems. isolated cryptococcomas of the central nervous system (cns) have been previously described in immunocompetent adults; however, this is the first report of a cryptococcoma in a child. the patient presented with progressive headaches and nausea a ... | 2007 | 17941497 |
| invasive fungal infections among inpatients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome at a chinese university hospital. | invasive fungal infections (ifis) have become a major cause of morbidity and mortality among people with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (aids), however, little is known about the clinical features and prognosis of ifi in aids in china. this study aimed to characterise the clinical features and prognosis of ifi in aids patients in china. we retrospectively reviewed the records of all hiv-infected patients at a chinese university hospital between december 2004 and may 2006. we identified 35 p ... | 2007 | 17944709 |
| cell wall-linked cryptococcal phospholipase b1 is a source of secreted enzyme and a determinant of cell wall integrity. | phospholipase b (plb1) is secreted by pathogenic fungi and is a proven virulence determinant in cryptococcus neoformans. cell-associated plb1 is presumptively involved in fungal membrane biogenesis and remodelling. we have also identified it in cryptococcal cell walls. motif scanning programs predict that plb1 is attached to cryptococcal membranes via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (gpi) anchor, which could regulate plb1 export and secretion. a functional gpi anchor was identified in cell-associ ... | 2007 | 17947228 |
| genetic analyses of a hybrid cross between serotypes a and d strains of the human pathogenic fungus cryptococcus neoformans. | cryptococcus neoformans has two varieties, var. grubii and var. neoformans, that correspond to serotypes a and d, respectively. molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that these two varieties have diverged from each other for approximately 18 million years. the discovery of pathogenic serotype ad hybrid strains in nature indicates that intervariety mating in c. neoformans occurs in the natural environment. however, little is known about the genetic consequences of hybridization in c. neoformans ... | 2007 | 17947421 |
| cholecystitis as the initial manifestation of disseminated cryptococcosis. | 2007 | 17885305 | |
| preemptive treatment of fungal infection based on plasma (1 --> 3)beta-d-glucan levels after liver transplantation. | invasive fungal infection remains a major challenge in liver transplantation and the mortality rate is high. early diagnosis and treatment are required for better results. | 2007 | 17885729 |
| cryptococcus neoformans abscess and osteomyelitis in an immunocompetent patient with tuberculous lymphadenitis. | infection with cryptococcus neoformans usually occurs in immunocompromised hosts and may occur in immunocompetent patients. of all cryptococcal infections, 10-40% of patients have no apparent immune deficiency. disseminated disease may occur in up to 62% of hiv-seronegative patients with cryptococcosis; however, cryptococcal osteomyelitis is rare. here, we report an immunocompetent patient with cryptococcal vertebral osteomyelitis and concomitant tuberculous lymphadenitis. the patient received 1 ... | 2007 | 17885733 |
| synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some novel nucleoside analogues of adenosine and 1,3-dideazaadenosine. | a number of nucleoside analogues have been synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activities against staphylococcus aureus, group d streptococcus, pseudomonas aeruginosa, proteus spp., salmonella spp., aspergillus fumigatus, penicillium marneffei, candida albicans, cryptococcus neoformans, and mucor spp. the compounds 1, 4, and 6 emerged as potent antibacterial agents with mic values of 0.75, 0.38, and 0.19 microm, respectively, against group d streptococcus. further, t ... | 2007 | 17890082 |
| cryptococcal inflammatory pseudotumors. | "inflammatory pseudotumors" (ipts) embrace a heterogeneous spectrum of reactive, infective, and neoplastic entities, that are characterized by a clinical mass composed of a histologic proliferation of spindle cells in a background of inflammatory cells and collagen fibers. although a spectrum of microorganisms have been identified in infective ipts, mycobacterial infective ipts are reported most commonly. we document 5 solitary cryptococcal ipts, in 2 males and 3 females, aged 19 to 43 years, in ... | 2007 | 17895752 |
| cryptococcal meningoencephalitis diagnosed by blood culture. | increase in cryptococcal infection has been noticed after acquired immunodeficiency syndrome pandemic. cryptococcus neoformans can be isolated from blood in the process of dissemination to brain. we report a case of cryptococcal fungaemia in a patient whose cerebrospinal fluid was negative for cryptococcus neoformans. retrospective analysis revealed human immunodeficiency virus seropositivity of the patient. he was treated with amphotericin b and fluconazole. antiretroviral therapy was started, ... | 2007 | 17901653 |
| invasive cryptococcus neoformans infection in an asplenic patient. | individuals who are asplenic or have impaired splenic function are at increased risk of developing life-threatening infections, especially due to encapsulated bacteria. this risk is higher in children, but adults can also develop fulminant infection or "post splenectomy sepsis" (pss). cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast usually causing infection in immunocompromised patients. in a recent review of cryptococcal infection in hiv-negative patients, splenectomy was reported to be a risk ... | 2007 | 17905439 |
| glucosylceramide synthase is essential for alfalfa defensin-mediated growth inhibition but not for pathogenicity of fusarium graminearum. | antifungal defensins, msdef1 and mtdef4, from medicago spp., inhibit the growth of a fungal pathogen, fusarium graminearum, at micromolar concentrations. however, molecular mechanisms by which they inhibit the growth of this fungus are not known. we have characterized a functional role of the fungal sphingolipid glucosylceramide in regulating sensitivity of the fungus to msdef1 and mtdef4. a null mutation of the fggcs1 gene encoding glucosylceramide synthase results in a mutant lacking glucosylc ... | 2007 | 17908205 |
| il-13 induces disease-promoting type 2 cytokines, alternatively activated macrophages and allergic inflammation during pulmonary infection of mice with cryptococcus neoformans. | in the murine model of cryptococcus neoformans infection th1 (il-12/ifn-gamma) and th17 (il-23/il-17) responses are associated with protection, whereas an il-4-dependent th2 response exacerbates disease. to investigate the role of the th2 cytokine il-13 during pulmonary infection with c. neoformans, il-13-overexpressing transgenic (il-13tg(+)), il-13-deficient (il-13(-/-)), and wild-type (wt) mice were infected intranasally. susceptibility to c. neoformans infection was found when il-13 was indu ... | 2007 | 17911623 |
| combination antifungals: an update. | invasive fungal infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in specific patient populations. there has been an impressive increase in the antifungal armamentarium, yet optimal therapies for many invasive fungal infections remain unknown. genomic sequencing of a number of pathogenic fungi will pave the way to discovering additional newer targets for antifungal drug design. these new discoveries, plus the existing repertoire of antifungal agents, create the need to effectively mod ... | 2007 | 17914921 |
| epidemiology of central nervous system mycoses. | fungal infections of the central nervous system (cns) were considered rare until the 1970s. this is no longer true in recent years due to widespread use of corticosteroids, cytotoxic drugs and antibiotics. immunocompromised patients with underlying malignancy organ transplantations and acquired immune deficiency syndrome are all candidates for acquiring fungal infections either in meninges or brain. a considerable number of cases of cns fungal infections even in immunocompetent hosts have been r ... | 2007 | 17921647 |
| voriconazole inhibits melanization in cryptococcus neoformans. | voriconazole is a triazole antifungal drug that inhibits ergosterol synthesis and has broad activity against yeast and molds. while studying the interaction of voriconazole and cryptococcus neoformans, we noted that cells grown in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of voriconazole reduced melanin pigmentation. we investigated this effect systematically by assessing melanin production in the presence of voriconazole, amphotericin b, caspofungin, itraconazole, and fluconazole. only voric ... | 2007 | 17923488 |
| antifungal agents in neonates: issues and recommendations. | fungal infections are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period, particularly among premature neonates. four classes of antifungal agents are commonly used in the treatment of fungal infections in pediatric patients: polyene macrolides, fluorinated pyrimidines, triazoles, and echinocandins. due to the paucity of pediatric data, many recommendations for the use of antifungal agents in this population are derived from the experience in adults. the purpose of this ... | 2007 | 17927303 |
| cellulitis revealing a cryptococcosis-related immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in a renal allograft recipient. | immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (iris) has rarely been described in the course of disseminated cryptococcosis in solid organ transplant recipients. we report here the case of a renal transplant recipient who developed severe cellulitis in the context of cryptococcus neoformans-associated iris while undergoing reduction of his immunosuppressive therapy. iris appeared concomitantly with a dramatic increase of blood cd4+ t cells (94-460/mm(3)) and required the administration of a short- ... | 2007 | 17927804 |
| cytological study of cell cycle of the pathogenic yeast cryptococcus neoformans. | cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic human pathogen belonging to basidiomycetous fungi and has unique properties in cell cycle progression. the purpose of this study was to measure the duration of the cell cycle in this yeast. under standard liquid culture conditions (1% yeast extract, 1% polypeptone, and 1% glucose; 24 degrees c; and 150 rpm), the doubling time of exponentially growing c. neoformans was 132 +/- 16 min (mean +/- standard deviation), and the durations of the g1, s, g2, and ... | 2007 | 17975529 |
| [evaluation of melanin production by cryptococcus species in four different culture media]. | the capacity of cryptococcus spp to produce melanin in media containing phenol compounds is widely used for identifying these species in the laboratory. the aim of the present study was to compare the production of this pigment by cryptococcus spp. in four culture media. sixteen strains of cryptococcus neoformans, 17 of cryptococcus albidus, 13 of cryptococcus laurentii and two of cryptococcus uniguttulatus were tested in the following media: potato-carrot agar, niger seed agar, sunflower seed a ... | 2007 | 17992414 |
| [studies on chemical constituents of in herb pyrola calliatha]. | to investigate the chemical constituents of pyrola calliatha. | 2007 | 17992995 |
| accidental virulence, cryptic pathogenesis, martians, lost hosts, and the pathogenicity of environmental microbes. | 2007 | 17951515 | |
| ssk2 mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase governs divergent patterns of the stress-activated hog1 signaling pathway in cryptococcus neoformans. | the stress-activated p38/hog1 mitogen-activated protein kinase (mapk) pathway is structurally conserved in many diverse organisms, including fungi and mammals, and modulates myriad cellular functions. the hog1 pathway is uniquely specialized to control differentiation and virulence factors in a majority of clinical cryptococcus neoformans serotype a and d strains. here, we identified and characterized the ssk2 mapkkk that functions upstream of the mapkk pbs2 and the mapk hog1 in c. neoformans. t ... | 2007 | 17951522 |
| alpha ad alpha hybrids of cryptococcus neoformans: evidence of same-sex mating in nature and hybrid fitness. | cryptococcus neoformans is a ubiquitous human fungal pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis in predominantly immunocompromised hosts. the fungus is typically haploid, and sexual reproduction involves two individuals with opposite mating types/sexes, alpha and a. however, the overwhelming predominance of mating type (mat) alpha over a in c. neoformans populations limits alpha-a mating in nature. recently it was discovered that c. neoformans can undergo same-sex mating under laboratory condition ... | 2007 | 17953489 |
| serologic evidence for reactivation of cryptococcosis in solid-organ transplant recipients. | cryptococcosis is a significant infection with a high mortality in solid-organ transplant recipients. nonetheless, the pathogenesis of this disease is poorly understood. it has been hypothesized that cryptococcosis may result from either primary infection or reactivation of a latent infection. sera were obtained from transplant recipients prior to transplantation and at the time they developed cryptococcosis. control sera were obtained before and after transplant from patients who did not develo ... | 2007 | 17959819 |
| identification and genotyping of molluscum contagiosum virus from genital swab samples by real-time pcr and pyrosequencing. | laboratory diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum virus (mcv) is important as lesions can be confused with those caused by cryptococcus neoformans, herpes simplex virus, human papillomavirus, and varicella-zoster virus. | 2007 | 17997134 |
| new insights on the pathogenesis of invasive cryptococcus neoformans infection. | disseminated cryptococcosis begins with infection of the lungs via inhalation. this is followed by escape from the lungs and entry into the bloodstream allowing dissemination to the brain and central nervous system. we discuss the steps involved in dissemination and the host and microbial factors that influence each step. for the host, containment in the lung is accomplished with a combination of cell-mediated and antibody responses. dissemination occurs when these systems fail and/or when phago ... | 2007 | 17999881 |
| sex in broad daylight: turning a new leaf-fungal style. | cryptococcus spp. are potentially lethal fungal pathogens of humans and animals that are not easily communicable. in this issue of cell host & microbe, xue et al. describe sexual reproduction of cryptococcus in association with plants and identify plant-derived mating stimulatory compounds. these results may have wide significance in explaining environmental sources of effective inoculum in human disease foci. | 2007 | 18005704 |
| the human fungal pathogen cryptococcus can complete its sexual cycle during a pathogenic association with plants. | cryptococcus is a globally distributed human fungal pathogen that primarily afflicts immunocompromised individuals. how and why this human fungal pathogen associates with plants and how this environmental niche influences its life cycle remains a mystery. we established cryptococcus-arabidopsis and cryptococcus-eucalyptus systems and discovered that cryptococcus proliferates and mates on plant surfaces. mating efficiency of c. gattii was markedly enhanced on plants and myo-inositol and indole ac ... | 2007 | 18005707 |
| [serological tests for diagnosing fungal infections]. | considerable interest has been made in developing nonculture approaches to diagnosing fungal infections, as early diagnosis may guide appropriate treatment and prevent mortality. these approaches include detection of specific host immune responses to fungal antigens, and detection of specific macromolecular antigens using immunologic reagents. the detection of a specific host antibody response is attractive because such tests can be performed rapidly and do not require invasive sampling procedur ... | 2007 | 18030559 |
| antifungal activity of statins against aspergillus species. | the cholesterol-lowering agents known as statins have in vitro activities against human pathogenic fungi, such as candida species, cryptococcus neoformans, and zygomycetes. synergy between statins and azoles against these fungi has also been reported. we evaluated the in vitro activities of two statins, lovastatin and simvastatin, alone and in combination with azoles and amphotericin b, against clinical isolates of aspergillus spp. a disk diffusion assay showed that both statins were active agai ... | 2007 | 18033614 |
| comment on singh et al.'s 'cryptococcosis in a bandicoot rat'. | 2007 | 18033618 | |
| dectin-1 is not required for the host defense to cryptococcus neoformans. | dectin-1 is known as a sole receptor for beta-glucan, a major cell wall component of fungal microorganisms. in the current study, we examined the role of this molecule in the host defense to cryptococcus neoformans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen in aids patients. there was no significant difference in the clinical course and cytokine production between dectin-1 gene-deficient and control mice. these results indicate that dectin-1 is not likely essential for the development of host protective ... | 2007 | 18037789 |
| exchanging murine and human immunoglobulin constant chains affects the kinetics and thermodynamics of antigen binding and chimeric antibody autoreactivity. | mouse-human chimeric antibodies composed of murine variable (v) and human (c) chains are useful therapeutic reagents. consequently, we investigated whether heterologous c-regions from mice and humans affected specificity and affinity, and determined the contribution of c(h) glycosylation to antigen binding. the interaction of a 12-mer peptide mimetic with monoclonal antibody (mab) 18b7 to cryptococcus neoformans glucuronoxylomannan, and its chimeric (ch) and deglycosylated forms were studied by ... | 2007 | 18074033 |
| cryptococcus neoformans is resistant to surfactant protein a mediated host defense mechanisms. | initiation of a protective immune response to infection by the pathogenic fungus cryptococcus neoformans is mediated in part by host factors that promote interactions between immune cells and c. neoformans yeast. surfactant protein a (sp-a) contributes positively to pulmonary host defenses against a variety of bacteria, viruses, and fungi in part by promoting the recognition and phagocytosis of these pathogens by alveolar macrophages. in the present study we investigated the role of sp-a as a me ... | 2007 | 18159253 |
| cryptococcus neoformans laccase catalyses melanin synthesis from both d- and l-dopa. | the human fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans produces melanin in the presence of various substrates, including the l enantiomer of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa). the enzyme laccase catalyses the formation of melanin by oxidizing l-dopa, initiating a series of presumably spontaneous reactions that ultimately leads to the polymerization of the pigment in the yeast cell wall. there, melanin protects the cell from a multitude of environmental and host assaults. thus, the ability of c. neofo ... | 2007 | 18048910 |
| clinical and mycological profile of cryptococcosis in a tertiary care hospital. | this study examined the extent of cryptococcosis in clinically diagnosed cases of meningitis in hiv-1 seropositive and apparently immunocompetent patients. one hundred and forty-six samples, obtained from 126 chronic meningitis patients comprised of cerebrospinal fluid (csf), blood, sputum and urine. the samples were processed by standard microbiological procedures. cryptococcal isolates were identified by microscopy, cultural characteristics, melanin production on niger seed agar and hydrolysis ... | 2007 | 18087095 |
| hiv-associated cryptococcal meningitis. | 2007 | 18090038 | |
| molecular diversity of serial cryptococcus neoformans isolates from aids patients in the city of são paulo, brazil. | despite highly active anti-retroviral therapy, cryptococcal meningoencephalitis is the second most prevalent neurological disease in brazilian aids patients, being frequently a defining condition with several episodes. as knowledge of cryptococcus neoformans isolates in the same episode is critical for understanding why some patients develop several episodes, we investigated the genotype characteristics of c. neoformans isolates in two different situations. by pulsed field gel electrophoresis an ... | 2007 | 18094886 |
| fungal capsular polysaccharide and t-cell suppression: the hidden nature of poor immunogenicity. | many capsular polysaccharide antigens are generally considered to be classic t-cell independent antigens that stimulate humoral response. this response is poor and short lived due to the absence of t-cell involvement. recent emerging evidence suggests that fungal capsular polysaccharides may negatively affect t-cell response. this effect is indirectly mediated by antigen-presenting cells that sense microbial polysaccharides and manage t-cell response. this review will revisit the role of the cry ... | 2007 | 18197800 |
| cryptococcosis in gilbert's and long-nosed potoroo. | two cases of fatal cryptococcosis are described, one of cryptococcus neoformans infection in a gilbert's potoroo (potorous gilbertii) and one of cryptococcus gattii infection in a long-nosed potoroo (potorous tridactylus). the diagnoses were confirmed by culture and specific immunohistochemistry, respectively. the long-nosed potoroo tested positive using the latex cryptococcal antigen test (lcat), whereas the gilbert's potoroo had a negative lcat result despite having advanced disease of some du ... | 2007 | 18229862 |
| [efficiency of ethanol of thonningia sanguinea against cryptococcus neoformans]. | herbal treatment of infectious diseases is a common practice in traditional society. one of the herbs used by african populations against skin and systemic infectious diseases is thonningia sanguinea (thos). in the ivory coast, togo, and ghana, this herb is used to prepare traditional remedies for diarrhoeas, asthma and mycoses. the latter account for a substantial number of the opportunistic infections associated with hiv/aids. some species of eumycetes, such as cryptococcus neoformans, infect ... | 2007 | 18299265 |
| bilateral multifocal choroiditis and optic neuropathy in a patient with aids: a diagnostic dilemma. | a rare case of bilateral multifocal choroiditis and optic neuropathy as the result of disseminated cryptococcal infection in a person with aids is described. a 30-year-old hiv-positive man presented with fever, headache, vomiting, and altered sensorium ophthalmological examination revealed bilateral multifocal choroiditis and optic neuropathy. laboratory examination and imaging suggested a presumptive diagnosis of disseminated cryptococcus neoformans infection. therapeutic response confirmed the ... | 2007 | 18178980 |
| protective immunity against cryptococcus neoformans infection. | cryptococcus neoformans, the etiological agent of cryptococcosis, is an occasional opportunistic fungal pathogen of immune competent individuals. however, it is a relatively frequent cause of life-threatening meningoencephalitis and pulmonary infections in immunosuppressed hosts and is a leading mycological cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with aids in most parts of the world. the lack of an effective fungicidal regimen and the development of antifungal resistant strains suggest t ... | 2007 | 18523595 |
| determination of antifungal activity of polyenzyme preparation candidaseb using in vitro methods. | a new polyenzyme formulation 'candidaseb' was tested for its ability to inhibit clinically important fungi. after its antifungal activity was established, an assay was standardized to determine whether any potentiation effect was possible if candidaseb was used in conjunction with three standard antifungal agents viz, amphotericin b, miconazole and ketoconazole against 5 clinically significant fungi viz., candida albicans, cryptococcus neoformans, aspergillusniger, microsporum gypseum and tricho ... | 2007 | 19957538 |
| immune reconstitution disease: recent developments and implications for antiretroviral treatment in resource-limited settings. | we review literature published over the past 2 years regarding the immunopathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical spectrum and outcomes of immune reconstitution disease in patients receiving antiretroviral treatment. particular attention is drawn to data relevant to resource-limited settings. | 2007 | 19372909 |
| complete binocular blindness as the first manifestation of hiv-related cryptococcal meningitis. | ocular complications of hiv-related cryptococcal meningitis are reasonably common, but complete binocular blindness as the first manifestation of hiv is extremely rare. a 58-year-old man presented with binocular blindness. he experienced blurred vision for 3 days before the blindness. mild pleocytosis was present in the cerebrospinal fluid, from which cryptococcus neoformans was cultured. serology revealed positivity for hiv antibody. he was treated with antifungal and antiretroviral therapy. th ... | 2007 | 19513136 |
| disseminated cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent child. | cryptococcosis is caused by cryptococcus neoformans. immunosuppression is a predisposing factor for the development of cryptococcosis. however, reports exist that cryptococcus neoformans can cause infection in immunocompetent hosts. we report a case of disseminated cryptococcosis in a 7.5-year-old immunocompetent child. | 2007 | 23100931 |
| analysis of autophagy during infections of cryptococcus neoformans. | cryptococcus neoformans is a yeastlike fungus that causes a lethal meningoencephalitis in a broad spectrum of immunocompromised patients and has become the most common cause of meningitis due to aids-related infections in africa. key to the development of new agents to control and prevent this infection is the identification of cellular mechanisms required for pathogenesis. survival of the fungus within the hostile and nutrient-deprived environments of the host has recently been shown to depend ... | 2008 | 19185730 |
| atypical forms of cryptococcus neoformans in csf of an aids patient. | the microscopic recognition of typical rounded capsulated yeasts in centrifuged cerebrospinal fluid (csf), stained with india ink, is a common, rapid and effective method for the diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis among aids patients. the presence of atypical forms of cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans in samples of csf of an aids patient with cryptococcosis treated at the university hospital of infectious disease is presented. the india ink microscopy of three consecutive csf samples rev ... | 2008 | 19745513 |
| antimicrobial activity of pentacyclic triterpenes isolated from acacia mellifera. | acacia mellifera has been used widely in traditional african medicines against various diseases. among the kipsigis community of kenya, water extracts from the plant is used for the treatment of skin diseases, coughs and gastrointestinal ailments. the aim of the study was to provide scientific rationale for the use of the plant in traditional medicine through bioassay-guided fractionation of a. mellifera stem bark. bioactivity testing was done against selected microbes using disc diffusion techn ... | 2008 | 20162040 |
| 14th international congress iaop/aaomp clinical pathology conference case 6. | the clinicopathologic features of oral cryptococcosis manifested as multifocal tumor-like lesions located in the upper and lower gingival tissues of a 36-year-old male patient with aids are described. the gingival lesions were the initial manifestation of disseminated cryptococcosis from which central nervous system involvement was established. clinical differential diagnosis and histopathologic features are discussed. effect of treatment on the gingival lesions after 18 months follow-up is pres ... | 2008 | 20614298 |
| vesicular trans-cell wall transport in fungi: a mechanism for the delivery of virulence-associated macromolecules? | fungal cells are encaged in rigid, complex cell walls. until recently, there was remarkably little information regarding the trans-fungal cell wall transfer of intracellular macromolecules to the extracellular space. recently, several studies have begun to elucidate the mechanisms that fungal cells utilize to secrete a wide variety of macromolecules through the cell wall. the combined use of transmission electron microscopy, serology, biochemistry, proteomics and lipidomics have revealed that th ... | 2008 | 20617119 |
| development of polymorphic microsatellite markers for cryptococcus neoformans. | cryptococcus neoformans is a haploid basidiomycetous yeast that causes life-threatening infections in patients with and without impaired immune function. present typing systems for c. neoformans are limited by either poor standardization or high cost. we present eleven microsatellite loci that were developed from the published genomes of c. neoformans var. neoformans, and are applicable to the varieties and hybrids within c. neoformans. | 2008 | 21585994 |
| endogenous excess cortisol production and diabetes mellitus as predisposing factors for pulmonary cryptococcosis: a case report and literature review. | pulmonary cryptococcosis usually occurs as an opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients. endogenous cushing's syndrome is associated with cortisol excess and can predispose to development of cryptococcal infections. we report a case of diabetic patient with acth secreting pituitary tumour who developed a cavitating lung mass. computed tomography-guided biopsy of the lesion revealed mucicarminophilic budding forms of cryptococcus. broncheoalveolar lavage culture grew cryptococcus neof ... | 2008 | 21264083 |
| therapeutic efficacy of a conjugate vaccine containing a peptide mimotope of cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan. | vaccination with p13, a peptide mimotope of the cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan (gxm), has been shown to confer protection against a subsequent lethal cryptococcus neoformans challenge. in this study, we sought to investigate whether p13-based vaccines could be effective in an already-established infection. to address this question, we developed a systemic chronic cryptococcal infection model. we vaccinated chronically infected mice with p13-protein conjugates and monito ... | 2008 | 18524882 |
| role and mechanism of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase c in survival and virulence of cryptococcus neoformans. | phospholipase b1 (plb1) is secreted after release from its glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor and is implicated in initiation and dissemination of infection of the pathogenic fungus, cryptococcus neoformans. to investigate the role of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase c (pi-plc) in plb1 secretion, we identified two putative pi-plc-encoding genes in c. neoformans var. grubii (plc1 and plc2), and created deltaplc1 and deltaplc2 deletion mutants. in deltaplc1, which expressed less pi-plc ... | 2008 | 18532984 |
| molluscum-like cutaneous cryptococcosis: a histopathological and pathogenetic appraisal. | molluscum-like cutaneous cryptococcosis (mlcc) is characterized by hypopigmented or skin-colored papules with central umbilication. the histomorphological nuances of cryptococcus neoformans infection that effect mimicry of molluscum contagiosum are undocumented. this histopathological study was undertaken to assess the histopathological characteristics of mlcc and to determine potential evolutionary pathogenetic mechanisms and significance. | 2008 | 18537859 |
| [susceptibility to antifungal agents among cryptococcus neoformans varieties isolated from patients at a university hospital]. | this study identified cryptococcus neoformans varieties isolated from 35 patients at teaching hospital of the federal university of the triângulo mineiro and evaluated the susceptibility to antifungal agents among these samples using the protocol m27-a2 from the national committee for clinical laboratory standards. the gattii variety was identified in 11.4% of the cases (n = 4). the minimum inhibitory concentration (mg/ml) of cryptococcus neoformans neoformans isolates ranged from 0.062 to 2.000 ... | 2008 | 18545836 |
| cutaneous cryptococcosis in a patient affected by chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: a case report. | cryptococcosis is an opportunistic infection, the incidence of which is increased in the immunocompromised patients. cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated fungus that mainly infects the lungs and the central nervous system, possibly involving different organs. cutaneous cryptococcosis is classified into localized infection, usually occurring after traumatic inoculation (primary cutaneous cryptococcosis) and cutaneous manifestation due to hematogenous dissemination (secondary cutaneous crypt ... | 2008 | 18547493 |
| isolates of cryptococcus neoformans from infected animals reveal genetic exchange in unisexual, alpha mating type populations. | sexual reproduction and genetic exchange are important for the evolution of fungal pathogens and for producing potentially infective spores. studies to determine whether sex occurs in the pathogenic yeast cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii have produced enigmatic results, however: basidiospores are the most likely infective propagules, and clinical isolates are fertile and genetically diverse, consistent with a sexual species, but almost all populations examined consist of a single mating type ... | 2008 | 18552280 |
| capsule enlargement in cryptococcus neoformans confers resistance to oxidative stress suggesting a mechanism for intracellular survival. | cryptococcus neoformans is a facultative intracellular pathogen. the most distinctive feature of c. neoformans is a polysaccharide capsule that enlarges depending on environmental stimuli. the mechanism by which c. neoformans avoids killing during phagocytosis is unknown. we hypothesized that capsule growth conferred resistance to microbicidal molecules produced by the host during infection, particularly during phagocytosis. we observed that capsule enlargement conferred resistance to reactive o ... | 2008 | 18554313 |
| in vitro susceptibility of cryptococcus gattii clinical isolates. | the data available in the literature concerning cryptococcus gattii in vitro antifungal susceptibility are contradictory. we have analyzed the activity of eight antifungal agents against 23 c. gattii clinical isolates and compared the susceptibility profiles with those of c. neoformans. mic analysis (mg/l) revealed that c. gattii isolates were more susceptible to amphotericin b and flucytosine than were c. neoformans isolates. fluconazole and other azole compounds showed high mic values for c. g ... | 2008 | 18558948 |
| evaluation of etest method for determining isavuconazole mics against cryptococcus gattii and cryptococcus neoformans. | we compared etest with broth microdilution testing for isavuconazole activity against 92 cryptococcus isolates. a 97.8% agreement was found between these methods, without major discrepancies (>2-well dilution difference). our findings support the use of the etest methodology as a reliable method for the determination of mics against cryptococcus spp. | 2008 | 18559645 |
| sex differences in the genetic architecture of susceptibility to cryptococcus neoformans pulmonary infection. | cryptococcus neoformans is a major cause of fungal pneumonia, meningitis and disseminated disease in the immune compromised host. here we have used a clinically relevant model to investigate the genetic determinants of susceptibility to progressive cryptococcal pneumonia in c57bl/6j and cba/j inbred mice. at 5 weeks after infection, the lung fungal burden was over 1000-fold higher in c57bl/6j compared to cba/j mice. a genome-wide scan performed on 210 male and 203 female (cba/j x c57bl/6j) f2 pr ... | 2008 | 18563168 |
| cloning and heterologous expression of cryptococcus neoformans cnsrb1 cdna in saccharomyces cerevisiae. | in this study, we report the results of cloning, sequencing and functional analysis by complementation test of the putative cryptococcus neoformans homolog cnsrb1. the nucleotide sequence revealed 63% identity, and the deduced amino acid sequence showed 66 and 64% identity to its respective homolog of saccharomyces cerevisiae and candida albicans, respectively. functional complementation test indicated that the putative cnsrb1 gene could compensate the defect caused by a mutation in scsrb1 in th ... | 2008 | 18564688 |
| ifn-alpha/beta signaling is required for polarization of cytokine responses toward a protective type 1 pattern during experimental cryptococcosis. | the antiviral activities of type i ifns have long been established. however, comparatively little is known of their role in defenses against nonviral pathogens. we examined here the effects of type i ifns on host resistance against the model pathogenic yeast cryptococcus neoformans. after intratracheal or i.v. challenge with this fungus, most mice lacking either the ifn-alpha/beta receptor (ifn-alpha/betar) or ifn-beta died from unrestrained pneumonia and encephalitis, while all wild-type contro ... | 2008 | 18566423 |
| ccr2 mediates conventional dendritic cell recruitment and the formation of bronchovascular mononuclear cell infiltrates in the lungs of mice infected with cryptococcus neoformans. | pulmonary clearance of the encapsulated yeast cryptococcus neoformans requires the development of t1-type immunity. ccr2-deficient mice infected with c. neoformans develop a non-protective t2 immune response and persistent infection. the mechanisms responsible for this aberrant response are unknown. the objective of this study was to define the number, phenotype, and microanatomic location of dendritic cells (dc) residing within the lung of ccr2+/+ or ccr2-/- mice throughout a time course follow ... | 2008 | 18566428 |
| phenotypic switching of cryptococcus neoformans and cryptococcus gattii. | microorganisms that live in fluctuating environments must constantly adapt their behavior to survive. the host constitutes an important microenvironment in opportunistic and primary fungal pathogens like cryptococcus neoformans (c. neoformans) and cryptococcus gattii (c. gattii). in clonal populations, adaptation may be achieved through the generation of diversity. for fungi phenotype switching constitutes a mechanism that allows them to change rapidly. both c. neoformans and c. gattii undergo p ... | 2008 | 18568418 |
| characterization of phenotypic switching in cryptococcus neoformans biofilms. | cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast-like fungus that is a relatively frequent cause of meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised patients and also occasionally causes disease in apparently healthy individuals. this fungus collectively forms biofilms on polystyrene plates and medical devices, whereas individually can undergo phenotypic switching. both events have profound consequences in the establishment of fungal infection and are associated with persistent infection due to increase ... | 2008 | 18568421 |
| [neurological complications in renal transplant recipients]. | renal transplantation is method of choice for treatment of patients with end-stage renal disease without contraindications for immunosuppressive therapy. neurological complications occur frequently in renal transplant recipients. they may be the consequence of immunosuppressive treatment, but more often evolve as the consequence of previous disturbances which developed during the state of uraemia and treatment with dialysis. the most pronounced neurotoxic effect has calcineurin inhibitors tacrol ... | 2008 | 18578336 |
| finite-element model of interaction between fungal polysaccharide and monoclonal antibody in the capsule of cryptococcus neoformans. | many microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi possess so-called capsules made of polysaccharides which protect these microorganisms from environmental insults and host immune defenses. the polysaccharide capsule of cryptococcus neoformans, a human pathogenic yeast, is capable of self-assembly, composed mostly of glucuronoxylomannan (gxm), a polysaccharide with a molecular weight of approximately 2,000,000, and has several layers with different densities. the objective of this study was to model ... | 2008 | 18588334 |
| phenotypic switching in cryptococcus neoformans contributes to virulence by changing the immunological host response. | cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated opportunistic organism that can undergo phenotypic switching. in this process, the parent smooth colony (sm) switches to a more virulent mucoid colony (mc) variant. the host responses mounted against the sm and mc variants differ, and lower tissue interleukin 10 (il-10) levels are consistently observed in lungs of mc-infected c57bl/6 and balb/c mice. this suggested different roles of this cytokine in sm and mc infections. the objective of this study was ... | 2008 | 18591227 |
| kinetic studies and bioactivity of potential manzamine prodrugs. | the manzamines represent a class of marine natural products that show considerable promise in the control of malaria but generate gi distress in rodents when administered orally in high doses. in an effort to generate manzamine prodrugs with improved antimalarial activity and reduced gi toxicity, we prepared acetylated 8-hydroxymanzamine a analogues including 8-acetoxymanzamine a (3) and 8,12-diacetoxymanzamine a (4), and 8-methoxymanzamine a (5) beginning with 8-hydroxymanzamine a (2). the semi ... | 2008 | 18598080 |
| aids patient death caused by novel cryptococcus neoformans x c. gattii hybrid. | interspecies hybrids of cryptococcus neoformans and c. gattii have only recently been reported. we describe a novel c. neoformans x c. gattii hybrid strain (serotype ab) that was previously described as c. gattii and that caused a lethal infection in an aids patient from canada. | 2008 | 18598632 |
| hyperbranched rolling circle amplification as a rapid and sensitive method for species identification within the cryptococcus species complex. | the cryptococcus species complex contains two closely related basidiomycetous yeasts: cryptococcus neoformans and c. gattii, which cause cryptococcosis in humans and other animals. the species and varieties are characterized, by different clinical, epidemiological, biochemical and molecular features. the currently used identification methods are either time-consuming or not anymore commercially available. however, a rapid, sensitive and robust assay for the detection of these pathogens is vital ... | 2008 | 18600831 |
| cryptococcal neoformans profiles in peripheral blood neutrophils: an unusual presentation. | we report an unusual observation of cryptococcal neoformans profiles engulfed by neutrophils on a routine peripheral blood smear examination in an hiv-negative young female patient who presented with perforation of large bowel following a pregnancy termination procedure by an untrained midwife. | 2008 | 18603716 |
| the expanding host tree species spectrum of cryptococcus gattii and cryptococcus neoformans and their isolations from surrounding soil in india. | this study reports the widespread prevalence of cryptococcus neoformans and cryptococcus gattii in decayed wood inside trunk hollows of 14 species representing 12 families of trees and from soil near the base of various host trees from delhi and several places in the indian states of uttar pradesh, haryana, tamil nadu and chandigarh union territory. of the 311 trees from which samples were obtained, 64 (20.5%) were found to contain strains of the c. neoformans species complex. the number of tree ... | 2008 | 18608895 |
| antibody responses to cryptococcus neoformans in indian patients with cryptococcosis. | an important element of the host response to cryptococcosis is humoral immunity. specific antibody responses in patients with cryptococcosis however, have not been extensively studied. we analyzed the antibody responses of 22 indian patients with cryptococcosis, including both hiv+ and hiv- individuals. sera from 10 indian patients with aids and without cryptococcosis were studied as controls. antibody responses to cryptococcal proteins were detected by immunoblot, while antibodies to glucuronox ... | 2008 | 18608912 |
| multilocus microsatellite typing for cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii. | fifteen randomly selected microsatellites (simple sequence repeats; ssrs), from the h99 cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii (serotype a) genome, were sequenced, characterized and applied to sequence 87 clinical and environmental c. neoformans var. grubii isolates from 12 different countries based on multilocus microsatellite typing (mlmt). among the 15 ssr loci, three (designated cng1, cng2 and cng3) were polymorphic, while the remaining 12 ssr loci showed no variations. the specific pcr primers ... | 2008 | 18608927 |