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a 29-year-old immunocompetent man with meningitis and a large pulmonary mass. 200818398126
cryptococcal meningitis in patients with glioma: a report of two cases.we describe two patients with high-grade glioma undergoing treatment with corticosteroids and chemotherapy who presented with cryptococcal meningitis and sepsis. this report of two cases highlights the importance of examining the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotic and/or antifungal regimens in this patient population due to their increased risk of opportunistic infections.200818398572
current scenario of cryptococcosis and antifungal susceptibility pattern in india: a cause for reappraisal.this study analysed the spectrum, antifungal susceptibility pattern, clinical course and molecular epidemiology of cryptococcosis. four hundred and thirty-nine samples obtained from 378 meningitis patients were processed by standard procedures. minimum inhibitory concentration (mic) of fluconazole and amphotericin b for the isolates was tested by broth micro dilution and by e-strip method. molecular analysis by random amplified polymorphic dna-pcr of eight isolates was performed using m13 primer ...200818399907
immunological profiles of immune restoration disease presenting as mycobacterial lymphadenitis and cryptococcal meningitis.a proportion of hiv patients beginning antiretroviral therapy (art) develop immune restoration disease (ird). immunological characteristics of ird were investigated in a cohort of hiv patients beginning therapy in kuala lumpur, malaysia.200818400078
cryptococcus neoformans inhibits nitric oxide synthesis caused by cpg-oligodeoxynucleotide-stimulated macrophages in a fashion independent of capsular polysaccharides.cryptococcus neoformans is eradicated by macrophages via production of no. unmethylated cpg-odn protect mice from infection with this fungal pathogen by inducing ifn-gamma. the present study was designed to elucidate the effect of c. neoformans on the synthesis of no by alveolar macrophages. for this purpose, mh-s, an alveolar macrophage cell line, was stimulated with cpg-odn in the presence of ifn-gamma. a highly virulent strain of c. neoformans with thick capsule suppressed the production of n ...200818402599
case records of the massachusetts general hospital. case 11-2008. a 45-year-old man with changes in mental status after liver transplantation. 200818403769
disseminated cryptococcosis with necrotizing fasciitis in an apparently immunocompetent host: a case report.we present an unusual case of disseminated cryptococcosis with necrotizing fascitis in an immunocompetent host. the multi-system cryptococcal infection was proved using standard microbiological, histopathological and radiological investigations. after a combination of antifungal, antimicrobial and surgical therapy clinical cure was achieved.200818404555
[bilateral amaurosis due to cryptococcus meningoencephalitis: case report].cryptococcal meningitis is caused by the yeast cryptococcus neoformans. two varieties are recognized: var. gattii and var. neoformans. it is usually associated with immunosuppressive states, particularly hiv infection. cryptococcal infection of the central nervous system is uncommon in immunocompetent children and difficult to diagnose. ocular complications are common. optic disc swelling was found in 33%. the following report describes a case of meningitis caused by c. neoformans var. gattii in ...200818408848
the role of laccase in prostaglandin production by cryptococcus neoformans.recently, it has been demonstrated that the opportunistic fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans can synthesize authentic immunomodulatory prostaglandins. the mechanism by which this takes place is unclear as there is no cyclooxygenase homologue in the cryptococcal genome. in this study, we show that cryptococcal production of both pge(2) and pgf(2 alpha) can be chemically inhibited by caffeic acid, resveratrol and nordihydroguaiaretic acid. these polyphenolic molecules are frequently used as i ...200818410494
mathematical modeling of pathogenicity of cryptococcus neoformans.cryptococcus neoformans (cn) is the most common cause of fungal meningitis worldwide. in infected patients, growth of the fungus can occur within the phagolysosome of phagocytic cells, especially in non-activated macrophages of immunocompromised subjects. since this environment is characteristically acidic, cn must adapt to low ph to survive and efficiently cause disease. in the present work, we designed, tested, and experimentally validated a theoretical model of the sphingolipid biochemical pa ...200818414484
reversible visual disturbance due to cryptococcal uveitis in a non-hiv individual.a 52-year-old man without underlying diseases visited a local hospital with symptoms of memory deficit and mild headache. radiological examination of the brain with computed tomography (ct) revealed hydrocephalus. etiology was not revealed by cerebrospinal fluid (csf) analysis and a ventricular-atrial (v-a) shunt was installed. the patient had congestion and dacryorrhea of the right eye and uveitis was diagnosed three months after placement of the v-a shunt. the serum cryptococcal antigen (crag) ...200818415845
cryptococcus species identification by multiplex pcr.members of the cryptococcus species complex are encapsulated basidiomycetous yeasts, which can affect the central nervous system (cns) and if untreated may cause meningitis. cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic pathogen causing infections mainly in immunocompromised individuals. cryptococcus gattii is a primary pathogen responsible for a high incidence of cryptococcomas in the lung and brain and shows a delayed response to antifungal therapy. the differentiation between the two species is ...200818415847
fluconazole alone or combined with flucytosine for the treatment of aids-associated cryptococcal meningitis.an all oral treatment for cryptococcal meningitis is attractive, particularly where amphotericin b use is impractical. both fluconazole and flucytosine are available in oral formulations and have activity against cryptococcus neoformans. we conducted a prospective phase ii dose escalation study employing doses of fluconazole ranging from 800 to 2000 mg daily for 10 weeks used alone or combined with flucytosine at 100 mg/kg per day for the first 4 weeks. we found that increasing doses of fluconaz ...200818415850
screening of chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of artemisia essential oils.the chemical composition of essential oils isolated from aerial parts of seven wild sages from western canada -artemisia absinthium l., artemisia biennis willd., artemisia cana pursh, artemisia dracunculus l., artemisia frigida willd., artemisia longifolia nutt. and artemisia ludoviciana nutt., was investigated by gc-ms. a total of 110 components were identified accounting for 71.0-98.8% of the oil composition. high contents of 1,8-cineole (21.5-27.6%) and camphor (15.9-37.3%) were found in arte ...200818417176
vesicular transport in histoplasma capsulatum: an effective mechanism for trans-cell wall transfer of proteins and lipids in ascomycetes.vesicular secretion of macromolecules has recently been described in the basidiomycete cryptococcus neoformans, raising the question as to whether ascomycetes similarly utilize vesicles for transport. in the present study, we examine whether the clinically important ascomycete histoplasma capsulatum produce vesicles and utilized these structures to secrete macromolecules. transmission electron microscopy (tem) shows transcellular secretion of vesicles by yeast cells. proteomic and lipidomic anal ...200818419773
the radioprotective properties of fungal melanin are a function of its chemical composition, stable radical presence and spatial arrangement.melanized microorganisms are often found in environments with very high background radiation levels such as in nuclear reactor cooling pools and the destroyed reactor in chernobyl. these findings and the laboratory observations of the resistance of melanized fungi to ionizing radiation suggest a role for this pigment in radioprotection. we hypothesized that the radioprotective properties of melanin in microorganisms result from a combination of physical shielding and quenching of cytotoxic free ...200818426412
impact of mating type, serotype, and ploidy on the virulence of cryptococcus neoformans.hybridization with polyploidization is a significant biological force driving evolution. the effect of combining two distinct genomes in one organism on the virulence potential of pathogenic fungi is not clear. cryptococcus neoformans, the most common cause of fungal infection of the central nervous system, has a bipolar mating system with a and alpha mating types and occurs as a (haploid), d (haploid), and ad hybrid (mostly diploid) serotypes. diploid ad hybrids are derived either from a-alpha ...200818426889
dna microarray technology for simultaneous detection and species identification of seven human herpes viruses.the aim of the study was to develop a multiplex pcr-based dna microarray technology for simultaneous detection and species identification of seven human herpes viruses, namely herpes simplex virus type 1, type 2 (hsv-1, hsv-2), varicella-zoster virus (vzv), epstein-barr virus (ebv), cytomegalovirus (cmv), and human herpes virus 6 (hhv-6a, hhv-6b), and to apply this technology to accurate diagnosis of herpesvirus-associated diseases. primers and oligonucleotide probes were designed and synthesize ...200818428126
[neurocryptococcosis as an emerging disease in immunocompetent patients]. 200818985605
mycophenolic derivatives from eupenicillium parvum.a new compound, euparvic acid (1, c(14)h(16)o(6)), and the known compounds 5,7-dihydroxy-4-methylphthalide (2), 6-(3-carboxybutyl)-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-4-methylphthalan-1-one (3), 6-(5-carboxy-3-methylpent-2-enyl)-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-4-methylphthalan-1-one (4), and 6-(5-carboxy-4-hydroxy-3-methylpent-2-enyl)-7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-4-methylphthalan-1-one (5) were isolated from the etoac extract of eupenicillium parvum. the structure of 1 was determined by interpretation of ms and homo- and heteronucl ...200818991460
computational modeling and in silico analysis of differential regulation of myo-inositol catabolic enzymes in cryptococcus neoformans.inositol is a key cellular metabolite for many organisms. cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic pathogen which primarily infects the central nervous system, a region of high inositol concentration, of immunocompromised individuals. through the use of myo-inositol oxygenase c. neoformans can catabolize inositol as a sole carbon source to support growth and viability.200818854045
systematic genetic analysis of virulence in the human fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans.the fungus cryptococcus neoformans is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity among hiv-infected individuals. we utilized the completed genome sequence and optimized methods for homologous dna replacement using high-velocity particle bombardment to engineer 1201 gene knockout mutants. we screened this resource in vivo for proliferation in murine lung tissue and in vitro for three well-recognized virulence attributes-polysaccharide capsule formation, melanization, and growth at body temperatur ...200818854164
beyond the big three: systematic analysis of virulence factors in cryptococcus neoformans.the fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans has three major virulence factors: growth at 37 degrees c, capsule synthesis, and melanin formation. recently in cell, liu et al. (2008) employed signature tagged mutagenesis to systematically identify virulence genes. remarkably, mutations in many of these genes did not influence the major virulence traits.200818854233
a gene-dosage effect for interleukin-4 receptor alpha-chain expression has an impact on th2-mediated allergic inflammation during bronchopulmonary mycosis.interleukin (il)-4 and il-13 are key factors in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary mycosis induced in mice by infection with cryptococcus neoformans. both cytokines use the il-4 receptor alpha-chain (il-4ralpha). in this study, we investigated the role played by il-4ralpha expression in susceptibility to pulmonary c. neoformans infection. il-4ralpha(-/-) mice were extremely resistant. to characterize the effect of il-4ralpha expression level on disease outcome, we generated il-4ralpha(+/-) fir ...200818954266
antimicrobial activity of a protein purified from the latex of hevea brasiliensis on oral microorganisms.this study aimed at screen for antimicrobial activity present in the non-rubber constituents of rubber latex of hevea brasiliensis against various microbial strains. an antimicrobial protein, hevein was extracted from the bottom fraction after centrifugation and purified by acetone fractionation and anion exchange chromatography on a deae-sepharose fast flow column. this procedure was more efficient and rapid than the previously described procedures. the antimicrobial activity was investigated a ...200818924261
cryptococcus neoformans glucuronoxylomannan induces macrophage apoptosis mediated by nitric oxide in a caspase-independent pathway.glucuronoxylomannan (gxm) is the major component of cryptococcus capsular polysaccharide, which represents an essential virulence factor for this yeast. cryptococcus neoformans infections in immunocompetent rats are associated with inducible nitric oxide synthase (inos) expression and nitric oxide (no) production by macrophages. this study demonstrates in vitro and in vivo that gxm promotes inos expression with no production in rat macrophages. gxm also induced macrophage apoptosis after 48 h of ...200818927317
the diverse roles of autophagy in medically important fungi.autophagy is a highly conserved eukaryotic mechanism whereby cells recycle cellular elements to survive under adverse conditions. surprisingly, of the three fungal pathogens of greatest relevance to human health, only cryptococcus neoformans has been shown to require this process during infection. in contrast, autophagy is dispensable for the virulence of both candida albicans and aspergillus fumigatus. the divergent roles for autophagy in these opportunistic species underscore the uniqueness of ...200818927489
review of risk factors in four cases of cryptococcosis after heart transplantation.cryptococcosis is a rare infection with high mortality in patients who have undergone heart transplantation (ht). in this study, we report four cases of the disease selected from our 328 ht cases (1.22%) between 1987 and 2007. the purpose of this study was to review risk factors for cryptococcosis after ht. three of the four patients were men. the mean time from ht to diagnosis was 8.5 months (range, 3-17 months). cryptococcosis was subcutaneous in one patient, systemic in one, and meningeal in ...200818929817
pharmacotherapy of yeast infections.the rise of immunocompromised individuals in our society has provoked a significant emergence in the number of patients affected by opportunistic pathogenic yeast. the microorganisms with a major clinical incidence are species from the genera candida (especially candida albicans) and cryptococcus (particularly cryptococcus neoformans), although there has been a significant increase in other pathogenic yeasts, such as trichosporon spp. and rhodotorula spp. in addition, there are an increasing num ...200818937613
cryptococcal granulomas in an immunocompromised hiv-negative patient.disseminated cryptococcosis usually occurs in immunocompromised individuals with defective cell-mediated immunity, most commonly seen with hiv infection. we present a case of disseminated cryptococcosis in an hiv-negative male patient who presented with headache, fever, altered sensorium of short duration and multiple cutaneous lesions. an emergency ct scan of the head showed multiple intracranial and intraventricular granulomas. routine laboratory investigations were within the normal range. a ...200819008595
cryptococcal meningitis in rio de janeiro state, brazil, 1994-2004.the objective of this article was to evaluate the epidemiology of cryptococcal meningitis in rio de janeiro state, brazil, from 1994 to 2004. six hundred and ninety-six cases of cryptococcal meningitis were reported, with a mean incidence of 0.45 per 100,000 inhabitants. patients were predominantly male; mean age was 35.9 years; aids was practically the only underlying disease, reported in 61.2% of cases; case-fatality was 51.8%. no decline in incidence was observed during the study period. aids ...200819009138
[first isolation of cryptococcus gattii from the environment in the state of espírito santo].the presence of cryptococcus gattii was investigated in different regions of the state of espírito santo. the largest number (73) of samples was collected from trees located in public places in vitória; 47 came from preserved areas or areas with only minor human impact, surrounding this city, at altitudes from 0 to 900m above sea level; 48 came from trees native of the northern and southern regions of the state. the samples were collected from tree hollows and trunks by of swabs and yielded two ...200819009184
fungal endophthalmitis: fourteen years' experience from a center in india.as fungal endophthalmitis is an emerging challenge, the study was carried out to determine the prevalence and the spectrum of fungal agents causing endophthalmitis from a single center, to identify the risk factors, and to correlate clinical course of illness with the agents involved.200819009680
[neuromeningeal cryptococcosis in non-hiv patients to chu ward of point g in bamako (mali): 3 case report].we report 3 clinical observations of neuromeningeal cryptococcosis which occurred without any immunodepression related to hiv infection. our patients were male. they did not present any particular medical history indicating a diagnosis of cryptococcosis. nevertheless we found a professional exposure to the risk of inhalation of c. neoformans capsules. the diagnosis was based on presence of encapsulated yeast of cryptococcus in the direct exam by china ink and culture on sabouraud medium. cd4 lym ...200818956811
common aids-associated opportunistic infections. 200818975491
bioactive pentacyclic triterpenes from the stems of combretum laxum.two new triterpene glucosides, beta-d-glucopyranosyl 2alpha,3beta,24-trihydroxyolean- 12-en-28-oate and beta-d-glucopyranosyl 2alpha,3beta,23,24-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oate, in addition to nine known compounds belonging to three different triterpene classes (oleanane-, ursane- and lupane-type) have been isolated from the stems of a specimen of combretum laxum growing in the "pantanal" of the central-western region of brazil. among the known triterpenes, beta-d-glucopyranosyl 2alpha,3beta,6beta ...200818978701
disseminated cryptococcosis complicated with bilateral pleural effusion and ascites during corticosteroid therapy for organizing pneumonia with myelodysplastic syndrome.an 83-year-old man with myelodysplastic syndrome was admitted to our hospital due to dyspnea and abnormal shadows on chest x-ray films during corticosteroid therapy for organizing pneumonia. he was diagnosed as having disseminated cryptococcosis with pulmonary lesions after detecting cryptococcus neoformans. both bilateral pleural effusion with or without ipsilateral pulmonary lesions and ascites ensued, and it was assumed that both direct involvement and serositis were associated with the fluid ...200819015612
simultaneous identification of molecular and mating types within the cryptococcus species complex by pcr-rflp analysis.the cryptococcus species complex consists of two species, cryptococcus neoformans and cryptococcus gattii, which cause systemic infections in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. both species have a bipolar mating system, with mating type (mat) alpha being predominant in clinical and environmental isolates. the strains of the cryptococcus species complex have been divided into eight major molecular types, which show differences in epidemiology, biology and pathogenicity. in this ...200819018017
[immune response and its clinical significance in fungal infection].cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen which causes fatal meningoencephalitis in patients with compromised immune responses. host defense to this infection is mediated by cellular immunity. th1-related cytokines including ifn-gamma, tnf-alpha, il-12 and il-18, play a critical role in host protection. when this fungal pathogen infects, activation of innate immunity is initiated by its recognition via pattern recognition receptors, in which sensing of cryptococcal dna by tlr9 ...200819069087
[classification and phylogeny of pathogenic fungi].the clinical isolates are traditionally classified based on morphology, but in recent years a polyphasic taxonomy that combines morphological, physiologic and molecular phylogenetic analyses is used to characterize them. numerous common pathogenic species, traditionally considered homogeneous, are indeed polyphyletic. classifications of candida albicans, cryptococcus neoformans and aspergillus fumigatus and relatives based on molecular phylogenetic analyses have been developed. the strains of c. ...200819069089
[cryptococcosis].cryptococcosis is a common fungal infection that caused by cryptococcus neoformans in immunocompetent individuals as well as in immunosuppressive patients with such as the hiv infection. measurements of the values of glucuronoxylomannan structuring capsule of c. neoformans in serum or cerebrospinal fluid are quite useful to diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis and cryptococcal meningitis as major two forms of cryptococcosis. azole anti-fungal agents including fulconazole, itraconazole for pulmo ...200819069104
genotype and mating type analysis of cryptococcus neoformans and cryptococcus gattii isolates from china that mainly originated from non-hiv-infected patients.cryptococcosis has been reported to be mostly associated with non-hiv-related patients in china. however, little is known about the molecular characteristics of clinical isolates from the cryptococcus neoformans species complex in this country. in this study, 115 clinical isolates were included. molecular type vni was the most representative (n=103), followed by vgi (n=8), vniii (n=2), vniv (n=1), and vgii (n=1). with the exception of a serotype d mating type a isolate, all possessed the matalph ...200818671745
metabolic adaptation in cryptococcus neoformans during early murine pulmonary infection.summary: the pathogenic fungus cryptococcus neoformans generally initiates infection in mammalian lung tissue and subsequently disseminates to the brain. we performed serial analysis of gene expression (sage) on c. neoformans cells recovered from the lungs of mice and found elevated expression of genes for central carbon metabolism including functions for acetyl-coa production and utilization. deletion of the highly expressed acs1 gene encoding acetyl-coa synthetase revealed a requirement for gr ...200818673460
[cryptococcosis].cryptococcus neoformans infection is an opportunistic infection affecting mainly patients lacking cell mediated immunity whose incidence has dramatically risen with the advent of hiv infection. this infection has rarely been reported in patients with humoral immunity deficiencies. we report two patients with cryptococcus neoformans infection with a fatal outcome: a man with disseminated criptococcosis leading to the diagnosis of aids; and a woman with stage iii- b k light chains multiple myeloma ...200818674423
beta1,2-xylosyltransferase cxt1p is solely responsible for xylose incorporation into cryptococcus neoformans glycosphingolipids.the manalpha1,3(xylbeta1,2)manalpha structural motif is common to both capsular polysaccharides of cryptococcus neoformans and to cryptococcal glycosphingolipids. comparative analysis of glycosphingolipid structural profiles in wild-type and mutant strains showed that the xylbeta1,2-transferase (cxt1p) that participates in capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis is also the sole transferase responsible for adding xylose to c. neoformans glycosphingolipids.200818676952
[cryptococcus meningitis, five years of experience and literature review].the aim of this study was to determine the distribution and antifungal susceptibility profile of cryptococcus spp. isolated from patients in northeast romania.200818677910
enhanced innate immune responsiveness to pulmonary cryptococcus neoformans infection is associated with resistance to progressive infection.genetically regulated mechanisms of host defense against cryptococcus neoformans infection are not well understood. in this study, pulmonary infection with the moderately virulent c. neoformans strain 24067 was used to compare the host resistance phenotype of c57bl/6j with that of inbred mouse strain sjl/j. at 7 days or later after infection, c57bl/6j mice exhibited a significantly greater fungal burden in the lungs than sjl/j mice. characterization of the pulmonary innate immune response at 3 h ...200818678664
cryptococcus neoformans enters the endolysosomal pathway of dendritic cells and is killed by lysosomal components.cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that primarily causes disease in immunocompromised individuals. dendritic cells (dcs) can phagocytose c. neoformans, present cryptococcal antigen, and kill c. neoformans. however, early events following c. neoformans phagocytosis by dcs are not well defined. we hypothesized that c. neoformans traffics to the endosome and the lysosome following phagocytosis by dcs and is eventually killed in the lysosome. murine bone marrow-derived dcs ( ...200818678670
major role for amphotericin b-flucytosine combination in severe cryptococcosis.the infectious diseases society of america published in 2000 practical guidelines for the management of cryptococcosis. however, treatment strategies have not been fully validated in the various clinical settings due to exclusion criteria during therapeutic trials. we assessed here the optimal therapeutic strategies for severe cryptococcosis using the observational prospective cryptoa/d study after analyzing routine clinical care of cryptococcosis in university or tertiary care hospitals.200818682846
pkc1 is essential for protection against both oxidative and nitrosative stresses, cell integrity, and normal manifestation of virulence factors in the pathogenic fungus cryptococcus neoformans.cell wall integrity is crucial for fungal growth, survival, and pathogenesis. responses to environmental stresses are mediated by the highly conserved pkc1 protein and its downstream components. in this study, we demonstrate that both oxidative and nitrosative stresses activate the pkc1 cell integrity pathway in wild-type cells, as measured by phosphorylation of mpk1, the terminal protein in the pkc1 phosphorylation cascade. furthermore, deletion of pkc1 shows that this gene is essential for def ...200818689526
maldi-tof mass signatures for differentiation of yeast species, strain grouping and monitoring of morphogenesis markers.matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (maldi-tof-ms) is demonstrated to be a potentially useful tool for the rapid identification of yeasts, the grouping of candida albicans strains, and the monitoring of germ tube-specific markers. co-crystallized with sinapinic acid as the maldi matrix, intact yeast cells yielded a sufficient number of medium-sized ions (4-15 kda) in maldi mass spectra to provide "mass signatures" that were diagnostic of strain type. for ...200818690424
interleukin-2 treatment for persistent cryptococcal meningitis in a child with idiopathic cd4(+) t lymphocytopenia.we report a 16-year-old male patient who presented with headache, behavior changes, and fever. his cerebral spinal fluid and blood cultures grew cryptococcus neoformans. his laboratory evaluation was negative for human immunodeficiency virus infection but flow cytometry revealed low cd4(+) count of 39 cells/mm(3) and cd4:cd8 ratio of 0.43. he was initially treated with antifungal agents with only partial clinical improvement, and he was discharged to home on oral fluconazole and prophylactic co- ...200818702891
disseminated cryptococcal infection with eosinophilia in a healthy person.a 23-year-old man with no recent medical history was hospitalized complaining of high fever and cough. in addition to very marked eosinophilia, chest x-ray revealed extensive bronchovascular bundle thickening. transbronchial lung biopsy (tblb) showed moderate eosinophil infiltration. cryptococcus neoformans infection was diagnosed, based on blood culture, cerebrospinal fluid culture, urine culture, and lung biopsy specimens. the eosinophilia was successfully alleviated by treatment for cryptococ ...200818709538
ophthalmic manifestations of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome associated with cryptococcus neoformans.to describe the ophthalmic manifestations of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (iris) associated with cryptococcus neoformans.200818716955
primary bilateral multifocal choroiditis as an initial manifestation of disseminated cryptococcosis in a hiv-positive patient.to report a rare case of primary bilateral multifocal choroiditis due to disseminated cryptococcus infection in a hiv-positive patient.200818716956
cutaneous cryptococcosis of the penis.disseminated cryptococcosis is a well-known opportunistic infection in aids patients. we report an unusual patient who demonstrated an isolated plaque of cryptococcosis on the penis. resolution of this plaque was obtained after treatment with fluconazole, but subsequent cutaneous dissemination occurred that was responsive to amphotericin b.200818718193
carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: inhibition of the beta-class enzymes from the fungal pathogens candida albicans and cryptococcus neoformans with simple anions.the catalytic activity and inhibition of the beta-carbonic anhydrases (cas, ec 4.2.1.1) from the pathogenic fungi candida albicans (nce103) and cryptococcus neoformans (can2) with inorganic anions such as halogenides, pseudohalogenides, bicarbonate, carbonate, nitrate, nitrite, hydrogen sulfide, bisulfite, perchlorate, sulfate were investigated. the two enzymes showed appreciable co(2) hydrase activity (k(cat) in the range of (3.9-8.0)x10(5)s(-1), and k(cat)/k(m) in the range of (4.3-9.7)x10(7)m ...200818723348
transitions in sexuality: recapitulation of an ancestral tri- and tetrapolar mating system in cryptococcus neoformans.sex is orchestrated by the mating-type locus (mat) in fungi and by sex chromosomes in plants and animals. in fungi, two patterns of sexuality occur: bipolar with a single, typically biallelic sex determinant that promotes inbreeding, and tetrapolar with two unlinked, often multiallelic sex determinants that restrict inbreeding. multiallelism in either bipolar or tetrapolar mating systems promotes outcrossing. cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic bipolar yeast with two unusually large mat alle ...200818723606
cryptococcal meningitis in an immunocompetent adolescent.cryptococcus neoformans is a rare cause of meningitis especially in immunocompetent children. cryptococcal meningitis in a healthy chinese adolescent is reported. she responded well to treatment with intravenous amphotericin and oral flucytosine.200818727853
threonine biosynthetic genes are essential in cryptococcus neoformans.we identified and attempted to disrupt the cryptococcus neoformans homoserine and/or threonine biosynthetic genes encoding aspartate kinase (hom3), homoserine kinase (thr1) and threonine synthase (thr4); however, each gene proved recalcitrant to disruption. by replacing the endogenous promoters of hom3 and thr1 with the copper-repressible ctr4-1 promoter, we showed that hom3 and thr1 were essential for the growth of c. neoformans in rich media, when ammonium was the nitrogen source, or when thre ...200818757810
the rgs protein crg2 regulates both pheromone and camp signalling in cryptococcus neoformans.g proteins orchestrate critical cellular functions by transducing extracellular signals into internal signals and controlling cellular responses to environmental cues. g proteins typically function as switches that are activated by g protein-coupled receptors (gpcrs) and negatively controlled by regulator of g protein signalling (rgs) proteins. in the human fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans, three g protein alpha subunits (gpa1, gpa2 and gpa3) have been identified. in a previous study, we ...200818761692
formulation of a defined v8 medium for induction of sexual development of cryptococcus neoformans.for over 3 decades, sexual development in the human fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans and other fungi has been initiated by growing compatible mating partners on v8 juice medium. although this medium is an efficient inducer of sexual development, the mechanism by which it promotes the process is unknown. to understand how v8 juice medium induces sexual development, we attempted to purify inducing factors from v8 juice, and we carried out a complete compositional analysis of v8 juice. we di ...200818776031
the cryptococcus neoformans rho-gdp dissociation inhibitor mediates intracellular survival and virulence.rho-gdp dissociation inhibitors (rho-gdi) are repressors of rho-type monomeric gtpases that control fundamental cellular processes, such as cytoskeletal arrangement, vesicle trafficking, and polarized growth. we identified and altered the expression of the gene encoding a rho-gdi homolog in the human fungal pathogen cryptococcus neoformans and investigated its impact on pathogenicity in animal models of cryptococcosis. consistent with its predicted function to inhibit and sequester rho-type gtpa ...200818779335
biological activity of two related triterpenes isolated from combretum nelsonii (combretaceae) leaves.antifungal bioassay-guided fractionation of combretum nelsonii leaf extracts afforded two closely related triterpenes, asiatic acid and arjunolic acid. antifungal activities of the mixture of asiatic acid and arjunolic acid were determined against five fungal animal pathogens. the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the mixture to the different pathogens varied from 0.2 to 1.6 microg ml(-1); candida albicans (0.9 microg ml(-1)), cryptococcus neoformans (0.4 microg ml(-1)), aspergillus fumigatus ...200818780249
spinal cryptococcoma in an immunocompetent cat.this report describes an unusual case of primary cryptococcoma in the proximal thoracic spinal cord of an 11-year-old immunocompetent cat from a farm on which there were large numbers of pigeons. this animal was referred for examination with progressive paralysis and shown to be free from feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukaemia virus, feline coronavirus and toxoplasma gondii. it died 2 months later. at necropsy, the only lesion detected was a malacic area, 4cm in length, in the spinal co ...200818783789
[in vitro determination of virulence factors activity associated with several cryptococcus neoformans clinical isolates].different phenotypic characteristics associated with virulence of the cryptococcus neoformans species complex have shown an important role in their pathogenicity. in this study we have determined the role of phenotypically and genotypically factors of some virulence factors from clinical isolates in the two species of the complex; 35 c. neoformans and 19 cryptococcus gattii. growth at 37 degrees c, macroscopic and microscopic morphology, switching phenomenon, activity of 23 extracellular enzymes ...200818785782
laccase activity in cryptococcus gattii strains isolated from goats.cryptococcosis is a life-threatening infection in humans and animals caused by encapsulated yeasts of the genus cryptococcus. cryptococcus neoformans and cryptococcus gattii are the main agents of this mycosis. until 2002 c. gattii was classified as a variety of c. neoformans but now is accepted as an independent species. the laccase (phenoloxydase) enzyme produced by these yeasts is considered one of the main pathogenic factors for its ability to induce melanin from dihydroxyphenolic compounds. ...200818785783
disseminated cryptococcosis in an aids patient with unusual clinical presentation.disseminated cryptocococcosis is a rare and often fatal disease. here in we report an unusual fatal case of disseminated cryptococcosis. the patient presented with a past history of postmenopausal bleeding with loss of consciousness, altered mental status, few seizures and a low grade fever. lumbar puncture revealed elevated pressure, lymphocytic pleocytosis, elevated protein and markedly reduced glucose level. cryptococcus neoformans was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid and blood. serological ...200818785790
activity of voriconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole and amphotericin b in vitro against 1763 yeasts from 472 patients in the voriconazole phase iii clinical studies.the susceptibility of 1763 yeast isolates (from 22 species and seven genera) was tested using clinical and laboratory standards institute m27-a2 microdilution methodology. candida spp. predominated (97.1%), mainly c. albicans (51.4%), c. glabrata (16.4%) and c. tropicalis (13.7%), followed by trichosporon spp. (1.1%) and cryptococcus neoformans (1.0%). most isolates came from blood/catheters (72.0%) or the oesophagus/oropharynx (11.3%). the voriconazole, itraconazole, fluconazole and amphoterici ...200818790613
fungal endophthalmitis: fourteen years' experience from a centre in india.background:: as fungal endophthalmitis is an emerging challenge, the study was carried out to determine the prevalence and the spectrum of fungal agents causing endophthalmitis from a single center, to identify the risk factors, and to correlate clinical course of illness with the agents involved. methods:: the microbiological and clinical records of all fungal endophthalmitis diagnosed during january 1992 through december 2005 at a tertiary center in india were reviewed retrospectively. during ...200818791488
bacterial and h2o2 stress-induced apoptosis-like events in cryptococcus neoformans.cell death induced by adherence of staphylococcus aureus was observed in cryptococcus neoformans. to investigate this death mechanism, we examined three factors: actin dynamics using rhodamine-phalloidin staining, accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ros) via conversion of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate to 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein, and dna fragmentation via terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dutp nick end labeling (tunel). in co-culture, actin visibly clumped and the percen ...200818793720
the outcome of phagocytic cell division with infectious cargo depends on single phagosome formation.given that macrophages can proliferate and that certain microbes survive inside phagocytic cells, the question arises as to the post-mitotic distribution of microbial cargo. using macrophage-like cells we evaluated the post-mitotic distribution of intracellular cryptococcus yeasts and polystyrene beads by comparing experimental data to a stochastic model. for beads, the post-mitotic distribution was that expected from chance alone. however, for yeast cells the post-mitotic distribution was unequ ...200818795151
regional pattern of the molecular types of cryptococcus neoformans and cryptococcus gattii in brazil.the molecular types of 443 brazilian isolates of cryptococcus neoformans and cryptococcus gattii were analyzed to determine their geographic distribution within brazil and their underlying host conditions. the following data, imported from previous epidemiological studies as well as two culture collections, were analyzed for: place of isolation, source (clinical or environmental), host risk factors, species, serotype, mating type, and molecular type. molecular typing by pcr-fingerprinting using ...200818797758
importance of mitochondria in survival of cryptococcus neoformans under low oxygen conditions and tolerance to cobalt chloride.cryptococcus neoformans is an environmental fungal pathogen that requires atmospheric levels of oxygen for optimal growth. for the fungus to be able to establish an infection, it must adapt to the low oxygen concentrations in the host environment compared to its natural habitat. in order to investigate the oxygen sensing mechanism in c. neoformans, we screened t-dna insertional mutants for hypoxia-mimetic cobalt chloride (cocl(2))-sensitive mutants. all the cocl(2)-sensitive mutants had a growth ...200818802457
[cryptococcosis of the central nervous system in immunocompetent patients]. 200818803167
isothermal titration calorimetry reveals differential binding thermodynamics of variable region-identical antibodies differing in constant region for a univalent ligand.the classical view of immunoglobulin molecules posits two functional domains defined by the variable (v) and constant (c) regions, which are responsible for antigen binding and antibody effector functions, respectively. these two domains are thought to function independently. however, several lines of evidence strongly suggest that c region domains can affect the specificity and affinity of an antibody for its antigen (ag), independent of avidity-type effects. in this study, we used isothermal t ...200818806257
uge1 and uge2 regulate the udp-glucose/udp-galactose equilibrium in cryptococcus neoformans.the genome of the basidiomycete pathogenic yeast cryptococcus neoformans carries two udp-glucose epimerase genes (uge1 and uge2). uge2 maps within a galactose cluster composed of a galactokinase homologue gene and a galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase. this clustered organization of the gal genes is similar to that in most of the hemiascomycete yeast genomes and in schizosaccharomyces pombe but is otherwise not generally conserved in the fungal kingdom. uge1 has been identified as necessar ...200818820075
diversity of laccase among cryptococcus neoformans serotypes.the pathogenic yeast c. neoformans is classified into three varieties with five serotypes; var. grubii (serotype a), var. neoformans (serotype d), var. gattii (serotypes b and c), and serotype ad. melanin is a virulence factor in the species, and its biosynthesis is catalyzed by laccase, encoded by the lac1 gene. in order to estimate the natural variability of the lac1 gene among cryptococcus serotypes, the laccase protein sequence from 55 strains was determined and the phylogenetic relationship ...200818822083
[cryptococcus neoformans meningitis in a hiv negative miliary tuberculosis-suspected patient].cryptococcosis caused by cryptococcus neoformans has a wide range of clinical presentations, varying from asymptomatic colonization of the respiratory airways to the dissemination of infection into different parts of body. it is more common among immunosupressed patients such as human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) positive ones. in this report we present a case with c. neoformans meningitis and miliary pulmonary infiltrates suggesting pulmonary tuberculosis without hiv infection. a-70-years-old m ...200818822899
chemical composition, antifungal and antitumor properties of ether extracts of scapania verrucosa heeg. and its endophytic fungus chaetomium fusiforme.an endophytic fungus chaetomium fusiforme was obtained from a liverwort, scapania verrucosa. a comparison of the constituents of the ether extracts between s. verrucosa and the c. fusiforme culture was investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (gc/ms). the yield of ether extract based on dried plant material was 0.6% and 59 compounds were found in s. verrucosa. (+)-aromadendrene (9.12%), hexadecanoic acid (6.92%), 6-isopropenyl-4,8a-dimethyl-1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-naphthalen-2-ol ...200818830144
cryptococcal lymphadenitis as a manifestation of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in an hiv-positive patient: a case report and review of the literature.cryptococcus neoformans infections are typically associated with t-cell deficiencies, including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids). although highly active antiretroviral therapy (haart) has strongly reduced aids-related opportunistic infections, the restoration and reactivation of cd4+ cells can induce an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (iris), consisting in a deregulated inflammatory response to latent infectious pathogens and/or to their residual antigens. cryptococcal lymph ...200818831914
treatment of acute cryptococcal meningitis in hiv infected adults, with an emphasis on resource-limited settings.despite the advent and increasingly wide availability of antiretroviral therapy, cryptococcal meningitis (cm) remains a significant cause of mortality and morbidity amongst individuals with hiv infection in resource-limited settings. the ideal management of cm remains unclear. the aim of this review is to assess the evidence for deciding on which antifungal regimen to use as well as other modalities of management to utilise especially resource poor settings in order to achieve the best possible ...200818843697
sorocenols g and h, anti-mrsa oxygen heterocyclic diels-alder-type adducts from sorocea muriculata roots.bioassay-guided fractionation of a root extract of sorocea muriculata led to the isolation and identification of two new oxygen heterocyclic diels-alder-type adducts, sorocenols g (1) and h (2), along with lupeol-3-(3' r-hydroxytetradecanoate) and oxyresveratrol. the structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated using 1d and 2d nmr spectroscopic and hrms data and by comparison with reported values. the absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were established by analysis of their experimental and theoreticall ...200818847244
biomarkers of hiv immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.dysregulation of the immune system drives hiv pathogenesis. as we develop new ways to treat hiv and aids, we encounter new clinical ramifications of our treatment on regulatory components of the immune system. hiv-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (iris) occurs after initiation of anti-retroviral therapy (art) with inappropriate and dysbalanced restoration of the immune system resulting in pathologic inflammatory reactions with significant morbidity. iris is most commonly as ...200819057654
cryptococcus neoformans septicemia in an immunocompetent neonate: first case report in thailand.neonatal infection due to cryptococcus neoformans is extremely rare. we report a case of a 21-day-old neonate diagnosed with cryptococcal septicemia who was successfully treated with amphotericin b. he was born to a human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) seronegative mother. this report alerts general pediatricians and neonatologists to consider cryptococcus neoformans infection as a possible cause of sepsis in newborn infants.200819058608
magnetic resonance imaging findings in aids patients with central nervous system cryptococcosis.cryptococcosis is an opportunistic fungal infection caused by cryptococcus neoformans. generally, the disease affects the central nervous system, especially in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. central nervous system involvement can be either meningeal or parenchymal. as the infection spreads along the virchow-robin spaces these structures may dilate with the mucoid and gelatinous material produced by the organism's capsule. the lesions associated with the dilatation of virch ...200819071888
isavuconazole: a new and promising antifungal triazole for the treatment of invasive fungal infections.invasive fungal infections (ifis) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. isavuconazole (bal4815) is a promising novel broad-spectrum triazole in late-stage clinical development that has proven to be active in vitro against aspergillus, candida and cryptococcus neoformans, the most common agents of ifis. furthermore, isavuconazole has a pharmacokinetic profile that allows oral and intravenous administration with no severe toxicity. in vivo data from animal models are also encouraging. ...200819072177
mannose binding lectin plays a crucial role in innate immunity against yeast by enhanced complement activation and enhanced uptake of polymorphonuclear cells.mannose binding lectin (mbl) is an important host defence protein against opportunistic fungal pathogens. this carbohydrate-binding protein, an opsonin and lectin pathway activator, binds through multiple lectin domains to the repeating sugar arrays displayed on the surface of a wide range of clinically relevant microbial species. we investigated the contribution of mbl to antifungal innate immunity towards c. parapsilosis in vitro.200819094203
[duodenal ulcer with cryptococcus neoformans infection: report of a case]. 200819094474
[a case of colonic cryptococcosis].we experienced a rare case of colonic cryptococcosis in an apparently immunocompetent individual. a 27-year- old woman admitted our hospital for intermittent melena. initial abdominal ct scan revealed a mass lesion obstructing most of the lumen in ascending colon. colonoscopy showed huge ulcerofungating mass in proximal ascending colon. colonoscopic biopsy was performed and pathologic diagnosis was made as colonic cryptococcosis with positive pas stain. laboratory test evaluating immune status a ...200819077528
molecular characterization of environmental cryptococcus neoformans isolated in vitoria, es, brazil.cryptococcus neoformans is the major cause of fungal meningitis, a potentially lethal mycosis. bird excreta can be considered a significant environmental reservoir of this species in urban areas, thirty-three samples of pigeon excreta were collected within the city of vitoria, brazil. cryptococcus neoformans was isolated and identified using standard biochemical assays in ten samples. pcr amplification with primer m13 and orotidine monophosphate pyrophosphorylase (ura5) gene-restriction fragment ...200819082371
cryptococcus and lymphocytic meningitis in botswana.we retrospectively reviewed microbiological data from a tertiary care hospital in botswana, and found that cryptococcus neoformans was cultured from 15% (193/1307) of all cerebrospinal fluid (csf) specimens submitted for analysis, making it the most common diagnosed cause of meningitis in this population. moreover, almost 70% of csf samples with significant lymphocytosis did not yield a pathogen, suggesting that many causes of lymphocytic meningitis go undiagnosed.200819113056
a novel monoclonal antibody recognizing beta(1-3) glucans in intact cells of candida and cryptococcus.the cell walls of all medically important fungi contain a unique polyglucose compound, beta(1-3) glucan. in the present study, murine monoclonal antibodies were produced against linear and beta(1-6) branched beta(1-3) glucans, and their specificities were characterized for reactivity to other beta glucans, fungal cell wall fragments, and fungal cells. their reactivity was also compared with that of rabbit polyclonal antibodies raised against the same immunogens. two mouse monoclonal antibodies ( ...200819132980
primary endemic cryptococcosis gattii by molecular type vgii in the state of pará, brazil.in order to study the infectious agents causing human disseminated cryptococcosis in the state of pará, north brazil, 56 isolates of cryptococcusspp. (54 isolated from cerebral spinal fluid and two from blood cultures) from 43 cases diagnosed between 2003-2007 were analysed. the species were determined through morphological and physiological tests and genotypes were determined by ura5-rflp and pcr-fingerprinting (wild-type phage m13). the following species and genotypes were identified: cryptoco ...200819148422
a role for vesicular transport of macromolecules across cell walls in fungal pathogenesis.in our recent work, we have shown that fungal species from different phyla produce extracellular vesicles. the vesicles are heterogeneous and morphologically similar to mammalian exosomes, with intact bilayered membranes. proteomic analyses reveal that the vesicles contain a broad array of macromolecules, many of which are associated with fungal virulence. further, the biological import of the extracellular fungal vesicles is supported by their presence during murine cryptococcosis and the immun ...200819169363
a cryptic diagnosis: disseminated cryptococcal disease presenting as an asymptomatic pulmonary nodule and a skin lesion: a case report.abstract:200819116029
a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis followed by pleuritis in an apparently immunocompetent patient during fluconazole treatment.cryptococcal pleuritis is rare in individuals with no underlying disease. we report a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis followed by pleuritis in a patient on fluconazole treatment. biopsy of the pleura revealed a granuloma and a cryptococcal body, while pcr and sequence analysis of extracted dna from the pleura proved the presence of cryptococcus species, most likely c. neoformans. voriconazole with flucytosine and drainage of the pleural effusion were effective in treating the patient.200819180728
[taxonomic characteristics and physiological properties of microorganisms from the gut of pike (esox lucius)].the taxonomic composition and distribution of microorganisms differing in the degree of association with the intestinal mucosa of the pike (lucius lucius) has been studied. microorgansism of the families enterobacteriaceae, aeromonadaceae, and vibrionaceae dominate in the gut microflora. numerically prevailing bacterial species are characterized by high proteolytic and amylolytic enzyme activities as well as by high persistence accounted for by antilysozyme and antihistone activities. the result ...200819198074
a 61-year-old man with asymptomatic, bilateral lung masses. 200819283977
cutaneous cryptococcosis as a rare manifestation of the immune reconstitution syndrome in an hiv-1-infected patient.immune reconstitution syndromes (irs) in hiv-1-infected patients are associated with an exaggerated infl ammatory response against an opportunistic infection during highly active antiretroviral therapy (haart). the most commonly described cases of this phenomenon concern mycobacterial (mycobacterium avium and m. tuberculosis) infections, pneumocystodosis, cryptoccoccal meningitis, and cmv infections. cutaneous cryptococcosis as irs is less commonly observed. the case of a 45-year-old hiv-1-posit ...200818202595
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