Publications

the mitochondrial lsu rdna of the brown alga pylaiella littoralis reveals alpha-proteobacterial features and is split by four group iib introns with an atypical phylogeny.	the mitochondrial dna region coding for the large ribosomal rna subunit from the brown alga pylaiella littoralis (l.) kjellm was sequenced. the lsu rrna was folded into a secondary structure and aligned with homologous, mitochondrial and eubacterial sequences. taking into account the primary and secondary structure levels, the mitochondrial lsu rrna of p. littoralis shares more structural features with alpha-proteobacterial genes than do those of the green alga prototheca wickerhamii and land pl ...	1995	7544414
a group-i intron in the mitochondrial large-subunit ribosomal rna-encoding gene of dictyostelium discoideum: same site localization in alga and in vitro self-splicing.	a 547-bp group-i intron belonging to subgroup ia1 was found near the 3' end of the large subunit ribosomal rna-encoding gene (lsurrna) in the mitochondrial (mt) dna of the cellular slime mold dictyostelium discoideum. this intron was inserted in a highly conserved stretch within the sequence that encodes the peptidyl transferase center domain v in the corresponding region of the escherichia coli lsurrna. interestingly, the insertion site of the intron is the same as that of the so.lsu.2 intron o ...	1995	7883184
simple new test for rapid differentiation of prototheca stagnora from p. wickerhamii and p. zopfii.	a simple new test to differentiate prototheca wickerhamii and p. zopfii from p. stagnora by determining susceptibility to neomycin is described. susceptibility determined using a 30 micrograms neomycin disk provides a rapid and reliable means of distinguishing p. wickerhamii and p. zopfii from p. stagnora.	1995	7566063
olecranon bursitis due to prototheca wickerhamii, an algal opportunistic pathogen.		1995	7588839
cutaneous protothecosis: report of a case in hong kong.	we report a patient who presented with recalcitrant ulcerated papules and plaques on both legs. histopathology revealed protothecosis, and subsequent culture of the lesions grew prototheca wickerhamii. gradual resolution of the ulcers occurred on treatment with itraconazole.	1995	8547010
complete sequence of the mitochondrial dna of the chlorophyte alga prototheca wickerhamii. gene content and genome organization.	the complete nucleotide sequence of the circular mitochondrial (mt) dna of the chlorophyte alga prototheca wickerhamii has been determined (55,328 base-pairs, a+t content 74.2%). the genes identified encode three subunits of the cytochome oxidase, apocytochrome b, nine subunits of the nadh dehydrogenase complex (nad1 to 7, nad4l and nad9), three atpase subunits (atp6, atp9, atp1 (also referred to as atpa)), three ribosomal rnas (5 s (rrn5), small subunit (srn) and large subunit (lrn) rna), 26 tr ...	1994	8133522
cutaneous protothecosis and aids.	cutaneous protothecosis is an uncommon algal infection with a varied clinical presentation that occurs mainly in immunocompromised patients. we describe a 33-year-old hispanic woman with aids who had a verrucous plaque on the dorsum of her hand. a biopsy specimen revealed organisms suggestive of prototheca. culture confirmed the organism to be prototheca wickerhamii. to our knowledge, this is the first case of cutaneous protothecosis reported in a patient with aids.	1994	7962749
mitochondrial genes in the colourless alga prototheca wickerhamii resemble plant genes in their exons but fungal genes in their introns.	the mitochondrial dna from the colourless alga prototheca wickerhamii contains two mosaic genes as was revealed from complete sequencing of the circular extranuclear genome. the genes for the large subunit of the ribosomal rna (lsurrna) as well as for subunit i of the cytochrome oxidase (coxi) carry two and three intronic sequences respectively. on the basis of their canonical nucleotide sequences they can be classified as group i introns. phylogenetic comparisons of the coxi protein sequences a ...	1993	7680126
[human protothecosis and environment].	protothecosis are uncommon infections caused by prototheca, considered to be achlorophylous algae. nearly 80 human cases are reported in the literature since the first case described by davies and wakelin in 1964 in sierra leone (11). the disease have been identified in europe, asia (japan, thailand, china), oceania and in the united states with 40 cases, particularly in the southeast. clinically, three clinical manifestations can be observed: 1) cutaneous lesions: papules, plaques or eczematoid ...	1993	7819807
meningitis due to prototheca wickerhamii in a patient with aids.	the first documented case of algal meningitis due to prototheca wickerhamii is reported in a patient with aids. the initial csf culture yielded only cryptococcus neoformans. p. wickerhamii was isolated on four subsequent lumbar punctures. the patient died, and at autopsy the alga was isolated from leptomeninges over the brain and about the spinal cord. histologic sections from numerous locations of the brain revealed masses of cryptococci and prototheca.	1992	1420686
in vitro susceptibility of prototheca spp. to gentamicin.	one hundred strains of prototheca zopfii, prototheca wickerhamii, prototheca moriformis, prototheca stagnora, and prototheca ulmnea; five strains of chlorella protothecoides; and two strains of candida albicans were obtained from a number of different clinical and environmental sources and were tested for their in vitro susceptibility to the antibacterial agent gentamicin. all prototheca strains were susceptible to gentamicin at concentrations between 0.3 and 0.9 micrograms/ml. a modified macrob ...	1991	1804021
successful treatment of prototheca peritonitis complicating continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.	we describe the second reported case of peritonitis caused by the alga prototheca wickerhamii in a patient on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (capd). this organism, which grows slowly on agar media, is recognised as a race cause of other infections. the condition is clinically similar to cases of fungal peritonitis, but there are important differences, particularly when choosing the best treatment.	1991	2026894
peritonitis due to prototheca wickerhamii in a patient undergoing chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.	a 72-year-old man who was undergoing chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis developed peritonitis due to prototheca wickerhamii. results of in vitro sensitivity testing revealed that the organism was sensitive to amphotericin b (mic, 0.4 micrograms/ml) but resistant to fluconazole (mic, greater than 80 micrograms/ml). the patient was successfully treated medically with a combination of intravenous amphotericin b and oral doxycycline.	1991	1866538
experimental cutaneous protothecosis in mice: epithelioid cell granuloma formation.	prototheca wickerhamii, isolated from skin biopsy specimens of a patient with cutaneous protothecosis, were cultured in sabouraud's medium and inoculated in the skin of 8 icr albino mice and 3 balb/c mice. only in 3 icr albino mice and 3 balb/c mice were organisms found in skin tissue, as confirmed by identification of organisms by staining with periodic acid-schiff (pas) stain and culture. histologic findings from affected nodular skin lesions indicated epithelioid cell granuloma and histiocyti ...	1991	1712799
sterol phylogenesis and algal evolution.	the stereochemistry of several sterol precursors and end products synthesized by two fungal-like micro-organisms prototheca wickerhamii (i) and dictyostelium discoideum (ii) have been determined by chromatographic (tlc, glc, and hplc) and spectral (uv, ms, and 1h nmr) methods. from i and ii the following sterols were isolated from the cells: cycloartenol, cyclolaudenol, 24(28)-methylenecycloartanol, ergosterol, protothecasterol, 4alpha-methylergostanol, 4alpha-methylclionastanol, clionastanol, 2 ...	1990	11607106
evaluation of the updated vitek yeast identification data base.	using 398 isolates of yeasts and yeastlike fungi comprising 9 genera and 26 species, as well as the hyphomycete geotrichum candidum and the achlorophyllous alga prototheca wickerhamii, we compared the api 20c yeast identification system with the modified vitek yeast identification system with an expanded data base. we found 11 discrepancies between the two systems: five (1.3%) of the isolates (blastoschizomyces capitatus, 1; candida albicans, 1; hansenula anomala, 1; rhodotorula minuta, 2) had b ...	1990	2229376
visceral protothecosis mimicking sclerosing cholangitis in an immunocompetent host: successful antifungal therapy.	a healthy 39-year-old man who had clinical findings consistent with sclerosing cholangitis was found to have systemic protothecosis at surgery. severe granulomatous inflammation and palpable nodules were found in the gallbladder, on the surface of the liver, and in the duodenum. prototheca wickerhamii was detected in biopsied specimens and stool; the titer of indirect fluorescent antibody to this organism was 1:2,000. the patient recovered after a short course of treatment with amphotericin b an ...	1990	2237120
prototheca wickerhamii tenosynovitis.	prototheca wickerhamii is an algae-like organism rarely implicated in skin or soft tissue infections. we describe the first case (to our knowledge) of prototheca tenosynovitis which followed median nerve release for carpal tunnel syndrome. clinical presentation, operative findings, histopathology, microbiology and treatment of this unusual infection are discussed.	1990	2359084
the structural analysis of the mitochondrial ssurrna implies a close phylogenetic relationship between mitochondria from plants and from the heterotrophic alga prototheca wickerhamii.	the gene for the mitochondrial small subunit rrna (ssurrna) from the heterotrophic alga prototheca wickerhamii has been isolated from a gene library of extranuclear dna. sequence and structural analyses allow the determination of a secondary structure model for this rrna. in addition, several sequence motifs are present which are typically found in ssurrnas of various mitochondrial origins. unexpectedly, the prototheca rna sequence has more features in common with mitochondrial ssurrnas from pla ...	1990	1692773
papular protothecosis of the chest. immunologic evaluation and treatment with a combination of oral tetracycline and topical amphotericin b.	a 65-year-old woman presented with cutaneous, pruritic papules of the upper part of her chest. histologic findings and culture of a biopsy specimen confirmed that these papules were caused by an infection with prototheca wickerhamii, an achloric alga that rarely infects humans. natural killer cell activity in this patient was significantly depressed before initiation of therapy. reevaluation following successful treatment with oral tetracycline hydrochloride and topical amphotericin b cream reve ...	1989	2774599
cutaneous protothecosis--a case report.	the present report describes a case of cutaneous protothecosis, as confirmed by skin biopsy and culture, in a 62-year-old man with an erythematous plaque lesion on his back. the disease was initially detected after return from a trip to taiwan. the characteristic sporangia and biochemical sugar assimilation tests indicated the organism to be prototheca wickerhamii. oral administration of (5-fc) failed to have any effect and so finally, the lesion had to be removed by surgical excision.	1989	2628458
protothecosis in two cats.	protothecosis was diagnosed in 2 cats from florida with nodular skin lesions. microscopically, lesions were composed of macrophages and multinucleated giant cells arranged in solid sheets in the dermis and subcutis. in both cats, characteristic algal endospores identified as prototheca wickerhamii were observed within the cytoplasm of infiltrating cells.	1988	3410772
cutaneous protothecosis. a clinicopathologic study.	in what we believe to be the first case of cutaneous protothecosis identified in taiwan, a 5-year-old chinese girl presented with a pruritic erythematous plaque on her right upper eyelid. a clinical diagnosis of eczematous dermatitis was made initially, and sporotrichosis was diagnosed subsequently. later, histopathologic and cultural studies of the lesion finally led to the diagnosis of protothecosis. the recognition of the characteristic sporangia containing symmetrically arranged endospores i ...	1987	3632287
algal peritonitis complicating continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.	a 41-year-old woman on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (capd) presented with algal peritonitis. prototheca wickerhamii was isolated from multiple dialysate effluent cultures. despite treatment with amphotericin b, catheter removal was required. an attempt to reinsert a tenckhoff catheter 3 months later was unsuccessful because of dense intraperitoneal adhesions. prototheca sp are a rare cause of human disease, this being the first reported case of algal peritonitis complicating capd.	1986	3740059
protothecal olecranon bursitis: treatment with intrabursal amphotericin b.	a patient is described from whom repeated olecranon bursa fluid cultures yielded prototheca wickerhamii. following intrabursal instillation of amphotericin b, the cultures became negative. there was no progression of infection or adverse consequences of this treatment. review of the literature regarding this unusual infection reveals seven reported cases of protothecal olecranon bursitis. five cases from which sufficient information was provided were diagnosed by histologic examination of excise ...	1986	3797938
serologic survey of rotavirus, norwalk agent and prototheca wickerhamii in wastewater workers.	analysis of paired sera from 48 wastewater workers and controls who reported gastrointestinal illness did not reveal any excess of seroconversions to norwalk agent or to rotavirus. inexperienced wastewater-exposed workers had higher levels of antibody to norwalk agent than did experienced and control workers and those with high and medium aerosol exposure had higher titres than those in the low aerosol category. analysis for prototheca antibody titres was essentially negative.	1985	2981485
metastatic protothecal retinitis in a dog. electron microscopic observations.	disseminated protothecosis, due to prototheca wickerhamii, was present in a two-year-old female dog with a nine-month history of hemorrhagic colitis and diarrhea. shortly thereafter, the dog developed "acute blindness" of the left eye. euthanasia was done after medical therapy failed to control the disease. histologically, the eye had multiple microabscesses and necrotic foci containing myriad protothecal organisms under the detached retina. numerous organisms also were present in the mucosa and ...	1984	6710814
first human case of possible protothecosis in spain.	prototheca wickerhamii was isolated from the stool of a two month-old infant with diarrhea resistant to treatment. this is the first description from spain of algae of the genus prototheca isolated from human clinical specimens. the possible pathogenicity of the prototheca in this case is discussed.	1983	6633630
successful ketoconazole treatment of protothecosis with ketoconazole-associated hepatotoxicity.	a 46-year-old woman had a chronic, unresponsive wrist infection that was proved to be due to the algaelike organism prototheca wickerhamii. treatment with ketoconazole resulted in prompt improvement and ultimate healing. therapy was complicated by hepatitis that was ketoconazole-related. ketoconazole may be effective and easily administered therapy for this generally unresponsive infection.	1983	6311129
simple new test for rapid differentiation of prototheca wickerhamii from prototheca zopfii.	a simple new test to differentiate prototheca wickerhamii from prototheca zopfii by determining susceptibility to clotrimazole is described. a 50-micrograms clotrimazole disk provides a rapid and reliable means of distinguishing p. wickerhamii from p. zopfii.	1983	6630477
first case of human protothecosis in canada: laboratory aspects.	a case of bursitis due to prototheca wickerhamii is briefly reported. in histological sections the organism stained well with fungal stains, grey with silver methanamine and red with periodic acid schiff reagent. this unicellular achlorophyllous alga was studied on common laboratory media. the characterization of the prototheca sp. depends largely on wet mount microscopic examination from broth or agar cultures which ensures the observation of endosporulation and a consistent absence of budding. ...	1981	7219510
phagocytosis and algicidal activity of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils against prototheca wickerhamii.	protothecosis is an uncommon infection due to prototheca wickerhamii. recently, a patient with progressive cutaneous protothecosis and an apparent defect in the ability of her polymorphonuclear neutrophils (pmns) to kill p. wickerhamii was successfully treated. therefore, the role of pmns and serum opsonins in host defense against tissue invasion by this organism was evaluated. the results show that human pmns ingested and kill p. wickerhamii. ultrastructural studies revealed digestion of the or ...	1981	7264371
the effect of amphotericin b on the ultrastructure of prototheca species.	prototheca zopfii and prototheca wickerhamii stains were exposed to subinhibitory concentrations of the antimycotic amphotericin b, and the effect of the treatment on their ultrastructure was assessed. the results revealed ultrastructural changes in the treated cells, expressed by swelling of mitochondria, degradation of cell organelles, accumulation of microbody like structures, lipid droplets and starch granules in the cytoplasm, and changes in the inner layer of the cell wall.	1981	7322192
prototheca wickerhamii--an alga infecting the hand.	this report describes a hand infection caused by an alga. prototheca wickerhamii. this rare organism presents most often as chronic dermatitis or bursitis of the upper extremity. routine stains and cultures are easily confused with fungi. only early, radical excision of the involved structures will effect a cure.	1981	7310086
disseminated protothecosis with central nervous system involvement in a dog.	a 4-year-old mixed-breed spayed bitch was euthanatized after 2 1/2 months of progressive neurologic disease. prototheca organisms were identified by histopathology, culture, and electron microscopy. specific fluorescent antibody procedures revealed two species--prototheca wickerhamii and prototheca zopfii. organisms and pyogranulomatous lesions were found in the brain, spinal cord, right eye, kidneys, and heart.	1980	7380720
lipid composition and sensitivity of prototheca wickerhamii to membrane-active antimicrobial agents.	the lipid composition of prototheca wickerhamii atcc 16529 is presented and discussed in relation to the unique susceptibility of the organism to drugs of three membrane-active antimicrobial classes: the polyenes, the polymyxins, and the imidazoles. the presence of ergosterol in the neutral lipid fraction of the membrane is likely responsible for the exquisite susceptibility to amphotericin b. the presence of a large quantity of free fatty acids in the membrane appears responsible for imidazole ...	1979	518077
skin protothecosis in a patient with renal allograft.	the case history of a 30-year-old male kidney transplant patient who developed cutaneous protothecosis is presented. the lesions, initially located over the forearm and around the site of previous av shunt, consisted of maculopapular areas which opened spontaneously and drained purulent sanguineous material. culutre of drainage grew prototheca wickerhamii. other virulent organisms, ie. klebsiella pneumoniae and pseudomonas aeruginosa, were also grown. the patient died of klebsiella septicemia an ...	1978	341343
effects of selected herbicides and plant hormones on prototheca wickerhamii.	prototheca wickerhamii was treated in vitro with 11 different herbicides and plant hormones. growth was inhibited by indolyl-3-acetic acid, indolyl-3-butyric acid and indolyl-3-propionic acid at 400 mug per ml. coconut milk was stimulatory.	1976	1263245
susceptibility of prototheca species to antifungal agents.	twenty isolates of prototheca filamenta, prototheca moriformis, prototheca stagnora, prototheca wickerhamii, and prototheca zopfii were tested for in vitro susceptibility to five commonly used antifungal agents: amphotericin b, 5-fluorocytosine, griseofulvin, miconazole, and nystatin. the results revealed resistance to griseofulvin of all the prototheca isolates tested and an inhibitory effect on p. filamenta by high 5-fluorocytosine concentrations (minimal inhibitory concentration [mic] = 12.5 ...	1976	984758
cutaneous protothecosis. successful treatment with amphotericin b.	a patient had cutaneous protothecosis because of the alga-like organism, prototheca wickerhamii. in vitro sensitivity tests showed that the organism was sensitive to amphotericin b, and was treated successfully with this polyene antibiotic. as with treatment of some fungal infections, a clinical response was achieved when therapy with low doses of amphotericin b was given during a short period of time. the basis of the amphotericin b response may have been due to a combination of its immunostimu ...	1976	1008567
protothecosis in a cat: first recorded case.	a 12-year-old domestic shorthair cat with a soft, fluctuant, subcutaneous mass, approximately 5 cm in diameter on the posterior aspect of the left tarsus was diagnosed as having protothecosis. cultures, histopathology, and fluorescent antibody reagents were used to identify prototheca wickerhamii as the etiologic agent. protothecosis has not previously been recorded in cats.	1976	996693
wound infection by prototheca wickerhamii, a saprophytic alga pathogenic for man.	biopsy of a wound infection of the palmar fascia in a young diabetic woman revealed characteristic periodic acid-schiff-positive prototheca species cells with a rosette configuration and internal septation. prototheca wickerhamii was cultured repeatedly from the wound drainage and the biopsy tissue. several diagnostic features distinguishing prototheca species, saprophytic algae, from yeasts are: the formation of endospores by mitosis; greater variation in cell size (2 to 15 mum); the presence o ...	1975	1225929
the ultrastructure of prototheca wickerhamii.	two clinical isolates from prototheca wickerhamii were freeze-dried, fixed and studied by electron microscopy and were also examined growing in culture medium by phase contrast light microscopy. resting spores placed on fresh medium developed cytoplasmic extensions which sequestrated before proliferation occurred. in the presence of adequate nutrients vegetative spores grew and subdivided to form up to 12 endospores within large sporangia which ruptured to release free spores every 5--6 hours. t ...	1975	1097932
[generalized protothecosis in a fruit bat (pteropus lylei)].	prototheca organisms, histologically resembling prototheca wickerhamii, were found in a fruit bat as a cause of a massive granulomatous lymphadenitis and splenitis and a widespread granulomatous meningoencephalitis. focal lesions were also present in the myocardium, in skeletal muscles, and in the kidneys.	1975	1237960
the nutrition, resistance to antibiotics and ultrastructure of prototheca wickerhamii.		1974	4416387
life cycle and variation of prototheca wickerhamii.	prototheca wickerhamii is a yeastlike organism that resembles the green alga chlorella. nuclear division in coordination with cytoplasmic cleavage gives rise to uninucleate cytoplasmic segments, each of which acquires a delicate cell wall and develops into an autospore. the autospores in this species are spherical; but in a variant that presumably arose as a result of spontaneous mutation, the cytoplasmic cleavage is irregular, and the resultant autospores are ovoid to bacillary. when these vari ...	1967	5611024
fungus or parasite or both: a diagnostic challenge.	protothecosis is a rare opportunistic infection caused by achlorophilic algae prototheca wickerhamii, mainly in immunocompromised hosts. due to their morphologic appearance in routine culture media, they can often mimic yeast-like opportunistic pathogens such as pneumocystis jirovecii. this can delay the identification of other culprit organisms. we present a fatal case of protothecosis in a 74-year-old immunosuppressed male with concomitant pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (pjp). the presence o ...	0	25722621