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isolation of infectious microalga prototheca wickerhamii from a carp (cyprinus carpio) - a first confirmed case report of protothecosis in a fish.protothecosis is a rare infection caused by environmentally ubiquitous achlorophyllic microalgae of the genus prototheca. here, we describe a first case of protothecosis in a carp (cyprinus carpio), which is at the same time the first case of protothecosis in a fish, confirmed by phenotype- and molecular-based methods, including pcr sequencing of the rdna cluster and protein profiling using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.201728300290
chronic eosinophilic meningoencephalitis by prototheca wickerhamii in an immunocompetent boy.human protothecosis is mainly a cutaneous infection caused by the prototheca species. prototheca wickerhamii is an established pathogen of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in dogs, but no eosinophilic pleocytosis of the cerebrospinal fluid has been reported in human cases of meningitis. herein, we report a case of chronic protothecosis manifesting eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in an immunocompetent boy.201728114150
pigeons and their droppings as reservoirs of candida and other zoonotic yeasts.the importance of pigeons as reservoirs and carriers of cryptococcus neoformans and other species of this genus is well-known; however, less is known about their role as reservoirs and carriers of other yeasts that impact public health.201728720316
successful treatment of multifocal pedal prototheca wickerhamii infection in a feline immunodeficiency virus-positive cat with multiple bowenoid in situ carcinomas containing papillomaviral dna sequences.a 16-year-old, castrated male, feline immunodeficiency virus (fiv)-positive, domestic shorthair cat developed multiple skin lesions. most of these were bowenoid carcinoma in situ and contained dna sequences consistent with felis catus papillomavirus type 2. two additional lesions that developed in the skin and subcutaneous tissues between the digital and carpal pads on the left forelimb and right hindlimb were shown by cytology, histology and culture to be caused by prototheca wickerhamii. these ...201728491447
case report of cutaneous protothecosis caused by prototheca wickerhamii designated as genotype 2 and current status of human protothecosis in japan.an 85-year-old japanese woman presented with infiltrative erythema and ulceration on the extensor surface of her right forearm. direct microscopic examination demonstrated spherical and morula-like sporangia, while histopathology revealed numerous microorganisms with a mulberry-like appearance in the dermis. staining of the microorganisms also showed mulberry-like sporangia that resembled the spokes of a wheel. the isolated yeast-like microorganism had been identified as prototheca wickerhamii g ...201728815731
prototheca: a danger underwater.prototheca wickerhamii rarely causes systemic infection in humans but when it occurs, there are coexisting comorbidities. this case illustrated shows the manifestation of this opportunistic microorganism in an immunosuppressed patient. the patient was successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin b with complete resolution of the lesions.201728752062
protothecosis in a patient with t cell lymphocytic leukemia.human protothecosis is a rare infection caused by algae of the genus prototheca. prototheca wickerhamii has been recognized as the main species that causes infection in immunocompromised hosts with deficits in innate or cellular immunity. we report a case of persisting subcutaneous protothecosis in a patient with t-cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia, who also presented a history of disseminated histoplasmosis.201728554708
[onychomycosis by yeast not common in diabetics of a health center].mexican diabetic population frequently presents mycosis under foot hyperkeratosis; however, in another type of onychomycosis as the ones that is assumed candida albicans is the causal agent, it is unknown the frequency, the prevalence and if another candida species or other yeasts are found.201626482238
successful treatment of cutaneous protothecosis with liposomal amphotericin and oral itraconazole.protothecosis is a rare algal infection, affecting primarily immunocompromised hosts. optimal management is unclear: in-vitro antimicrobial breakpoints are not established and therapeutic decisions are primarily based on case reports. we present a case of cutaneous prototheca wickerhamii infection in an immunosuppressed 63 year old male, successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin and prolonged itraconazole. inoculation may have been through frequent hot-tub use, highlighting hot-tub exposu ...201627642561
the in vitro efficacy of essential oils and antifungal drugs against prototheca zopfii.the algae of the genus prototheca are environmental pathogens whose main reservoir is the habitat of cows. they can cause protothecosis in domestic and wild animals, as well as human beings, with the main etiological agents being prototheca zopfii in animals and prototheca wickerhamii in humans.201626940809
prototheca miyajii sp. nov., isolated from a patient with systemic protothecosis.species of the genus prototheca are achlorophyllous algae and ubiquitous in nature, and so far, six species have been listed in this genus: prototheca wickerhamii, prototheca zopfii, prototheca blaschkeae, prototheca cutis, prototheca stagnora and prototheca ulmea. a strain of the genus prototheca, ifm 53848t, was isolated in japan from a patient with systemic protothecosis and had been designated p. wickerhamii. our previous study, by using pcr analysis, revealed that its ssu rrna gene (rdna) w ...201626791403
protothecal bursitis after simultaneous kidney/liver transplantation: a case report and review.solid organ transplantation is an accepted therapy for end-stage diseases of the kidneys, liver, heart, and lungs. unfortunately, transplantation is associated with infectious complications. here, we present a case report of prototheca wickerhamii olecranon bursitis and review all of the cases in solid organ transplant (sot) recipients published in the literature to date. in our patient, the infection resolved with surgical therapy and limited antifungal therapy, and no symptoms have recurred ov ...201626779785
erratum: auxenochlorella protothecoides and prototheca wickerhamii plastid genome sequences give insight into the origins of non-photosynthetic algae. 201526656875
auxenochlorella protothecoides and prototheca wickerhamii plastid genome sequences give insight into the origins of non-photosynthetic algae.the forfeiting of photosynthetic capabilities has occurred independently many times throughout eukaryotic evolution. but almost all non-photosynthetic plants and algae still retain a colorless plastid and an associated genome, which performs fundamental processes apart from photosynthesis. unfortunately, little is known about the forces leading to photosynthetic loss; this is largely because there is a lack of data from transitional species. here, we compare the plastid genomes of two "transitio ...201526403826
onychoprotothecosis: an uncommon presentation of protothecosis.onychomycosis is a fairly common condition seen in a dermatology clinic. dermatophytes trichophyton and epidermophyton are the known filamentous fungi implicated. the yeast-like fungi such as candida less commonly cause onychomycosis. the genus prototheca may on preliminary observation resemble yeast-like fungi but a detailed microscopy will reveal the absence of budding and presence of endospores. onychoprotothecosis is an uncommon presentation of human protothecosis. of the two prototheca spec ...201526068353
prototheca wickerhamii algaemia: an emerging infection in solid organ transplant recipients.prototheca wickerhamii is an alga that rarely causes human disease but has been reported increasingly among immunocompromised individuals. we report a fatal case of p. wickerhamii in a renal transplant recipient who presented with a cutaneous lesion that led to disseminated disease despite treatment with voriconazole. we reviewed previous cases of protothecosis involving solid organ transplant recipients in the literature and discussed the value of newer microbiology platforms, i.e., matrix-assi ...201526040253
prototheca wickerhamii olecranon bursitis successfully treated with adjunctive systemic itraconazole. 201525938347
prototheca zopfii genotype 2-induced nasal dermatitis in a cat.few published cases of feline protothecosis exist; all of these were restricted to the skin and speciation of the causative organism revealed an infection with prototheca wickerhamii in each case. this report describes prototheca zopfii genotype 2-induced inflammation of the nasal skin and cutaneous mucosa of the right nostril in a 14-year-old neutered female domestic shorthair cat. microscopical examination revealed marked pyogranulomatous inflammation with numerous intralesional algae. these h ...201525814431
a case of cutaneous protothecosis mimics eczema.we report a case of cutaneous protothecosis due to prototheca wickerhamii in an immunocompetent man presented with a specific eczema-like lesions. dermatological examination revealed erythematous plaques, dark red papules with some coalescence, and a few superficial ulcerations, covered with less scales on his right side chest and neck. fungal culture, histopathological examination and molecular identification confirmed the organism. antifungal susceptibility testing revealed strain sensitive to ...201525200680
protothecosis in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: case report and review of previous cases.prototheca species are achlorophyllus algae. prototheca wickerhamii and prototheca zopfii cause human disease. in immunocompetent individuals, they cause soft tissue infections and olecranon bursitis, but in transplant recipients, these organisms can cause disseminated disease. we report a fatal case of disseminated p. zopfii infection in an hematopoietic stem cell transplant (hsct) recipient with bloodstream infection and involvement of multiple soft tissue sites. we review all previous cases o ...201424797402
immunohistopathology of prototheca wickerhamii in cutaneous lesions of protothecosis.protothecosis is a rare infection caused by pathogenic algae of the genus prototheca. prototheca wickerhamii causes cutaneous/subcutaneous opportunistic infections in humans and small animals. the diagnosis of protothecosis is based on histopathological examination of this organism, which can be confused with other fungi and inflammatory cells in infected tissues. in this study, immunohistopathological investigation was made of infected cutaneous human and animal tissues exhibiting protothecosis ...201424682095
protothecal peritonitis in child after bone marrow transplantation: case report and literature review of paediatric cases.the case presented here illustrates a protothecal infection caused by prototheca wickerhamii in a paediatric haematopoietic stem cell recipient followed by a review of the literature of all 13 paediatric cases published since 1980. protothecosis is a rare disease caused by algae, not described in this setting before. infection was proven additionally post-mortem from peritoneal dialysis fluid. even though no death of a paediatric patient due to this infection has been reported and the mortality ...201425566393
prototheca wickerhamii cutaneous and systemic infections.prototheca wickerhamii, an environmental alga, rarely causes human infections. we present a case of prototheca wickerhamii cutaneous and systemic infections in an 85-year-old male with adrenal insufficiency. this organism was identified by morphological features and microbiological tests. the patient was successfully treated with ketoconazole.201425274832
cutaneous protothecosis in a patient with hypogammaglobulinemia.prototheca wickerhamii has been predominantly recognised as a pathogen in immunocompromised hosts with deficits in innate or cellular immunity. the role of specific immunoglobulin against prototheca in host immunity is uncertain. we describe a case of persistent cutaneous protothecosis in a patient with hypogammaglobulinemia most likely due to common variable immunodeficiency, with clinical response to voriconazole.201324432237
protothecosis.protothecosis is a rare infection caused by achlorophyllic algae that are members of the genus prototheca. they are ubiquitous in nature in organic material. the clinical manifestations can be acute or chronic and local or disseminated. the disease is classified as cutaneous, causing bursitis or disseminated/systemic, affecting both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients, with more severe and disseminated infections occurring in immunocompromised individuals. prototheca wickerhamii and pr ...201322682193
ribosomal internal transcribed spacer of prototheca wickerhamii has characteristic structure useful for identification and genotyping.prototheca species are achlorophyllous algae ubiquitous in nature and known to cause localized and systemic infection both in humans and animals. although identification of the prototheca species in clinical specimens is a challenge, there are an increasing number of cases in which molecular techniques have successfully been used for diagnosis of protothecosis. in this study, we characterized nuclear ribosomal dna (rdna) of a strain of prototheca (fl11-0001) isolated from a dermatitis patient in ...201324312279
prototheca algaemia: a rare but fatal opportunistic infection among immunocompromised individuals.infections due to prototheca spp. are ubiquitous in nature, occurring in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. the study cohort consisted of 14 cases of prototheca algaemia reported over the past 5 decades and 2 recent cases from study hospitals. prototheca wickerhamii was the most common species. the overall mortality rate was 62.5%. prototheca algaemia, a healthcare-associated infection, was observed in immunocompromised patients and was associated with a poor prognosis.201324270142
prototheca wickerhamii as a cause of neuroinfection in a child with congenital hydrocephalus. first case of human protothecosis in poland.this report describes a rare case of neuroinfection due to prototheca wickerhamii in a child with severe, congenital hydrocephalus. the infection resolved completely after the patient was treated with oral ketoconazole, followed by intravenous fluconazole and amphotericin b. a probable source of infection was contamination during ventriculoperitoneal drain care procedures.201222858361
detection of helicosporidium spp. in metagenomic dna.distinct isolates of the invertebrate pathogenic alga helicosporidium sp., collected from different insect hosts and different geographic locations, were processed to sequence the 18s rdna and β-tubulin genes. the sequences were analyzed to assess genetic variation within the genus helicosporidium and to design helicosporidium-specific 18s rdna primers. the specificity of these primers was demonstrated by testing not only on the helicosporidium sp. isolates, but also on two trebouxiophyte algae ...201222609409
protothecosis: report of a case with 20-year follow-up, and review of previously published cases.we present a prototheca wickerhamii wound infection case that failed treatment with ketoconazole but was cured with amphotericin-b plus tetracycline. the patient was immunocompetent but had had local steroid injections. we reviewed another 159 cases from the literature. prototheca has infected many areas of the human body, but most often skin, olecranon bursa, or wounds. prior treatment with steroids and immune deficiencies are contributing factors. itraconazole and fluconazole are reasonable in ...201222571772
a rare case of prototheca algaemia in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and recent belimumab infusion.novel agents for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (sle) have been increasingly used as an alternative to or in combination with conventional therapies. belimumab, a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits b-cell activating factor (baff), has demonstrated efficacy in moderate-to-severe sle with similar adverse effects when compared to other biologic agents and conventional sle therapies. here, we describe a woman with sle and diabetes mellitus (dm) on ...201225374733
case report: infrapatellar bursitis caused by prototheca wickerhamii.a 54-year-old immunocompetent man presented with an infrapatellar bursitis caused by prototheca wickerhamii. because of clinical and microbiological relapse two weeks after bursectomy, six weekly injections of 5 mg of conventional amphotericin b were chosen for intrabursal treatment. four months after completion of the treatment, the patient remains cured.201224371726
prototheca wickerhamii algaemia presenting as cholestatic hepatitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report and literature review.human protothecal infection is uncommon and could be localized or systemic disease. disseminated prototheca algaemia tends to occur in immunocompromised patients (solid organ transplants, hematological malignancies) with high mortality. diagnosis could be missed or delayed due to unusual clinical presentation and/or under-recognition of characteristic microscopic features of prototheca species. combined approach that includes removal of source of infection and intravenous amphotericin b provides ...201224432207
uncommon fungi isolated from diabetic patients toenails with or without visible onychomycoses.kodamaea ohmeri and prototheca wickerhamii are rare pathogens for humans, and even more rare as cause of onychomycosis. this work reports the second case of onychomycosis by k. ohmeri and the fourth of onycoprotothecosis; it was made in public health institutions in the hidalgo state, mexico, studying 261 diabetic patients during 2005 and 2006. kodamaea ohmeri was isolated from toenails of a 51-year-old female patient, and p. wickerhamii from three female patients of 48, 49, and 61 years old, re ...201121512855
prototheca wickerhamii mimicking yeast: a cautionary tale.prototheca spp. are environmental algae that may cause serious infection in the immunocompromised patient. clinical manifestations may mimic other diseases. we present a case of fatal infection in a 78-year-old cardiac transplant recipient and discuss pitfalls in the clinical and laboratory diagnoses.201121653770
protothecal olecranon bursitis: an unusual algal infection.prototheca is an achlorophyllic alga which rarely causes infections in humans and protothecal olecranon bursitis is remarkably rare. we report a case of a 76-year-old immunocompetent man presenting with pain and swelling of the right elbow secondary to protothecal infection. initial cultures of the olecranon bursal aspirate revealed no growth; however, repeat aspiration after 2 months grew prototheca species on culture. prototheca wickerhamii and prototheca zopfii are the only 2 protothecal spec ...201121804360
prototheca wickerhamii infection of a corneal graft.algae are generally noninfectious agents in mammals, with few known pathogenic algae. prototheca is an achlorophylic nonphotosynthetic algae, globally ubiquitous, and readily isolated from rivers, lakes, ponds, and soil. although canine and bovine protothecosis have been reported more widely, infections in humans are rare, particularly in patients with an intact immune system. the majority of protothecal infections in humans is associated with prototheca wickerhamii. we report an unusual case of ...201121795977
[Subacute infectious endocarditis of unusual etiology: peculiarities of diagnostics and treatment].Infectious endocarditis (IE) is an inflammatory disease of cardiac valves and endocardium of different origin. Subacute IE is a specific form of sepsis associated with the presence of the site of infection in the heart responsible for recurrent septicemia, embolism, and progressive changes in the immune system leading to nephritis, vasculitis, synovitis, and polyserositis. This form develops in response to a low-virulent pathogen (e.g.fungi) or as a result of inefficient antibacterial therapy. A ...201121932571
characterization of prototheca wickerhamii isolated from disseminated algaemia of kidney transplant patient from malaysia.prototheca wickerhamii isolated from blood of 61-year-old kidney transplant patient was described. although it is classified as an alga (genus chlorella), the disease, protothecosis, is included under mycoses because of its clinical pathological presentations. colony characteristics of p. wickerhamii are indistinguishable from other yeast-like organisms like cryptococcus and candida. fortunately, commercial identification system for yeast can be used to identify this organism to the species leve ...201121948061
Comparative activity and mechanism of action of three types of bovine antimicrobial peptides against pathogenic Prototheca spp.The yeast-like algae of the genus Prototheca are ubiquitous saprophytes causing infections in immunocompromised patients and granulomatous mastitis in cattle. Few available therapies and the rapid spread of resistant strains worldwide support the need for novel drugs against protothecosis. Host defence antimicrobial peptides inactivate a wide array of pathogens and are a rich source of leads, with the advantage of being largely unaffected by microbial resistance mechanisms. Three structurally di ...201122083804
fatal prototheca wickerhamii bloodstream infection in a cardiac allograft recipient. 201122042831
A case of cutaneous protothecosis in a polyarteritis nodosa patient and review of cases reported in Japan.A 76-year-old woman farmer with a 20-year history of oral steroid treatment for polyarteritis nodosa, noted a rash consisting of numerous small papules on the dorsum of her right hand in February 2007. The rash worsened over time, and in April 2008 red papules and pustules as big as grains of rice fused to form plaques extending up her arm from the dorsum of the right hand to the extensor surface of the forearm. The plaques were accompanied by erosions, ulcers, and crusts. Skin biopsy specimens ...201121971267
prototheca cutis sp. nov., a newly discovered pathogen of protothecosis isolated from inflamed human skin.a strain of a novel pathogenic, achlorophyllic alga belonging to the genus prototheca was isolated from the inflamed skin of a patient with protothecosis in a japanese hospital. the pathogen was detected and isolated in biopsy specimens by histopathology and culture-based examination. analyses of the nuclear 18s rdna gene and 26s rdna gene d1/d2 domain sequences and chemotaxonomic studies indicated that this strain represents a novel species with a close phylogenetic relationship to prototheca w ...201019666796
a case of cutaneous protothecosis successfully treated with local thermal therapy as an adjunct to itraconazole therapy in an immunocompromised host.we report a case of human protothecosis in an immunocompromised host which was caused by prototheca wickerhamii and was successfully treated with thermal adjunct therapy combined with systemic itraconazole therapy. a 78-year-old man taking 30 mg prednisolone daily had a 1-week history of erythematous plaques on the dorsal aspect of his right hand and forearm after sustaining a small traumatic injury. histopathology of the lesions revealed granulomatous inflammatory changes with numerous microorg ...201020092420
an unusual case of granulomatous lymphadenitis due to prototheca zopfii var. portoricensis in an immunocompetent man in china.protothecosis is an uncommon human infection caused by prototheca. prototheca spp can be considered as saprophytes, and in spite of their frequency in the environment, they are of low virulence and may cause chronic infection with low-grade inflammation in humans. at present, only three species are recognized: prototheca wickerhamii, prototheca zopfii and prototheca stagnora. of these, the former two have been associated with human disease. this study was an investigation of the clinical and mic ...201020117953
the mitochondrial genome of the entomoparasitic green alga helicosporidium.helicosporidia are achlorophyllous, non-photosynthetic protists that are obligate parasites of invertebrates. highly specialized, these pathogens feature an unusual cyst stage that dehisces inside the infected organism and releases a filamentous cell displaying surface projections, which will penetrate the host gut wall and eventually reproduce in the hemolymph. long classified as incertae sedis or as relatives of other parasites such as apicomplexa or microsporidia, the helicosporidia were surp ...201020126458
protothecosis by prototheca wickerhamii in goats.summary this article reports a new case of protothecosis by prototheca wickerhamii in goats. the animal presented severe respiratory difficulty and nodules, sometimes ulcerated, in the nasal vestibule, mucocutaneous junction of the nostrils and skin of the face. prototheca wickerhamii was isolated from the lesions. the animal had no clinical or haematologiccl evidence of immunodepression. the agent was highly resistant to antimicrobial drugs. the goat was treated unsuccessfully with fluconazole ...201020337944
the first case of feline prototheca wickerhamii infection in japan.a 3-year-old castrated male domestic short-haired cat was presented with nodules on the left nasal wing and the left earflap. prototheca cells were found after excision biopsy of one of the nodules located on the left earflap. the patient cat was generally in good condition without skin problems. prototheca wickerhamii was isolated from all 6 masses after they were surgically nucleated. the cat was recovered two months after intervention with no recurrence of skin nodules. this report deals with ...201020460834
visualization of sporopollenin-containing pathogenic green micro-alga prototheca wickerhamii by fluorescent in situ hybridization (fish).fluorescent in situ hybridization (fish) using taxon-specific, rrna-targeted oligonucleotide probes is one of the most powerful tools for the rapid identification of harmful microorganisms. however, eukaryotic algal cells do not always allow fish probes to permeate over their cell walls. members of the pathogenic micro-algal genus prototheca are characterized by their distinctive cell-wall component, sporopollenin, an extremely tough biopolymer that resists acid and alkaline hydrolysis, enzyme a ...200919396247
cutaneous and nasal protothecosis in a goat.a case of protothecosis is reported in an adult goat with inspiratory dyspnea and stertor. dermatitis with prominent ulcerated nodules up to 3 cm in diameter was observed in the muzzle at the mucocutaneous junctions of nasal and lip skin, and in the border of the pinna. histologic lesions were necrotizing pyogranulomatous dermatitis and rhinitis with myriads of walled sporangia, characteristic of prototheca wickerhamii. this seems to be the first report of protothecosis in a goat.200818487492
protothecosis after liver transplantation.prototheca species are unicellular algae of low virulence that are rarely associated with human infections. we report a liver transplant recipient with disseminated protothecosis and review the literature on this unusual opportunistic infection in transplant recipients. of 9 cases, including ours, 5 had a localized infection, and 4 had disseminated protothecosis. seven cases were due to prototheca wickerhamii, and 2 were due to prototheca zopfii. overall mortality in transplant recipients with p ...200818668655
meningitis due to prototheca wickerhamii: rare case in china.a rare case of prototheca wickerhamii meningitis is reported in a patient without any underlying immunodeficient condition. wet-mount microscopy and culture of cerebral spinal fluid specimens, along with temperature resistance, cycloheximide tolerance, carbohydrates assimilation, including api 20c aux tests of the isolated etiologic agent were performed. in addition, transmission and scanning electron microscopy studies and in vitro antifungal susceptibility tests were conducted. through the com ...200717325949
[prototheca wickerhami peritonitis in patients on peritoneal dialysis].prototheca spp exits throughout nature but only infrequently cause infection in humans. most of the cases of human infection have involved the skin or subcutaneous tissues, but there have been reports of rare cases of protothecosis of the urinary tract, and disseminated disease. the species most commonly isolated is prototheca wickerhamii. few cases of peritonitis due to p. wickerhamii in peritoneal dialysis had been reported. we report a successful treatment of prototheca peritonitis complicati ...200717402885
human protothecosis.human protothecosis is a rare infection caused by members of the genus prototheca. prototheca species are generally considered to be achlorophyllic algae and are ubiquitous in nature. the occurrence of protothecosis can be local or disseminated and acute or chronic, with the latter being more common. diseases have been classified as (i) cutaneous lesions, (ii) olecranon bursitis, or (iii) disseminated or systemic manifestations. infections can occur in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed p ...200717428884
gain and loss of polyadenylation signals during evolution of green algae.the viridiplantae (green algae and land plants) consist of two monophyletic lineages: the chlorophyta and the streptophyta. most green algae belong to the chlorophyta, while the streptophyta include all land plants and a small group of freshwater algae known as charophyceae. eukaryotes attach a poly-a tail to the 3' ends of most nuclear-encoded mrnas. in embryophytes, animals and fungi, the signal for polyadenylation contains an a-rich sequence (often aauaaa or related sequence) 13 to 30 nucleot ...200717442103
cutaneous protothecosis: a case report and review of the literature.protothecosis is a rare cause of systemic and/or cutaneous infection. because approximately 100 cases of human infection with prototheca wickerhamii have been reported, little is known about the pathogenesis of this infection. cases include both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. however, most cases contain an element of immune compromise, either local or systemic. we present a case of an 81-year-old white woman with a history of multiple nonmelanoma skin cancers, including squamous ...200717944171
direct evidence for redundant segmental replacement between multiple 18s rrna genes in a single prototheca strain.informational genes such as those encoding rrnas are related to transcription and translation, and are thus considered to be rarely subject to lateral gene transfer (lgt) between different organisms, compared to operational genes having metabolic functions. however, several lines of evidence have suggested or confirmed the occurrence of lgt of dna segments encoding evolutionarily variable regions of rrna genes between different organisms. in the present paper, we show, for the first time to our ...200717975096
cutaneous protothecosis: report of a third brazilian case.the present report describes a case of cutaneous protothecosis caused by prototheca wickerhamii in a nonimmunocompromised brazilian female. dermatological examination revealed a 15-cm diffusely infiltrated eczema-like plaque recovered with many pustule-like lesions on the right forearm. we emphasize the mycological and pathological aspects of this infection that can lead to misdiagnosis. the patient was successfully treated with itraconazole.200616445501
onychoprotothecosis: report of the first case in brazil.the present report describes a case of onychoprotothecosis caused by prototheca wickerhamii in a nonimmunocompromized female. dermatological examination showed yellowish discoloration of the left and right forefinger nails, showing onicolysis and hyperkeratosis. the repeated isolation of the algae prototheca (organisms morula-like) as well as the repeated culture in media, sabouraud agar, confirmed the diagnosis. the patient was successfully treated with tioconazol 1% topic solution. the aim of ...200616961512
prototheca wickerhamii hand infection successfully treated by itraconazole and voriconazole. 200616987132
an isolate of prototheca wickerhamii from systemic canine protothecosis.the isolate from a canine disseminated protothecosis was identified to be prototheca wickerhamii by its morphological and biochemical characteristics. the isolate was grouped into a cluster identical to the type strain of p. wickerhamii, atcc 16529(t) in phylogenetic trees based on the small subunit (ssu) and the 5' end of the large subunit (lsu) ribosomal dna (rdna); the cluster was close to that including the other prototheca species. however, the strains of p. wickerhamii, sag 263-11 and pore ...200616987617
short communication: in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of prototheca wickerhamii and prototheca zopfii isolated from bovine mastitis.bovine mastitis caused by prototheca spp. can assume high significance because of economic losses and the potential risk to public health. studies on the susceptibility of prototheca spp. to antimicrobials have demonstrated its high level of resistance. we report the susceptibility of bovine isolates of prototheca wickerhamii and prototheca zopfii to amphotericin b and nystatin, 2 antifungal agents commonly used in the control of protothecosis, and discuss the results. after subculture, minimum ...200617033006
[hepatic safety of itraconazole intravenous solution in treatment of invasive fungal infection].to investigate the hepatic safety of itraconazole intravenous solution in the treatment of invasive fungal infection.200617064545
[prototheca wickerhamii peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients]. 200617117915
multiple metabolic roles for the nonphotosynthetic plastid of the green alga prototheca wickerhamii.the presence of plastids in diverse eukaryotic lineages that have lost the capacity for photosynthesis is well documented. the metabolic functions of such organelles, however, are poorly understood except in the case of the apicoplast in the apicomplexa, a group of intracellular parasites including plasmodium falciparum, and the plastid of the green alga helicosporidium sp., a parasite for which the only host-free stage identified in nature so far is represented by cysts. as a first step in the ...200515701787
in vitro antimycotic activity of some plant extracts towards yeast and yeast-like strains.as part of screening aimed at the selection of novel antimycotic compounds of vegetable origin, leaf extracts of camellia sinensis l., cupressus sempervirens l. and pistacia lentiscus l. and the seed extract of glycine soja sieb. et zucc. were tested against yeast and yeast-like species implicated in human mycoses. of the extracts only those of c. sinensis (obtained from a commercial preparation of green tea) exhibited broad activity towards candida glabrata, clavispora lusitatiae, cryptococcus ...200515798996
in vitro activity of voriconazole against prototheca wickerhamii: comparative evaluation of sensititre and nccls m27-a2 methods of detection.a total of 104 prototheca wickerhamii isolates and two control strains were tested for susceptibility to voriconazole using the sensititre yeastone colorimetric antifungal plate and nccls reference method. voriconazole was highly active against all isolates, with an mic at which 90% of isolates were inhibited of < or = 0.5 microg/ml. comparison of mics obtained with the sensititre product and the nccls method demonstrated agreement (100% +/- 2 log2 dilutions) between the two methods. voriconazol ...200515872301
bilateral choroiditis from prototheca wickerhamii algaemia. 200516087852
the epidemiology of mycotic vulvovaginitis and the use of antifungal agents in suspected mycotic vulvovaginitis and its implications for clinical practice.data in the caribbean documenting the speciation of yeast associated with vulvovaginitis are lacking. the widespread use of antibiotics and increased availability of antimycotic agents, both prescribed and over-the-counter, predisposes both to a change in the epidemiologic patterns and the possible development of secondary resistance among previously susceptible yeast. this study was conducted to evaluate the aetiologic agents associated with mycotic vulvovaginitis and to review the appropriaten ...200516209225
the complete mitochondrial dna sequence of the green alga pseudendoclonium akinetum (ulvophyceae) highlights distinctive evolutionary trends in the chlorophyta and suggests a sister-group relationship between the ulvophyceae and chlorophyceae.the mitochondrial genome has undergone radical changes in both the chlorophyta and streptophyta, yet little is known about the dynamics of mtdna evolution in either of these lineages. in the chlorophyta, which comprises four of the five recognized classes of green algae (prasinophyceae, trebouxiophyceae, ulvophyceae, and chlorophyceae), the mitochondrial genome varies from 16 to 55 kb. this genome has retained a compact gene organization and a relatively complex gene repertoire ("ancestral" patt ...200415014170
the non-photosynthetic, pathogenic green alga helicosporidium sp. has retained a modified, functional plastid genome.a fragment of the helicosporidium sp. (chlorophyta: trebouxiophyceae) plastid genome has been sequenced. the genome architecture was compared to that of both a non-photosynthetic relative (prototheca wickerhamii) and a photosynthetic relative (chlorella vulgaris). comparative genomic analysis indicated that helicosporidium and prototheca are closely related genera. the analyses also revealed that the helicosporidium sp. plastid genome has been rearranged. in particular, two ribosomal protein-enc ...200415043882
development of a species-specific probe for pythium insidiosum and the diagnosis of pythiosis.pythium insidiosum, the only species in the genus that infects mammals, is the etiological agent of pythiosis, a granulomatous disease characterized by cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions and vascular diseases. accurate diagnosis of pythiosis and identification of its causal agent are often inconsistent with current immunological diagnostic methods. a species-specific dna probe was constructed by using a 530-bp hinfi fragment from the ribosomal dna intergenic spacer of p. insidiosum. when the pro ...200415184412
disseminated prototheca wickerhamii infection with arthritis and tenosynovitis.achloric algae of the prototheca species are a rare cause of infection in humans. these infections are usually localized to the skin, olecranon bursae, and tendon sheaths of the hands and wrists. our patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and a chronic prototheca wickerhamii skin infection of the hand developed tenosynovitis and arthritis of his ankle in the setting of a documented algemia. this is the first reported case of protothecal arthritis and tenosynovitis resulting from hematog ...200415338515
protothecosis in patients with cancer: case series and literature review.to review our recent experience with protothecosis in patients with cancer at the university of texas md anderson cancer center, and compare these cases with others reported in the literature.200314616698
phylogenetic analysis identifies the invertebrate pathogen helicosporidium sp. as a green alga (chlorophyta).historically, the invertebrate pathogens of the genus helicosporidium were considered to be either protozoa or fungi, but the taxonomic position of this group has not been considered since 1931. recently, a helicosporidium sp., isolated from the blackfly simulium jonesi stone & snoddy (diptera: simuliidae), has been amplified in the heterologous host helicoverpa zea. genomic dna has been extracted from gradient-purified cysts. the 185, 28s and 5.8s regions of the helicosporidium rdna, as well as ...200211837312
the genes encoding subunits of atp synthase are conserved in the reduced plastid genome of the heterotrophic alga prototheca wickerhamii.the heterotrophic unicellular alga prototheca wickerhamii is closely related to the photoautotrophic chlorella vulgaris but has a 54,100-bp plastid dna (ptdna) that is much smaller than the chloroplast dna of c. vulgaris (150,613 bp). the nucleotide sequence of 28,093 bp of the prototheca ptdna has been determined. no genes for photosynthetic functions have been found, except for sequences encoding six subunits of the atp synthase ( atpa, atpb, atpe, atpf, atph, and atpi). transcripts of these a ...200212111556
cutaneous protothecosis: report of the second brazilian case.the present report describes a case of cutaneous protothecosis caused by prototheca wickerhamii in a non-immunocompromised female from the state of bahia, brazil. this is the second case described in brazil. dermatological examination revealed diffusely infiltrated erythematous plaques on the flexor aspect of the right arm and forearm. the authors emphasize the pathological aspects that can lead to misdiagnosis this condition. the patient was successfully treated with fluconazole.200111696853
a human case of protothecosis successfully treated with itraconazole.cutaneous protothecosis developed in a 63-year-old japanese female. the patient had a long history of steroid use for bronchial asthma. a tender, swollen, erythematous plaque with white papules covered the dorsal aspect of the patients right hand. histopathological examination showed typical protothecosis with numerous mulberry-like sporangia positive for periodic acid-schiff stain. the pathogen was identified as prototheca wickerhamii. after a 6-week course of 150-200 mg/day itraconazole (itcz) ...200111479536
the usefulness of blood culture in diagnosing hiv-related systemic mycoses: evaluation of a manual lysis centrifugation method.the results of 5034 blood cultures, implementing a lysis-centrifugation method with saponin, are summarized in this paper. three hundred and twenty-two blood samples (6.3%) obtained from a pool of human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)-positive patients yielded fungi. cryptococcus neoformans was isolated in 199 samples (3.95%), histoplasma capsulatum in 95 (1.89%). candida parapsilosis in 12 (0.23%), c. albicans in 7 (0.13%), c. tropicalis in 2, c. krusei in 1, c. guillermondii in 1, and prototheca ...200010746231
sterol c-methyl transferase from prototheca wickerhamii mechanism, sterol specificity and inhibition.the membrane-bound sterol methyl transferase (smt) enzyme from prototheca wickerhamii, a non-photosynthetic, yeast-like alga, was found to c-methylate appropriate delta24(25)-sterol acceptor molecules to delta25(27)-24beta-methyl products stereoselectively. incubation with pairs of substrates--[2h3-methyl]adomet and cycloartenol, and adomet and [27-(13)c]lanosterol--followed by 1h and 13c nmr analysis of the isotopically labeled products demonstrated the si-face (beta-face attack) mechanism of c ...200010882005
systemic chlorellosis, an emerging infection in humans caused by algae.one hundred and eight cases of human protothecosis occurring over 25 years are reviewed. the most common species isolated was prototheca wickerhamii, the algae have been isolated from a large number of sites but seem to have low virulence. in the majority of systemic infections there have been few symptoms. cutaneous manifestations may vary from patient to patient but infections of immunosuppressed patients tend to be more florid. most cases have been successfully treated by excising the lesion ...200010926448
[antifungal effect of three natural products on the genetic substance of saccharomyces cerevisiae gl7 and prototheca wickerhamii].to investigate the antifungal effect of three natural products on the genetic substance of saccharomyces cerevisiae gl7 and prototheca wickerhamii.200011218867
the complete mitochondrial dna sequences of nephroselmis olivacea and pedinomonas minor. two radically different evolutionary patterns within green algae.green plants appear to comprise two sister lineages, chlorophyta (classes chlorophyceae, ulvophyceae, trebouxiophyceae, and prasinophyceae) and streptophyta (charophyceae and embryophyta, or land plants). to gain insight into the nature of the ancestral green plant mitochondrial genome, we have sequenced the mitochondrial dnas (mtdnas) of nephroselmis olivacea and pedinomonas minor. these two green algae are presumptive members of the prasinophyceae. this class is thought to include descendants ...199910488238
the mitochondrial genome of arabidopsis is composed of both native and immigrant information.plants contain large mitochondrial genomes, which are several times as complex as those in animals, fungi or algae. however, genome size is not correlated with information content. the mitochondrial genome (mtdna) of arabidopsis specifies only 58 genes in 367 kb, whereas the 184 kb mtdna in the liverwort marchantia polymorpha codes for 66 genes, and the 58 kb genome in the green alga prototheca wickerhamii encodes 63 genes. in arabidopsis' mtdna, genes for subunits of complex ii, for several rib ...199910562735
4,4,14 alpha-trimethyl 9 beta,19-cyclo-5 alpha-26-homocholesta-24,26-dien-3 beta-ol: a potent mechanism-based inactivator of delta 24(25)- to delta 25(27)-sterol methyl transferase.the title compound (4a) was synthesized and tested as a mechanism-based inactivator of the sterol methyl transferase (smt) enzyme from prototheca wickerhamii. using cycloartenol as substrate, 4a was found to exhibit time-dependent inactivation kinetics, generating a ki value of 30 microm and kinact value of 0.30 min-1.19989934450
fragmented and scrambled mitochondrial ribosomal rna coding regions among green algae: a model for their origin and evolution.mitochondrial ribosomal rna coding regions in the only three green algal taxa investigated to date are fundamentally different in that they are continuous in prototheca wickerhamii, but highly fragmented and scrambled in chlamydomonas reinhardtii and chlamydomonas eugametos. to gain more insight into the mode of evolution of fragmented and scrambled mitochondrial ribosomal rna (rrna) genes within the green algal group, this work (1) provides additional information on fragmentation patterns of mi ...19979159928
cutaneous protothecosis in a dog.a dog was infected systemically with prototheca wickerhamii but showed only cutaneous protothecosis. the lesions appeared progressively and consisted of non-pruritic scrotal swelling and ulceration, cutaneous nodules, crusty ulcerative lesions over the trunk and serous rhinitis. the diagnosis was based on skin biopsy findings and specific culture. microscopic examination revealed a diffuse pyogranulomatous dermatitis and numerous protothecal organisms of different sizes within the cytoplasm of p ...19979226849
cutaneous protothecosis in association with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.we report a case of protothecosis that occurred in the skin over the left tibial region of a 25-year-old man with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids). the lesion was noticed a few months after he swam in a lake in south alabama. biopsy and culture revealed prototheca wickerhamii. we believe this is only the second reported case of cutaneous protothecosis in association with aids.19979258312
canine cutaneous protothecosis: an immunohistochemical analysis of the inflammatory cellular infiltrate.in this immunohistochemical study, the distribution of the cellular inflammatory infiltrate associated with cutaneous canine protothecosis (prototheca wickerhamii) was evaluated by consecutive biopsies taken before, during and after treatment. antibodies specific to canine immunoglobulins (igg, igm, iga), human cd3 antigen (pan t-lymphocyte marker) and human myeloid/ histiocyte antigen (macrophage/neutrophil marker) were used. before treatment, cellular infiltrate was very scanty in the inflamed ...19979263846
onychoprotothecosis due to prototheca wickerhamii. 19979335149
algaemia due to prototheca wickerhamii in a patient with myasthenia gravis.prototheca wickerhamii is a rare cause of systemic infection in humans. while some cases occur in previously healthy individuals, others are associated with a variety of preexisting diseases. here we present, for the first time, a case of p. wickerhamii algaemia in a patient with myasthenia gravis. the patient was successfully treated with amphotericin b.19979399541
[fluconazole and itraconazole susceptibility testing with clinical yeast isolates and algae of the genus prototheca by means of the etest].preliminary own results suggest, that the etest (produced by ab biodisk, solna, sweden) performed on casitone medium meets the requirements of a routine test of yeast susceptibility to fluconazole and itraconazole. testing of 46 clinical yeast isolates, of 5 strains of exophiala dermatitidis and 4 strains of algae of the genus prototheca revealed species-, genus- and strain-specific variations of the susceptibility to fluconazole and itraconazole. candida glabrata was less susceptible to both tr ...19969198743
transcript mapping and processing of mitochondrial rna in the chlorophyte alga prototheca wickerhamii.the detailed transcript map of the circular 55328 bp mitochondrial (mt) genome from the colourless chlorophycean alga prototheca wickerhamii has been determined. on each half of this genome the genes are encoded only on one dna strand, forming transcriptional units comprising variable numbers of genes. with the exception of four genes coding for ribosomal proteins, transcripts of the three rrna genes and all protein-coding genes have been detected by both northern analysis and primer extension e ...19968605307
evolution of fragmented mitochondrial ribosomal rna genes in chlamydomonas.the fragmented mitochondrial ribosomal rnas (rrnas) of the green algae chlamydomonas eugametos and chlamydomonas reinhardtii are discontinuously encoded in subgenic modules that are scrambled in order and interspersed with protein coding and trna genes. the mitochondrial rrna genes of these two algae differ, however, in both the distribution and organization of rrna coding information within their respective genomes. the objectives of this study were (1) to examine the phylogenetic relationships ...19968642607
two cases of protothecosis in nagoya, japan.two cases of protothecosis caused by prototheca wickerhamii have been reported from nagoya in a 12 year period in both cases the infection presented on the cheeks of otherwise healthy women. biopsies showed numerous pas positive staining organisms with the distinctive mulberry like endosporulation in the dermis. prototheca wickerhamii was identified on sugar assimilation tests of colonies isolated from tissue on sabouraud agar. case 1 responded to 11 months of oral ketoconazole therapy. case 2 m ...19968713014
a 5 s rrna gene is present in the mitochondrial genome of the protist reclinomonas americana but is absent from red algal mitochondrial dna.except in the case of land plants, mitochondrial ribosomes apparently lack a 5 s rrna species, even though this small rna is a component of all prokaryotic, chloroplast and eukaryotic cytosol ribosomes. in plants, the mitochondrial 5 s rrna is encoded by mtdna and differs in sequence from the 5 s rrna specified by plant nuclear and chloroplast genomes. a distinctive 5 s rrna component has not been found in the mitochondrial ribosomes of non-plant eukaryotes and, with the notable exception of the ...19968800209
chronic prototheca meningitis.a case of chronic meningitis caused by the achloric alga prototheca wickerhamii is described, which has persisted for more than 6 years despite treatment with various antifungal agents. for the last year no treatment has been given, but the patient has no complaints.19968863372
the mitochondrial dna of the amoeboid protozoon, acanthamoeba castellanii: complete sequence, gene content and genome organization.in phylogenetic trees based on comparison of nuclear small subunit rrna sequences, acanthamoeba castellanii (an amoeboid protozoon) is positioned near the base of the radiation leading to the animals, fungi and plants. however, the specific affiliation of this protist with the major multicellular lineages of eukaryotes is currently uncertain. to further explore the evolutionary position of a. castellanii, we have determined the complete primary sequence of its mitochondrial genome. we find that ...19957844823
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 ...19957883184
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.19958547010
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