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development and application of a green fluorescent protein sentinel system for identification of rna interference in blastomyces dermatitidis illuminates the role of septin in morphogenesis and sporulation.a high-throughput strategy for testing gene function would accelerate progress in our understanding of disease pathogenesis for the dimorphic fungus blastomyces dermatitidis, whose genome is being completed. we developed a green fluorescent protein (gfp) sentinel system of gene silencing to rapidly study genes of unknown function. using gateway technology to efficiently generate rna interference plasmids, we cloned a target gene, "x," next to gfp to create one hairpin to knock down the expressio ...200717496124
typing of histoplasma capsulatum strains by fatty acid profile analysis.the performance of fatty acid profiling for strain differentiation of histoplasma capsulatum was assessed. total fatty acids were isolated from the yeast-phase cells of seven stock and two previously unreported clinical strains of h. capsulatum var. capsulatum, as well as from one unreported clinical strain and one stock strain of h. capsulatum var. duboisii, and one strain of each of three other dimorphic zoopathogenic fungal species, blastomyces dermatitidis, paracoccidioides brasiliensis and ...200717510264
isoelectric focusing and elisa evaluation of a blastomyces dermatitidis human isolate.blastomyces dermatitidis is a dimorphic fungal organism and the causative agent of blastomycosis. this organism is endemic east of the mississippi river as is the fungal organism histoplasma capsulatum. this study was performed to determine if sensitive and specific antigens from the b. dermatitidis yeast phase lysate (human isolate 592) could be separated using isoelectric focusing (ief) to eliminate antigens that are cross-reactive with h. capsulatum. indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ...200717578679
blastomyces dermatitidis of the perianal skin: report of a case.isolated fungal infections of the perianal skin are rare and their diagnosis is frequently overlooked. we report a case of a 78-year-old male patient who presented with a friable, violaceous, papulopustular lesion, with heaped-up edges along the anal verge. biopsy revealed unicellular yeast consistent with blastomycosis. the patient was treated with itraconazole with resolution of this lesion. an extensive medline literature review from 1958 to the present indicates that this is an uncommon mani ...200717082893
cross-reactivity of non-aspergillus fungal species in the aspergillus galactomannan enzyme immunoassay.the aspergillus galactomannan enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (eia) has been demonstrated to facilitate rapid and sensitive detection of invasive aspergillosis. however, test specificity has not been fully evaluated in non-aspergillus fungal species. of 53 fungal isolates, cross-reactivity was observed with 5 non-aspergillus spp.: blastomyces dermatitidis, nigrospora oryzae, paecilomyces lilacinus, penicillium chrysogenum, and trichothecium roseum.200717662550
unilateral blastomyces dermatitidis optic neuropathy case report and systematic literature review.to describe the clinical and histopathologic findings of a unique case of isolated optic nerve blastomyces dermatitidis infection and to summarize the ophthalmic blastomycosis literature.200717686521
dimorphism and virulence in fungi.the signature feature of systemic dimorphic fungi - a family of six primary fungal pathogens of humans - is a temperature-induced phase transition. these fungi grow as a mold in soil at ambient temperature and convert to yeast after infectious spores are inhaled into the lungs of a mammalian host. seminal work 20 years ago established that a temperature-induced phase transition from mold to yeast is required for virulence. several yeast-phase specific genes, identified one-by-one and studied by ...200717719267
v beta1+ j beta1.1+/v alpha2+ j alpha49+ cd4+ t cells mediate resistance against infection with blastomyces dermatitidis.immunization with a cell wall/membrane (cw/m) and yeast cytosol extract (yce) crude antigen from blastomyces dermatitidis confers t-cell-mediated resistance against lethal experimental infection in mice. we isolated and characterized t cells that recognize components of these protective antigens and mediate protection. cd4+ t-cell clones elicited with cw/m antigen adoptively transferred protective immunity when they expressed a v alpha2+ j alpha49+/v beta1+ j beta1.1+ heterodimeric t-cell recept ...200717030569
ecologic niche modeling of blastomyces dermatitidis in wisconsin.blastomycosis is a potentially fatal mycosis that is acquired by inhaling infectious spores of blastomyces dermatitidis present in the environment. the ecology of this pathogen is poorly understood, in part because it has been extremely difficult to identify the niche(s) it occupies based on culture isolation of the organism from environmental samples.200818446224
seasonal variations in the clinical presentation of pulmonary and extrapulmonary blastomycosis.blastomycosis is a granulomatous infection caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus, blastomyces dermatitidis, for which seasonal variation has been proposed. we conducted a retrospective review of medical records of 324 patients with blastomycosis in manitoba and northwestern ontario. the average age of patients at the time of diagnosis was 39+/-20 (range, 0-85) years. symptoms referable to blastomycosis were first noted in the autumn and winter (september to february) by 63% of the patients. t ...200818651302
melanin as a virulence factor of paracoccidioides brasiliensis and other dimorphic pathogenic fungi: a minireview.melanin pigments are substances produced by a broad variety of pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and helminths. microbes predominantly produce melanin pigment via tyrosinases, laccases, catecholases, and the polyketide synthase pathway. in fungi, melanin is deposited in the cell wall and cytoplasm, and melanin particles ("ghosts") can be isolated from these fungi that have the same size and shape of the original cells. melanin has been reported in several human pathogenic dim ...200818777637
antigen and antibody testing for the diagnosis of blastomycosis in dogs.early diagnosis and treatment are associated with an improved prognosis in blastomycosis. the diagnosis of blastomycosis may be missed by cytology, histopathology, culture, or serology. an enzyme immunoassay (eia) for detection of blastomyces dermatitidis galactomannan antigen in body fluids has been used for rapid diagnosis of blastomycosis in humans.200818482276
nonsurgical treatment of lumbosacral blastomycosis involving l2-s1: a case report.a case report and clinical discussion.200818520932
corticosteroids for blastomycosis-induced ards: a report of two patients and review of the literature.ards secondary to blastomycosis is associated with a high mortality rate despite appropriate antifungal therapy. corticosteroids are of proven benefit in the treatment of severe pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia and are recommended for the treatment of severe pulmonary infections with histoplasma capsulatum. however, their role in the treatment of severe pulmonary infections with blastomyces dermatitidis has not been established. we report the cases of two previously healthy men who presented with ...200818574291
systemic blastomycosis diagnosed by prostate needle biopsy.a healthy 51-year-old man presented with a 1-month history of lower urinary tract irritative symptoms. urinalysis was suggestive of infection, and the patient was treated with multiple antibiotics without relief of symptoms. a urological exam demonstrated abnormal induration of the prostate gland. biopsy of the prostate gland revealed blastomyces dermatitidis. in areas where blastomyces dermatitidis is endemic, clinicians should be aware of the presence of this fungus and possible sites of infec ...200818591374
pulmonary blastomycosis diagnosed in hawai'i.blastomycosis, a fungal infection caused by blastomyces dermatitidis, was once thought to be endemic only to the central and great lakes regions of the united states of america. we present the first reported case series of patients documenting the diagnosis of blastomycosis in the pacific region. in both cases, exposure to endemic areas was retrospectively identified.200819058609
evasion of innate immune responses: evidence for mannose binding lectin inhibition of tumor necrosis factor alpha production by macrophages in response to blastomyces dermatitidis.serum factors, including mannose binding lectins (mbl), influence innate responses to microbes. little is known about the effects of serum factors or mbl on the interaction of blastomyces dermatitidis, a pulmonary fungal pathogen, with macrophages or on tumor necrosis factor alpha (tnf-alpha) production. since macrophage production of tnf-alpha is an important innate immune response, we examined a mouse peritoneal macrophage (pm) cell line (raw) and resident pm from cd-1 mice to study tnf-alpha ...200818070904
transtracheal aspiration in the diagnosis of pulmonary blastomycosis (17 cases: 2000-2005).blastomyces dermatitidis is a common etiologic agent of fungal pneumonia in dogs. definitive diagnosis is based on cytologic demonstration of the organism in affected tissues. fluid obtained through transtracheal aspiration has previously been reported to have a low diagnostic yield for b. dermatitidis organisms. this retrospective study identified b. dermatitidis organisms in 76% of samples when transtracheal aspiration was performed in 17 nonsedated dogs with pulmonary blastomycosis. transtrac ...200818320978
deactivation of the dimorphic fungi histoplasma capsulatum, blastomyces dermatitidis and coccidioides immitis using hydrogen peroxide vapor.hydrogen peroxide vapour (hpv) has been proposed as an alternative to formaldehyde fumigation for the decontamination of biosafety level (bsl) iii laboratories. the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of hpv against the dimorphic fungi histoplasma capsulatum, blastomyces dermatitidis and coccidioides immitis. working inside a class ii biological safety cabinet (bsc) within a bsl iii laboratory, inocula containing approximately 5-log(10) cfu/ml from the mould form of each organism susp ...200818324500
utility of diagnostic tests for and medical treatment of pulmonary blastomycosis in dogs: 125 cases (1989-2006).to compare results of the most common diagnostic tests for pulmonary blastomycosis in dogs, identify factors associated with outcome, and determine response to various antifungal treatment protocols.200818275389
in vitro activities of isavuconazole against opportunistic filamentous and dimorphic fungi.the in vitro activity of isavuconazole was compared to those of amphotericin b, fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and ravuconazole against 300 clinical isolates of pseudallescheria boydii, paecilomyces lilacinus, fusarium spp., bipolaris spicifera, curvularia lunata, alternaria alternata, exophiala spp., rhizopus arrhizus, mucor circillenoides, absidia corymbifera, blastomyces dermatitidis, histoplasma capsulatum and coccidioides posadasii. mics were determined by a broth ma ...200919101837
what is your diagnosis? subcutaneous mass fluid from a febrile dog.a 10-month-old spayed female doberman pinscher was presented for lameness. on physical examination, the dog was lethargic and febrile and had a 2-cm raised subcutaneous mass at the base of the left ear. fluid from the mass was drained. direct smears of the fluid, stained with modified wright's and new methylene blue, were highly cellular and contained large numbers of degenerate neutrophils with moderate numbers of macrophages. large numbers of round yeast organisms, 8-20 mum in diameter, were o ...200919351342
blastomycosis: new insights into diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.the basic science and clinical understanding of infection with blastomyces dermatitidis has been a field of constant evolution and continued revision of hypotheses. this article highlights some areas in which recent progress has the potential for significant impact on the clinical care of patients. specifically, this article examines the application of modern technology to epidemiologic studies, the development of novel vaccine candidates, emerging populations at risk for the disease, rapid diag ...200919375630
skeletal muscle abscess caused by blastomyces dermatitidis.muscle involvement is an extremely rare manifestation of blastomycosis. we, therefore, report a case of a large gluteal muscle abscess caused by blastomyces dermatitidis in a young, immunocompetent male. in addition, we review the literature to further characterize the syndrome of skeletal muscle blastomycosis.200919402207
north american blastomycosis of the eyelid.a 26-year-old diabetic man presented with a papillomatous eyelid lesion. histopathology was consistent with blastomyces dermatitidis. a 1-year course of itraconazole led to resolution in this case. although skin is the most common extrapulmonary site of blastomycosis, eyelid involvement is rare. prompt diagnosis and treatment improve morbidity and mortality.200919454939
blastomycosis: case report investigating a persistent pulmonary lesion in an immunocompromised patient.blastomycosis is a well known infection caused by blastomyces dermatitidis. it appears usually as a mild and self-limited disease, but disseminated cases are seen, especially in immunocompromised patients. in organ transplant recipients, fungal infections play an important role and in some cases can be fatal, but blastomycosis is a rare and uncommon condition in this setting and specifically in renal transplant patients. its occurrence is probably due to previous exposure, but sometimes there is ...200919678501
the role of voriconazole in the treatment of central nervous system blastomycosis.blastomycosis is an endemic mycosis caused by the dimorphic fungus blastomyces dermatitidis. although this disease primarily involves the lungs, the clinical spectrum of blastomycosis can range from subclinical infection to extrapulmonary dissemination. the central nervous system (cns) form of blastomycosis is primarily treated with an amphotericin b formulation, but associated toxicities of this agent preclude its use in some patients. voriconazole is a broad-spectrum triazole antifungal that h ...200919724015
a rare opportunistic infection in a woman with systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple skin lesions.cutaneous lesions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (sle) represent diagnostic challenges. opportunistic infections should be considered when lupus patients are on immunosuppressive therapy and other causes, such as disease activity, are less likely to explain the skin lesions. within the spectrum of skin opportunistic infections that might occur in sle patients, blastomyces dermatitidis should be suspected when acid-fast positive material with no bacilliform organisms is seen on zie ...200919762386
microecology of blastomyces dermatitidis: the ammonia hypothesis.the precise microecology of blastomyces dermatitidis is unknown, but the fungus has been associated with nitrogenous waste products and rapidly changing environmental conditions. ammonia accumulates in certain microenvironments, is toxic to most fungi, but may not be identified in processed soil samples. ammonia tolerance of b. dermatitidis was investigated with two strains recovered in wisconsin, one from a dog and the other from an environmental source. the samples were grown on phosphate and ...200919888807
attempted isolation of blastomyces dermatitidis from the nares of dogs: northern wisconsin, usa.the nasal cavities of domestic animals may concentrate and allow isolation of environmentally acquired fungal pathogens. we obtained two swabs each from the nares of 110 asymptomatic, physically normal dogs from a veterinary practice in eagle river, wi, usa, an area highly endemic for blastomycosis. four of the tested dogs had past histories of blastomycosis. samples were placed on yeast extract phosphate (smith's) media at 20 degrees c but growth of blastomyces dermatitidis was not observed on ...200919888812
clinical characteristics and outcomes in patients with pulmonary blastomycosis.blastomycosis is an uncommon granulomatous infection caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus blastomyces dermatitidis. the most frequent clinical infections involve the lung, skin, and bone. pulmonary manifestations range from asymptomatic self-limited infection to severe diffuse pneumonia causing respiratory failure.200918931937
two cases of recovery of dimorphic pathogenic fungi via conventional bact/alert microbial detection system media.we hereby report two instances of dimorphic fungus cultivation in bact/alert-based bacteriologic media, with the first such characterization of blastomyces dermatitidis. from a patient with disseminated coccidioidomycosis, routine blood cultures incubated on the mb/bact 3d microbial detection system generated a positive signal following 75 h of incubation. b. dermatitidis was isolated from a patient hospitalized with a four-week course of respiratory illness. organism detection from respiratory ...200919015951
pustular blastomycosis.blastomycosis is an infection caused by the dimorphic fungus blastomyces dermatitidis. infection can disseminate to skin, where characteristic ulcerative and verrucous plaques, sometimes studded with pustules, are typically seen. herein we report 3 patients, two children and one adult, with pustular blastomycosis. their cutaneous lesions exhibited a pustular morphology at the onset and throughout the course of their illness, without evolution to more typical verrucous or ulcerative plaques. thes ...200919615547
primary cutaneous blastomycosis as a cause of acute respiratory distress syndrom: case report and literature review.blastomycosis is a fungal infection caused by blastomyces dermatitidis. exposure in endemic regions frequently occurs when spores in soil are disturbed and subsequently inhaled. less commonly, primary cutaneous blastomycosis may follow after traumatic inoculation of the fungus into the skin. most patients infected with blastomycosis are asymptomatic, but an unfortunate small number present with fulminant disease. rarely, the infection can affect organs, such as the skin, bone, or genitourinary s ...200920729940
computed tomographic scan evaluation of pulmonary blastomycosis.blastomycosis is an uncommon granulomatous pulmonary and extrapulmonary infectious disease caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus blastomyces dermatitidis. diagnosis may be delayed or difficult because of varied presentation. the characteristics of blastomycosis on computed tomographic (ct) scan of the chest are not well characterized.200921119802
risk factors for acquisition of endemic blastomycosis.blastomycosis is potentially fatal, but environmental risk factors for acquiring blastomycosis are not well established.200921119803
genetic diversity in blastomyces dermatitidis: implications for pcr detection in clinical and environmental samples.blastomycosis is a serious and potentially fatal infection caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus blastomyces dermatitidis. polymerase chain reaction (pcr) assays targeting the bad-1 virulence gene promoter have been developed to aid in the detection of the pathogen in clinical and environmental samples. however, little is known regarding the genetic diversity of b. dermatitidis and how this might affect the performance characteristics of these assays. we explored the genetic relatedness of 10 ...201019626547
collectins and fungal pathogens: roles of surfactant proteins and mannose binding lectin in host resistance.collectins, collagenous carbohydrate-binding proteins (c-type lectins), are recognized as important factors in non-specific innate immune responses to pathogens. by binding surface carbohydrate structures of pathogens, collectins modify the interaction between pathogens and the immune system. we review the structure of the lung surfactant proteins (sp) sp-a and sp-d, and the serum collectins, mannose binding lectins; the binding of these collectins to pathogen associated molecular patterns or li ...201019639514
clinical and laboratory update on blastomycosis.blastomycosis is endemic in regions of north america that border the great lakes and the st. lawrence river, as well as in the mississippi river and ohio river basins. men are affected more often than women and children because men are more likely to participate in activities that put them at risk for exposure to blastomyces dermatitidis. human infection occurs when soil containing microfoci of mycelia is disturbed and airborne conidia are inhaled. if natural defenses in the alveoli fail to cont ...201020375357
pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile of posaconazole.posaconazole is a recently approved lipophilic triazole antifungal agent that exhibits potent and broad-spectrum antifungal activity in vitro and in vivo against most candida spp., cryptococcus neoformans, aspergillus spp., many zygomycetes, endemic fungi and dermatophytes. it has been documented that posaconazole has potency and spectrum of activity similar to those of itraconazole and superior to those of fluconazole against clinically important isolates of candida spp., c. neoformans and aspe ...201020481649
gastric lavage for the diagnosis of pulmonary blastomycosis in pediatric patients.a case of pulmonary blastomycosis in a pediatric patient diagnosed by gastric lavage is described. use of gastric lavage averted the need for more invasive diagnostic techniques including bronchoscopy. further study is required to define the sensitivity of gastric lavage for recovery of blastomyces dermatitidis from pediatric patients with pulmonary blastomycosis.201020622708
blastomycosis: case report of an isolated lesion in the distal fibula.blastomycosis (blastomyces dermatitidis) is a fungal infection that occurs primarily in the lungs, but 15% to 60% of patients with systemic blastomycosis have skeletal involvement. because the symptoms and radiographic appearance of bony lesions are variable, diagnosis and treatment may be delayed if fungal infections are not included in the differential diagnosis for a patient with a lytic bone lesion. we present the case of a man in his late 30s with no local or systemic signs of infection in ...201020463990
in situ hybridization for coccidioides immitis 5.8s ribosomal rna sequences in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded pulmonary specimens using a locked nucleic acid probe: a rapid means for identification in tissue sections.coccidioides immitis/coccidioides posadasii are common causes of pulmonary infection in certain geographic areas, and are highly infectious when working with culture isolates in the laboratory. rapid techniques to accurately identify this pathogen in tissues may be of benefit for diagnosis and in limiting the exposure of laboratory personnel to this agent. locked nucleic acids (lna) are modified nucleotides in which a ribonucleoside is linked between the 2'-oxygen and the 4'-carbon atoms with a ...201020502187
dynamic interplay among monocyte-derived, dermal, and resident lymph node dendritic cells during the generation of vaccine immunity to fungi.early innate events that enable priming of antifungal cd4 t cells are poorly understood. we engineered an attenuated fungal vaccine with a model epitope, ealpharfp, to track vaccine immunity to blastomyces dermatitidis during yeast recognition, antigen presentation, and priming of naive t cells. after subcutaneous injection of the vaccine, monocyte-derived inflammatory dendritic cells (dcs) are the earliest and largest population that associates with yeast, carrying them into the draining lymph ...201020542251
in vitro activity of isavuconazole against 140 reference fungal strains and 165 clinically isolated yeasts from japan.the in vitro susceptibilities of 140 laboratory reference strains of fungi, including type strains, and 165 clinical yeast isolates from japan towards isavuconazole compared with fluconazole (flc), itraconazole (itc), voriconazole and amphotericin b were measured. broth microdilution methods based on clinical and laboratory standards institute (clsi) methods were used for yeasts, and rpmi-mops medium semi-solidified with 0.2% low-melting-point agarose based on clsi guidelines was used for moulds ...201020674282
blastomycosis presenting as multiple splenic abscesses: case report and review of the literature.a 31-year-old canadian aboriginal man from northwestern ontario presented with left upper quadrant pain and a tender left upper quadrant mass. evaluation with a computed tomography scan showed multiple lesions within the spleen, a collection between the splenic tip and splenic flexure of the colon, and several small adrenal lesions. computed tomographic-guided needle biopsy showed necrotizing granulomatous inflammation and multinucleated giant cells. gomori's methenamine silver stain showed broa ...201021358886
[blastomycosis: report of an imported case in mexico, with only cutaneous lesions.]background: blastomycosis is a granulomatous infectious disease. it is caused by the dimorphus fungus blastomyces dermatitidis. it predominates in the united states of america, but in mexico two systemic imported cases have been reported. cutaneous primary blastomycosis is a rare clinical presentation, which occurs after traumatic inoculation of the fungus. objectives: we present a case of a 54 year old male, born in guadalajara, mexico, and living in chicago, usa, who had two verrucous nodules ...201020547240
disseminated blastomycosis diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration of the thyroid.blastomycosis is an uncommon disease caused by the dimorphic fungus blastomyces dermatitidis. it can manifest as chronic pulmonary symptoms or disseminated disease. only three previous cases of blastomycosis involving the thyroid have been reported, of which two were diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration. we present a case of disseminated blastomycosis initially diagnosed by thyroid fine-needle aspiration. our case was a 47-year-old man with past medical history significant for diabetes, hyperlipi ...201020949466
non-rural point source blastomycosis outbreak near a yard waste collection site.objective blastomycosis is a potentially fatal infection caused by the fungus blastomyces dermatitidis. during january 1 through march 5, 2006, 21 laboratory confirmed cases of blastomycosis were reported among residents of an endemic area in north-central wisconsin, a striking increase compared with previous years. the objective of study was to determine if an observed increase in blastomycosis among residents of an urban area in north-central wisconsin was caused by a point-source exposure and ...201020974888
primary blastomycosis of oral cavity.blastomycosis is an uncommon male-predominant disease caused by the fungus blastomyces dermatitidis. the lungs are most commonly affected, and other organs are usually involved by dissemination. clinical feature and pathohistologic findings are similar to the appearance of squamous cell carcinoma.201020072023
epidemiology of invasive mycoses in north america.the incidence of invasive mycoses is increasing, especially among patients who are immunocompromised or hospitalized with serious underlying diseases. such infections may be broken into two broad categories: opportunistic and endemic. the most important agents of the opportunistic mycoses are candida spp., cryptococcus neoformans, pneumocystis jirovecii, and aspergillus spp. (although the list of potential pathogens is ever expanding); while the most commonly encountered endemic mycoses are due ...201020088682
diagnosis of blastomycosis in surgical pathology and cytopathology: correlation with microbiologic culture.blastomycosis, a worldwide disease caused by the inhalation of blastomyces dermatitidis spores, can be diagnosed by microbiologic culture or morphologic identification in tissue or cytologic material. a retrospective review of cases diagnosed as blastomycosis in surgical pathology and cytopathology was undertaken at a university medical center to assess the diagnostic value of morphologic methods and their correlation with microbiologic cultures. surgical pathology/cytology records were reviewed ...201020090507
sentinel presentation of disseminated blastomyces dermatitidis infection as hip pain in a young adult: a case report. 201020124077
blastomycosis of the central nervous system: a multicenter review of diagnosis and treatment in the modern era.central nervous system (cns) involvement with blastomyces dermatitidis is an uncommon and potentially fatal complication of blastomycosis.201020166817
classic pyomyositis of the extremities as an unusual manifestation of blastomyces dermatitidis: a report of two cases.pyomyositis is an infection of skeletal muscle that, by definition, arises intramuscularly rather than secondarily from adjacent infection. it is usually associated with bacterial infection, particularly staphylcococcus aureus. fungi are rare causes, and blastomyces dermatitidis has not been reported previously. in this case series, we report two cases of pyomyositis caused by b. dermatitidis. cases were prospectively identified through routine clinical care at a single academic referral hospita ...201019496934
discordant influence of blastomyces dermatitidis yeast-phase-specific gene bys1 on morphogenesis and virulence.blastomyces dermatitidis is a thermally induced dimorphic fungus capable of causing lung and systemic infections in immunocompetent animal hosts. with the publication of genomic sequences from three different strains of b. dermatitidis and the development of rna interference as a gene-silencing tool, it has become possible to easily ascertain the virulence and morphological effects of knocking down the expression of candidate genes of interest. bys1 (blastomyces yeast-phase-specific 1), first id ...201020368350
sreb, a gata transcription factor that directs disparate fates in blastomyces dermatitidis including morphogenesis and siderophore biosynthesis.blastomyces dermatitidis belongs to a group of human pathogenic fungi that exhibit thermal dimorphism. at 22 degrees c, these fungi grow as mold that produce conidia or infectious particles, whereas at 37 degrees c they convert to budding yeast. the ability to switch between these forms is essential for virulence in mammals and may enable these organisms to survive in the soil. to identify genes that regulate this phase transition, we used agrobacterium tumefaciens to mutagenize b. dermatitidis ...201020368971
blastomycosis of the central nervous system in a child: a rare cause of hypopituitarism.blastomyces dermatitidis is a dimorphic fungus that can cause granulomatous lesions. typically, children present with respiratory symptoms. central nervous system involvement is unusual, and almost always associated with involvement of other organs. this case report, to our knowledge, is the first published case of an adolescent male presenting with panhypopituitarism secondary to a blastomycosis infection.201122145474
Pulmonary blastomycosis.BLASTOMYCES DERMATITIDIS is acquired in almost all cases via inhalation, and pulmonary disease is the most frequent clinical manifestation of blastomycosis. Pulmonary disease can range from asymptomatic infection to rapidly severe and fatal disease. Most cases will present as pneumonia, either acute or chronic, or as a lung mass. In rare cases pulmonary blastomycosis is associated with the acute respiratory distress syndrome. Blastomycosis can present as isolated pulmonary disease or along with ...201122167402
[blastomycosis in morocco: imported mycosis].blastomycosis is a rare case. we report a first moroccan case. a 41-year-old male presented with a 6-month history of dyspnea, fever and significant chest pain associated with night sweats and weight loss. the physical examination disclosed a firm painful paravertebral mass. the chest radiograph demonstrated a left apical opacity. the thoracic scan showed parenchymal infiltration of the apico-dorsal segment of the left upper lobe with vertebral and costal lytic lesions. surgical biopsy showed gr ...201122305137
isolation of histoplasma capsulatum and blastomyces dermatitidis from iraqi patients with lower respiratory tract infections.one hundred and fifty immunocompetent and 150 presumably immunocompromised patients suffering from lower respiratory tract infections were enrolled in this study. the clinical specimens were collected from april 2007 to june 2008 and included sputum (247), bronchial wash (80), and blood (300) samples. the identification process employed direct examination, culture, conversion test, and serological study. among 218 fungal isolates only six were categorized as true pathogenic fungi; two histoplasm ...201123610487
terbinafine pharmacokinetics after single dose oral administration in the dog.terbinafine is an allylamine antifungal prescribed for the treatment of mycoses in humans. it is increasingly being used in veterinary patients. the purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic properties of terbinafine in dogs after a single oral dose. ten healthy adult dogs were included in the study. a single dose of terbinafine (30-35 mg/kg) was administered orally, and blood samples were periodically collected over a 24 h period during which dogs were monitored for adverse effe ...201121599768
a tcr transgenic mouse reactive with multiple systemic dimorphic fungi.dimorphic fungi collectively account for 5-10 million new infections annually worldwide. ongoing efforts seek to clarify mechanisms of cellular resistance to these agents and develop vaccines. a major limitation in studying the development of protective t cells in this group of organisms is the lack of tools to detect, enumerate, and characterize fungus-specific t cells during vaccination and infection. we generated a tcr transgenic mouse (bd 1807) whose cd4(+) t cells respond to a native epitop ...201121705621
population genetic structure of clinical and environmental isolates of blastomyces dermatitidis, based on 27 polymorphic microsatellite markers.blastomyces dermatitidis, a thermally dimorphic fungus, is the etiologic agent of north american blastomycosis. clinical presentation is varied, ranging from silent infections to fulminant respiratory disease and dissemination to skin and other sites. exploration of the population genetic structure of b. dermatitidis would improve our knowledge regarding variation in virulence phenotypes, geographic distribution, and difference in host specificity. the objective of this study was to develop and ...201121705544
coccidioides, cryptococcus, or blastomyces? a diagnostic dilemma encountered during frozen section evaluation.abstract intra-operative consultation via frozen section is an important part of modern day surgical pathology. recognizing fungi in tissues on frozen and permanent sections is not always a simple task and correctly identifying the agent can be a significant challenge, even for experienced microscopists. we present a case of a 17 year old boy with chronic osteomyelitis involving the right proximal ulna. during an irrigation and debridement operation, a frozen section was sent to surgical patholo ...201121815826
protein profiling of the dimorphic pathogenic fungus, sporothrix schenckii.sporotrichosis is a common cutaneous mycosis caused by the dimorphic fungus sporothrix schenckii, which exhibits a temperature-dependent dimorphic switch. at 25-¦c, it grows in a mycelial phase, while at 37-¦c, it forms unicellular yeast cells. the formation of yeast cells was thought to be a requisite for the pathogenicity of s. schenckii. to identify fragments that might be related to morphogenesis, whole-cell proteins from the mold and early yeast stages of s. schenckii were analyzed using 2d ...201121842181
Mycotic mastitis in three dogs due to Blastomyces dermatitidis.Canine blastomycosis is a common systemic fungal infection within the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys and typically presents as pneumonia, lymphadenitis, or endophthalmitis. This report describes three cases in which mammary tissue samples were submitted to the Department of Pathobiology, University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine with clinical suspicion of neoplasia or postpartum bacterial mastitis. Pyogranulomatous to granulomatous mastitis and dermatitis with intralesional yea ...201121852517
detection of yeasts in blood cultures by the luminex xtag fungal assay.a multiplex-pcr luminex xmap bead probe fluid array using xtag analyte-specific reagents (multiplex xtag fungal asr assay) was employed for detection of clinically significant candida species, cryptococcus neoformans, histoplasma capsulatum, and blastomyces dermatitidis from blood cultures. we tested 132 blood cultures negative (n = 10) or positive (n = 97) for yeasts and/or bacteria (n = 25). the assay showed sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 99%, respectively. the xtag fungal asr assay i ...201122170902
Treatment of chronic pulmonary blastomycosis with caspofungin.Current practice guidelines recommend that pulmonary blastomycosis be treated with antifungal agents such as amphotericin B and itraconazole. Echinocandins are not recommended because of poor in vitro activity against Blastomyces dermatitidis and lack of supporting clinical data. We report a case of chronic pulmonary blastomycosis treated successfully with caspofungin.201121852530
blastomyces dermatitidis prostatic and testicular infection in eight dogs (1992-2005).this was a retrospective case study of eight dogs diagnosed with prostatic or testicular b. dermatitidis infection. signalment, clinical presentation, diagnostic procedures, and treatment options were evaluated. review of medical records of dogs diagnosed with blastomycosis at the university of illinois veterinary teaching hospital from 1992 to 2005 yielded four dogs with prostatic blastomycosis (pb) and four dogs with testicular blastomycosis (tb). three of the four dogs with pb and all four do ...201122058348
intracranial extension of retrobulbar blastomycosis (blastomyces dermatitidis) in a dog.blastomycosis (blastomyces dermatitidis) is a fungal disease that is endemic in the southern united states. this case report illustrates the clinical, mri and histopathologic findings in a dog with invasion of a retrobulbar blastomycotic lesion into the calvarium. a 5-year-old intact female weimaraner was referred for a 2-month history of change in behavior and recent onset of visual deficits. magnetic resonance imaging (mri) examination revealed a large (5.8 × 2.0 × 2.5 cm) mass extending from ...201121366831
safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a recombinant, genetically engineered, live-attenuated vaccine against canine blastomycosis.blastomycosis is a severe, commonly fatal infection caused by the dimorphic fungus blastomyces dermatitidis in dogs that live in the united states, canada, and parts of africa. the cost of treating an infection can be expensive, and no vaccine against this infection is commercially available. a genetically engineered live-attenuated strain of b. dermatitidis lacking the major virulence factor bad-1 successfully vaccinates against lethal experimental infection in mice. here we studied the safety, ...201121367980
blastomyces dermatitidis yeast cells inhibit nitric oxide production by alveolar macrophage inducible nitric oxide synthase.the ability of pathogens to evade host antimicrobial mechanisms is crucial to their virulence. the dimorphic fungal pathogen blastomyces dermatitidis can infect immunocompetent patients, producing a primary pulmonary infection that can later disseminate to other organs. b. dermatitidis possesses a remarkable ability to resist killing by alveolar macrophages. to date, no mechanism to explain this resistance has been described. here, we focus on macrophage production of the toxic molecule nitric o ...201121444664
temporal and spatial distribution of blastomycosis cases among humans and dogs in illinois (2001-2007).objective-to compare the temporal and spatial distribution of cases of blastomycosis among humans and dogs in illinois. design-retrospective cross-sectional survey. sample-human and canine populations in illinois from 2001 through 2007. procedures-for each year, human population data were obtained from the us census bureau, and the total number of dogs was estimated by use of a human population-based formula. data regarding infections with blastomyces dermatitidis in humans were accessed from th ...201121801047
a case of solitary blastomyces dermatitidis meningitis.we present a case of a 35 year-old male with blastomyces dermatitidis meningitis as the primary presentation of blastomycosis infection, without evidence of involvement outside the cns at time of discharge. we focus on the magnetic resonance imaging findings, with histopathologic correlation.201121530072
detection of blastomyces dermatitidis and histoplasma capsulatum from culture isolates and clinical specimens using real-time pcr.blastomyces dermatitidis and histoplasma capsulatum are dimorphic fungi that often cause self-limited respiratory infections. however, they may also cause severe disseminated disease depending on the level of the exposure to the organism and the host immune status. in addition, patients with infections caused by these fungi may have very similar clinical presentations. although microbiologic culture is a standard method for detecting these pathogens, their recovery may require days to weeks and ...201121752970
a multicenter study of histoplasmosis and blastomycosis after solid organ transplantation.s.a. grim, l. proia, r. miller, m. alhyraba, a. costas-chavarri, j. oberholzer, n.m. clark. a multicenter study of histoplasmosis and blastomycosis after solid organ transplantation. transpl infect dis 2011. all rights reserved aim. a review of the clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes of 30 solid organ transplant recipients (sotrs) with histoplasmosis or blastomycosis from 3 midwestern academic medical centers. background. the endemic fungal pathogens, histoplasma capsulatum ...201121749587
comparative genomics allowed the identification of drug targets against human fungal pathogens.the prevalence of invasive fungal infections (ifis) has increased steadily worldwide in the last few decades. particularly, there has been a global rise in the number of infections among immunosuppressed people. these patients present severe clinical forms of the infections, which are commonly fatal, and they are more susceptible to opportunistic fungal infections than non-immunocompromised people. ifis have historically been associated with high morbidity and mortality, partly because of the li ...201121272313
fungalrv: adhesin prediction and immunoinformatics portal for human fungal pathogens.abstract:201121496229
rapid in-situ hybridization for dematiaceous fungi using a broad-spectrum oligonucleotide dna probe.dematiaceous fungi are a diverse group of "darkly" pigmented fungi, which contain melanin in their cell walls and are commonly found in soil worldwide. although morphology and histochemical stains may aid identification in tissue sections, these means for species identification are not specific. in-situ hybridization (ish) for abundant fungal rrna sequences may provide a means for detecting dematiaceous fungi. in this study, a 24-base synthetic biotin-labeled oligonucleotide probe targeting rrna ...201121817900
limited model antigen expression by transgenic fungi induces disparate fates during differentiation of adoptively transferred t cell receptor transgenic cd4+ t cells: robust activation and proliferation with weak effector function during recall.cd4(+) t cells are the key players of vaccine resistance to fungi. the generation of effective t cell-based vaccines requires an understanding of how to induce and maintain cd4(+) t cells and memory. the kinetics of fungal antigen (ag)-specific cd4(+) t cell memory development has not been studied due to the lack of any known protective epitopes and clonally restricted t cell subsets with complementary t cell receptors (tcrs). here, we investigated the expansion and function of cd4(+) t cell mem ...201122124658
What is your neurologic diagnosis? Blastomyces dermatitidis encephalitis. 201121879956
evaluation of the detection of melanin by the fontana-masson silver stain in tissue with a wide range of organisms including cryptococcus.it is not uncommon for surgical pathologists to encounter yeast and yeast-like organisms in tissue sections, and correct identification is imperative for guiding therapy. the fontana-masson silver stain for detecting melanin has been accepted as a relatively specific stain for diagnosing cryptococcosis in tissue based on few studies with limited numbers of organisms. this study was designed to test the value of the fontana-masson silver by investigating a large collection of tissues with infecti ...201122154051
detection of blastomyces dermatitidis antigen in patients with newly diagnosed blastomycosis.blastomycosis is a serious and potentially fatal infection, and diagnosis can be difficult at times. we evaluated the diagnostic utility of a commercially available assay for detection of blastomyces dermatitidis antigen, recently modified to permit quantitation, in subjects with newly diagnosed blastomycosis. twenty-three of 27 (85.1%) subjects had detectable b. dermatitidis antigenuria. in 2 of these 23, positive results were obtained after concentration of the urine specimen. nine of 11 (81.8 ...201121251563
prp8 intein in ajellomycetaceae family pathogens: sequence analysis, splicing evaluation and homing endonuclease activity.inteins are intervening sequences that are transcribed and translated with flanking host protein sequences and then self-excised by protein splicing. bi-functional inteins also contain a homing endonuclease responsible for their genetic mobility. the prp8 intein, the most widespread among fungi, occurs in important pathogens such as histoplasma capsulatum and paracoccidioides brasiliensis, from the ajellomycetaceae family. herein, we describe the bi-functional prp8 intein in two other ajellomyce ...201120682355
effects of season and weather on blastomycosis in dogs: northern wisconsin, usa.dogs and humans acquire blastomyces dermatitidis infections from the same incompletely defined habitat. studies of blastomycosis cases have not consistently demonstrated seasonality or significant antecedent climate effects. to determine the distribution of disease by season, we studied over 18 years 219 dogs with blastomycosis from a single veterinary practice in northern wisconsin. the 202 vilas county dog addresses were compared to 200 random-number selected addresses from the practice regist ...201120491530
genomic evidence of repeat-induced point mutation (rip) in filamentous ascomycetes.the genomes of 49 filamentous ascomycetes (subphylum pezizomycotina) were examined by two independent methods for evidence of multiple c→t transitions typical of rip. at least one transposable element or other repeat family was identified in each genome, and members were assessed for transition and transversion mutations relative to a model of their intact progenitor. occurrence of rip was indicated where family members differed by excess of directional transitions over transversions. transition ...201120854921
vaccine-induced protection against 3 systemic mycoses endemic to north america requires th17 cells in mice.worldwide rates of systemic fungal infections, including three of the major pathogens responsible for such infections in north america (coccidioides posadasii, histoplasma capsulatum, and blastomyces dermatitidis), have soared recently, spurring interest in developing vaccines. the development of th1 cells is believed to be crucial for protective immunity against pathogenic fungi, whereas the role of th17 cells is vigorously debated. in models of primary fungal infection, some studies have shown ...201121206087
blastomycosis in children and adolescents: a 30-year experience from manitoba.blastomyces dermatitidis, a thermally dimorphic fungus endemic to areas of north america, causes a granulomatous infection which may affect any organ system. since limited clinical data exist about pediatric blastomycosis, we conducted a retrospective review of medical records of pediatric patients with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of blastomycosis treated during a 30-year period at a tertiary care center. thirty-four pediatric patients with blastomycosis were identified (20 [59%] male), wit ...201121208027
retroperitoneal pyogranulomatous and fibrosing inflammation secondary to fungal infections in two dogs.a 4-year-old spayed female golden retriever (dog 1) was examined because of acute edema and erythema in the left hind limb and an inguinal mass, and a 5-year-old female jack russell terrier (dog 2) was examined because of a recurring retro-peritoneal mass.201121235375
blastomycosis in man after kinkajou bite.we report transmission of blastomyces dermatitidis fungal infection from a pet kinkajou to a man. when treating a patient with a recalcitrant infection and a history of an animal bite, early and complete animal necropsy and consideration of nonbacterial etiologies are needed.201121291603
real-time pcr assay for identification of blastomyces dermatitidis in culture and in tissue.the taqman real-time pcr assay was developed from the blastomyces dermatitidis bad1 gene promoter. the assay identified all haplotypes of b. dermatitidis and five of six positive paraffin-embedded tissues. the assay sensitivity threshold was 1 pg genomic dna of the mold form and 2 cfu of the yeast form of b. dermatitidis. no cross-reactivity was observed against other fungal dna. the assay allowed rapid (5-h) identification of b. dermatitidis from culture and from clinical specimens.201222403418
blastomycosis presenting as solitary nodule: a rare presentation.blastomycosis is a chronic granulomatous and suppurative mycosis, caused by blastomyces dermatitidis, which in the great majority of cases presents as a primary pulmonary disease. primary cutaneous blastomycosis is very rare. we present a 57-year-old female patient with a solitary, slowly progressive nodule over upper lip of 2½ months duration. initially, differential diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis, pyoderma and deep mycoses were entertained. slit smear preparation was suspicious of deep m ...201222615513
dual infection with pythium insidiosum and blastomyces dermatitidis in a dog.a 4-year-old male neutered labrador retriever with severe gastrointestinal signs, but no respiratory signs, was diagnosed with multifocal pyogranulomatous gastritis, enteritis, and lymphadenitis with intralesional hyphae and multifocal pyogranulomatous pneumonia with intralesional yeast. based on cytologic evaluation, histologic examination with special stains, and immunohistochemical analysis of tissues collected antemortem or at necropsy, dual infections with pythium insidiosum and blastomyces ...201222747656
blastomycosis presenting as a nonhealing wound.a 41-year-old man was referred to the wound clinic for an enlarging 9.5 x 14-cm ulceration of the right upper arm of 8 months' duration. a biopsy was obtained, and fungal stains showed broad-based budding spores typical of blastomycosis. he was treated with oral itraconazole, and the ulcer healed in 2 months. blastomycosis is a systemic fungal infection acquired by inhalation of the spores of the fungus blastomyces dermatitidis. initially a pulmonary infection, the skin is the most common second ...201222713783
unusual osseous presentation of blastomycosis in an immigrant child: a challenge for european pediatricians.blastomycosis, caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus blastomyces dermatitidis is a systemic pyogranulomatous infection, endemic in united states and canada, with few reported cases in africa and asia. it is uncommon among children and adolescents, ranging from 3% to 10%. clinical features vary from asymptomatic spontaneously healing pneumonia, through acute or chronic pneumonia, to a malignant appearing lung mass. blastomycosis can originate a "metastatic disease" in the skin, bones, genitour ...201223228191
expression of paracoccidioides brasiliensis amy1 in a histoplasma capsulatum amy1 mutant, relates an α-(1,4)-amylase to cell wall α-(1,3)-glucan synthesis.in the cell walls of the pathogenic yeast phases of paracoccidioides brasiliensis, blastomyces dermatitidis and histoplasma capsulatum, the outer α-(1,3)-glucan layer behaves as a virulence factor. in h. capsulatum, an α-(1,4)-amylase gene (amy1) is essential for the synthesis of this polysaccharide, hence related to virulence. an orthologous gene to h. capsulatum amy1 was identified in p. brasiliensis and also labeled amy1. p. brasiliensis amy1 transcriptional levels were increased during the y ...201223185578
blastomycosis.blastomycosis is a systemic mycosis with a high prevalence in the midwest of the united states. the fungus inhabits soil, and human infection occurs through inhalation. its asexual phase is called blastomyces dermatitidis and its sexual phase, ajellomyces dermatitidis. it is more common in men. signs and symptoms are usually severe, starting with an infection resembling pneumonia that later disseminates to the skin, bones, and central nervous system. infection in dogs is common in endemic areas. ...201223068144
blastomycosis: a case report and review of the literature.blastomycosis is a chronic granulomatous and suppurative mycosis caused by the fungus blastomyces dermatitidis. this is a dimorphic fungus, which exists as a non-pathogenic mold in mycelial form in nature and converts to pathogenic yeast at body temperature. infection is acquired by either inhalation or inoculation. we report a case of blastomycosis with severe involvement of the scalp, face, and neck, with no evidence of systemic involvement.201222909365
tc17 cells mediate vaccine immunity against lethal fungal pneumonia in immune deficient hosts lacking cd4+ t cells.vaccines may help reduce the growing incidence of fungal infections in immune-suppressed patients. we have found that, even in the absence of cd4(+) t-cell help, vaccine-induced cd8(+) t cells persist and confer resistance against blastomyces dermatitidis and histoplasma capsulatum. type 1 cytokines contribute to that resistance, but they also are dispensable. although the role of t helper 17 cells in immunity to fungi is debated, il-17 producing cd8(+) t cells (tc17 cells) have not been investi ...201222829762
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