Objective To make a clinical and mycological analysis of tinea capitis in Guangzhou region. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 241 cases of tinea capitis collected from Feb, 1997 to Aug, 2010 in the Department of Dermatology, Sun Yet-sen Memorial Hospital. Results Among the 241 cases, 179 (74.27%) were tinea alba, 34 (14.11%) tinea kerion, 28 (11.62%) black dot ringworm, and no favus was observed. The dominant pathogenic fungi in decreasing order were Microsporum canis (182,80.89%), Trichophyton violaceum (25, 11.11%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes (10, 4.44%), Trichophyton tonsurans (3, 1.33%), Trichophyton rubrum (2, 0.89%), Microsporum gypseum (2, 0.89%) and Trichophyton verrucosum (1, 0.44%). Children were the main population (39.00%) suffering from tinea capitis. Conclusions In Guangzhou region, tinea alba is the most common type of tinea capitis, Microsporum canis is the main causative pathogen, and children are the predominate population affected by tinea capitis.

A recombinant plasmid containing cathepsin B endopeptidase of Schistosoma japonicum(Sjcb2)was constructed,indentified by PCR,restrictive enzyme,digestion and DNA sequencing,and expressed into mammalian cells.Immunochemistry examination showed that the Sjcb2 gene can be expressed in the eukaryotic system,providing a basis for the development of schistosome DNA vaccine.

Objective To evaluate the performance of nested PCR in the detection of different fungi in paraffin wax embedded tissues. Methods Forty-four tissue samples were resected from rats infected with Fonsecaea monophora, patients with chromoblastomycosis, sporotrichosis or penicilliposis marneffei followed by preparation of paraffin wax embedded tissue sections for pathological examination and DNA extraction. Nested PCR was performed by using specific primers targeting the ribosomal DNA of Fonsecaea, Sporothrix and Penicillium marneffei, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of nested PCR were analyzed and compared with those of pathological examination. Results The nested PCR showed positive results in 8 of 20 samples from rats with chromoblastomycosis, 7 of 10 samples from patients with sporotrichosis and all of the 10 samples from patients with penicilliposis marneffei, but not in the control samples. In the detection of Fonsecaea,Sporothrix schenki and Penicillium marneffei, the sensitivity was 40% ,70% and 100%, respectively, and the specificity was consistently 100%, for the nested PCR. Pathological examination revealed fungal elements in 95%, 70% and 80% of the corresponding samples, respectively. Conclusion Detection of fungal DNA in paraffin wax embedded tissue by nested PCR can be applied to the diagnosis of deep mycosis, especially to the diagnosis of penicilliposis marneffei.

Objective To evaluate the role of complement receptor 3 (CR3) on murine macrophages in the recognition of Penicillium marneffei.Methods RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells were cultured in vitro,and divided into four groups to be cocultured with inactivated and live Penicillium mameffei yeast cells as well as inactivated and live Penicillium marneffei conidia respectively at 37 ℃ in 5％ CO2 for one hour.The RAW264.7 cells incubated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) served as the blank control group.Then,reverse transcription-PCR was conducted to detect CR3 mRNA expression,Western blot to measure CR3 protein expression,flow cytometry to determine phagocytosis rate,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify cytokine levels in culture supernatant.Some RAW264.7 macrophages were transfected with a specific siRNA targeting CR3 gene and cocultured with inactivated Penicillium marneffei conidia,subsequently,phagocytosis rate and supematant cytokine levels were determined.Data were processed by the SPSS 16.0 software,and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted for inter-group comparisons of these parameters.Results No significant differences were observed in the mRNA or protein expressions of CR3 among the four groups of RAW264.7 cells cocuhured with different forms of Penicillium marneffei (both P ＞ 0.05).The phagocytosis rate was 95.14％,89.56％,91.03％ and 90.78％ in RAW264.7 cells cocultured with inactivated conidia and yeast cells,as well as live conidia and yeast cells of Penicillium marneffei,respectively (P ＞ 0.05).The levels of interleukin (IL)-2,interferon (IFN)-γ,IL-4 and IL-10 in culture supernatant were increased at different degrees after one-hour coculture in the four coculture groups compared with the blank control group,but no statistical difference was noted among the four coculture groups in the supernatant levels of these cytokines (all P ＞ 0.05).After coculture with inactivated Penicillium marneffei conidia,the siRNA-transfected RAW264.7 cells showed a statistical decrease in phagocytosis rate (10.89％ vs.92.78％,P ＜ 0.05) and supernatant levels of IL-2,IFN-γ IL-4 and IL-10 compared with untransfected RAW264.7 cells.Conclusions In early stage of innate immunity,CR3 on macrophages may be one of the pattern recognition receptors participating in the recognition and mediation of phagocytosis of Penicillium marneffei.It's possible that both Thl-and Th2-type cytokines,such as IL-2,IFN-γ,IL-4 and IL-10,are involved in the immune response of macrophages against Penicillium marneffei.

We report a case of cutaneous and subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Exophiala jeanselmei after renal transplantation in Guangdong. A 66-year-old man who had a renal transplantation 6 years ago was admitted in October 2011 for the presence of 16 nodules (0.5-1.5 cm) found on his right middle finger, wrist and forearm for 5 months. Microscopic examination of the purulent exudate showed segmented and branched brown mycelium, and tissue biopsy and PAS staining showed fungal hyphae. The isolate was processed for morphological identification and molecular sequence analysis. A black colony was found after culture of the isolate on SDA at 26 degrees Celsius;, and small culture identified the isolate as Exophiala jeanselmei. ITS sequence analysis of the isolate showed a 100% homology with Exophiala jeanselmei. E-test strip was used in drug sensitivity test, and the isolate was sensitive to amphotericin B, voriconazole, itraconazole and fluconazole, but resistant to 5-flucytosine and caspofungin. Good response was obtained with surgical intervention, local injection and systemic antifungal treatment.
Aged ; Exophiala ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Phaeohyphomycosis ; etiology ; Postoperative Complications

We report a case of chromoblastomycosis caused by , which was successfully treated by long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd: YAG laser combined with terbinafine. A 60-year-old man was admitted for the presence of a 30 mm×40 mm erythematous plaque on the dorsum of his right hand for about 10 months without any subjective symptoms. Both microscopic examination and tissue biopsy of the lesion showed characteristic sclerotic bodies of chromoblastomycosis. Lesion tissue culture on SDA at 26 ℃ for 2 weeks resulted in a black colony, and slide culture identified the isolate as Fonsecaea species. ITS sequence analysis of the isolate showed a 99% homology with strain KX078407. The susceptibility of the isolate to 9 antifungal agents was determined using the microdilution method according to the guidelines of CLSI M38-A2 protocol, and terbinafine showed the lowest MIC (0.125 μg/ml). We subsequently established a Wistar rat model of chromoblastomycosis using the clinical isolate and treated the rats with long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd: YAG laser (pulse width of 3.0 ms, fluence of 24 J/cm, spot size of 3 mm, frequency of 4 Hz, repeated 3 times at an interval of 30 s) twice a week for a total of 8 sessions. Although the laser treatment alone was not able to eliminate the fungi, histopathological examination showed the aggregation of numerous lymphocytes in the local affected tissue, indicating an immune response that consequently facilitate the regression of the lesion. The patient was successfully treated by long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd: YAG laser once a week combined with terbinafine (0.25 /bid) for 8 weeks, and follow-up for 20 months did not reveal any signs of recurrence.
Animals ; Chromoblastomycosis ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; Lasers, Solid-State ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Terbinafine ; Treatment Outcome

The secondary structures of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and the cellular proteins that bind to them are important for modulating both translation and RNA replication. However, the sets of RNA-binding proteins involved in the regulation of HCV translation, replication and encapsidation remain unknown. Here, we identified RNA binding motif protein 24 (RBM24) as a host factor participated in HCV translation and replication. Knockdown of RBM24 reduced HCV propagation in Huh7.5.1 cells. An enhanced translation and delayed RNA synthesis during the early phase of infection was observed in RBM24 silencing cells. However, both overexpression of RBM24 and recombinant human RBM24 protein suppressed HCV IRES-mediated translation. Further analysis revealed that the assembly of the 80S ribosome on the HCV IRES was interrupted by RBM24 protein through binding to the 5'-UTR. RBM24 could also interact with HCV Core and enhance the interaction of Core and 5'-UTR, which suppresses the expression of HCV. Moreover, RBM24 enhanced the interaction between the 5'- and 3'-UTRs in the HCV genome, which probably explained its requirement in HCV genome replication. Therefore, RBM24 is a novel host factor involved in HCV replication and may function at the switch from translation to replication.
Cells, Cultured ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Humans ; Protein Biosynthesis ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Virus Replication ; genetics