In view of the lack of researches on otomycosis in Brazil, we have tried to study their incidence, their clinical characteristics and the predispondent factors. During one year, 22 suspected cases were seen, 20 of them corresponded to otomycosis infections. The most frequent species were Aspergillus niger (35%) and Candida albicans (20%). The genus Aspergillus represented 75% of the isolates. Itching and hyperaemia (70%), otalgia (65%), hipoacusia (50%) were the commonest signs. Lack of cerumen (70%) chronic otitis (30%) previous antibiotic therapy and eczema (25%) were the most outstanding predispondent factors.
Pseudochoricystis ellipsoidea is a recently isolated unicellular green alga, which is classified within the family Trebouxiophyceae. This alga has a unique ability to synthesize and accumulate intracellularly a significant amount of aliphatic hydrocarbons. To elucidate molecular mechanisms of the hydrocarbon production in this organism, the development of genetic methods including DNA transformation methods are important. Towards the goal, we constructed several plasmids in which neomycin phosphotransferase II-encoding G418-resistant gene (nptII) is flanked by a P. ellipsoidea-derived promoter and terminator. These plasmids were introduced into P. ellipsoidea cells through particle-gun bombardment, and transformants were screened among G418-resistant cells by PCR amplification of plasmid-borne genes. Southern blot analysis demonstrated that the exogenous DNA was integrated into the genome of the transformants. Furthermore, the expression of nptII was confirmed at the transcript and protein levels by RT-PCR and immunoblot analyses, respectively. These results clearly indicated that a genetic transformation system was successfully established for P. ellipsoidea.
The major allergen (named Oct v 1) in the muscle of the octopus Octopus vulgaris was purified by gel filtration on Sephacryl S‐300, anion‐exchange fast protein liquid chromatography on Mono Q and reverse‐phase high‐pressure liquid chromatography on TSKgel Octadecyl‐4PW. In addition to the molecular mass, amino acid composition and cross‐reactivity with Tur c 1 (turban shell Turbo cornutus allergen), the determined partial amino acid sequence clearly demonstrated that Oct v 1 is tropomyosin, similar to the known molluscan and crustacean allergens. Using peptide fragments isolated from the lysylendopeptidase digest of Oct v 1, competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbant assay inhibition experiments showed that IgE‐binding epitopes of Oct v 1 are contained in two peptides (77–112 and 148–160) in the central region and one peptide (269–281) in the C‐terminal region. In the peptide 77–112, the same sequence as the IgE‐binding epitope proposed for Cra g 1 (oyster Crassostrea gigas allergen) is recognized at 92‐105. Moreover, the peptide 148‐160 partly overlaps with the IgE‐binding epitopes suggested for Pen i 1 (shrimp Penaeus indicus allergen) and Pen a 1 (shrimp Penaeus aztecus allergen), and the peptide 269–281 with those for Tur c 1 and Pen a 1.
We herein report the case of an 84-year-old who developed pneumonia after drowning in a rice field. Besides Aspergillus fumigatus, many pathogens previously not reported in drowning-associated pneumonia (such as Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas putida, Nocardia niigatensis, and Cunninghamella sp.) were isolated from his sputum. He received sulbactam/ampicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, voriconazole, levofloxacin and liposomal amphotericin B, but died due to respiratory failure. Because the patient had drowned in a contaminated stagnant rice field and had multiple lung cavities, zygomycosis was suspected. This report provides invaluable information for the consideration of zygomycosis after an individual drowning in a rice field, even in an immunocompetent patient.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.