Some bacteria can feed on fungi, a phenomenon known as mycophagy. Here we show that a prophage tail-like protein (Bg_9562) is essential for mycophagy in Burkholderia gladioli strain NGJ1. The purified protein causes hyphal disintegration and inhibits growth of several fungal species. Disruption of the Bg_9562 gene abolishes mycophagy. Bg_9562 is a potential effector secreted by a type III secretion system (T3SS) and is translocated into fungal mycelia during confrontation. Heterologous expression of Bg_9562 in another bacterial species, Ralstonia solanacearum, confers mycophagous ability in a T3SS-dependent manner. We propose that the ability to feed on fungi conferred by Bg_9562 may help the bacteria to survive in certain ecological niches. Furthermore, considering its broad-spectrum antifungal activity, the protein may be potentially useful in biotechnological applications to control fungal diseases.

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Introduction: In the surgical management of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas the possibility of recurrences and residual tumours is always there. This study was undertaken to predict the prognostic factors determining recurrence of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma and to find out the usual sites of these tumours.Material and methods: The medical records of 95 patients with histologically proven juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma were reviewed retrospectively. The commonest surgical approach used was a combined transpalatal and transmaxillary approach with a lazy S incision. A conservative lateral infratemporal approach was used in three cases.Results: Complete removal of the juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma was achieved in 78 (82 per cent) of the cases in a single operation. A residual tumour was found in 17 (18 per cent) cases and recurrences occurred in 13 (13.7 per cent) cases.Conclusions: Extensions into the pterygoid fossa and basisphenoid, erosion of the clivus, intracranial extensions medial to the cavernous sinus, invasion of the sphenoid diploe through a widened pterygoid canal, feeders from the internal carotid artery, a young age and a residual tumour were risk factors found associated with recurrence of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma.

The approach facilitates direct tumor decompression and its retraction away from the brainstem without initially encountering the intracisternal cranial nerves and neuraxis. It provides multiple corridors for excising extensive posterior fossa tumors. Preoperative assessment of sigmoid sinus dominance, jugular bulb height, labyrinth, vein of Labbe, and space available through Trautman's triangle considerably helps in complication avoidance.

Children presenting with recurrent meningitis and CSF rhinorrhoea should be investigated for congenital inner-ear anomalies. In these cases CSF fistulae should be repaired using fibrin or cyanoacrylate glue and intra-operative continuous lumbar drainage; 3D FSE T2WI and 3D FIESTA MRI sequences of the inner ear are helpful.

Background: Aneurysmal bone cysts are relatively uncommon in the facial skeleton. These usually affect the mandible but origin from the coronoid process is even rarer. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a coronoid process aneurysmal bone cyst presenting as temporal fossa swelling.

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Classifying TM into medial and lateral, supra and infratentorial groups helps in deciding an appropriate and safe approach. Meticulously preserving venous sinuses is important since the risk of venous infarction cannot be predicted even with radiological good venous collaterization and apparent venous sinus blockade by tumor. Laterally situated tumors carry a better prognosis when compared to the medially situated ones. Leaving a small residual tumor in an effort to preserve important neurovascular structures does not obviate the expectation of a good long-term prognosis with minimal morbidity and low recurrence rates.