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Project 6 of the NCCR ‘Neural Plasticity and Repair’ focuses on mechanisms of immunity and tissue damage in autoimmune and infectious diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). In one of the subprojects, the influence of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) on the immune reactivity of the CNS was investigated. In mice with Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced meningitis, a deletion of TGF-β receptor II on leukocytes is found to enhance recruitment of neutrophils to the site of infection and to promote bacterial clearance. The improved host defense against S. pneumoniae was associated with an almost complete prevention of meningitis-induced vasculitis, a major intracranial complication leading to brain damage. The data show that endogenous TGF-β suppresses host defense against bacterial infection in the CNS. This contrasts with findings from other body compartments that suggested that TGF-β is a powerful chemotactic cytokine and increases microbial clearance.

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Summary: Phaeohyphomycotic cyst developed on the little finger of the right hand of a 74‐year‐old man following a burn. The diagnosis was made by histopathologic examination of the excised cyst and by isolation of the causal agent in pure culture. The excised cyst walls contained large numbers of dematiaceous, fungal elements in the form of hyphae, yeast‐like cells, toruloid hyphae, chains of catenulate cells, and some cells dividing internally by a transverse septum. The colonies of the isolate on Sabouraud dextrose agar were black to olivaceous black, smooth, shiny, and yeast‐like. Three‐week‐old colonies developed dematiaceous mycelium and conidiophores that were macronematous, branched or unbranched, septate, and smooth‐walled. The conidiogenous cells were monophialidic or, rarely, polyphialidic with very reduced collarettes that produced I‐celled conidia at their tips. When tested by the exoantigen procedure, the isolate gave positive serologic reactions to Wangiella dermatitidis. Based on these cultural and immunological characteristics, the isolate was identified as W. dermatitidis. Zusammenfassung: Eine phaeohyphomykotische Zyste entwickelte sich am kleinen Finger der rechten Hand bei einem 74jährigen Mann im Anschluß an eine Verbrennung. Die Diagnose wurde durch die histologische Untersuchung und durch die Isolierung des Erregers in Reinkultur bewiesen. Im Zystenwall fanden sich zahlreiche pigmentierte Pilzelemente als Hyphen, hefeähnliche Zellen, toruloide Hyphen, kettenartige Zellanordungen sowie mitunter als Zellen, die sich durch Ausbildung eines inneren transversen Septums teilten. Die Kolonien des isolierten Pilzes wuchsen auf Sabouraud‐Dextrose‐Agar schwarz‐ bis dunkelolivfarben, glatt, glänzend und hefeähnlich. Drei Wochen alte Kolonien entwickelten pigmentiertes Myzel und verzweigte oder unverzweigte, spetierte und glattwandige Konidiophoren. Die Konidien‐bildenden Zellen waren einreihig oder selten mehrreihig und bildeten einzellige Konidien an der Spitze. Eine serologische Testung mit Antiserum gegen Exoantigen gab positive Reaktionen auf Wangiella dermatitidis. Aufgrund der erhobenen Befunde wurde der Erreger als W. dermatitidis identifiziert.