Identification and Cloning of Two Novel Allergens from the Lipophilic Yeast,Malassezia furfur

Yasueda, Hiroshi; Hashida-Okado, Takashi; Saito, Akemi; Uchida, Katsuhisa; Kuroda, Masanobu; Onishi, Yoshimi; Takahashi, Kazuo; Yamaguchi, Hideyo; Takesako, Kazutoh; Akiyama, Kazuo

doi:10.1006/bbrc.1998.8944

Cited by 59 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The next two antigens to be characterized, Mal f 2 and Mal f 3, were found to have masses of 21 and 20 kDa, respectively, under reducing conditions (480). Under nonreducing conditions, the masses were 42 and 40 kDa, respectively, suggesting that the antigens were dimers of a single protein, linked by disulfide bonds.…”

Section: Analysis Of the Antigens Present In Malasseziamentioning

confidence: 97%

Immunology of Diseases Associated withMalasseziaSpecies

2002

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SUMMARY Malassezia species are members of the human cutaneous commensal flora, in addition to causing a wide range of cutaneous and systemic diseases in suitably predisposed individuals. Studies examining cellular and humoral immune responses specific to Malassezia species in patients with Malassezia-associated diseases and healthy controls have generally been unable to define significant differences in their immune response. The use of varied antigenic preparations and strains from different Malassezia classifications may partly be responsible for this, although these problems can now be overcome by using techniques based on recent work defining some important antigens and also a new taxonomy for the genus. The finding that the genus Malassezia is immunomodulatory is important in understanding its ability to cause disease. Stimulation of the reticuloendothelial system and activation of the complement cascade contrasts with its ability to suppress cytokine release and downregulate phagocytic uptake and killing. The lipid-rich layer around the yeast appears to be pivotal in this alteration of phenotype. Defining the nonspecific immune response to Malassezia species and the way in which the organisms modulate it may well be the key to understanding how Malassezia species can exist as both commensals and pathogens.

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Section: Analysis Of the Antigens Present In Malasseziamentioning

confidence: 97%

Immunology of Diseases Associated withMalasseziaSpecies

2002

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“…The application of topical antifungal agents to AD patients decreases Malassezia colonization and the severity of eczematous lesions (2), suggesting that Malassezia species play a role in atopic dermatitis. In addition, several candidate Malassezia antigens have been implicated in the pathogenesis of AD (15,19,20,23,34).…”

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Antifungal Activities of Tacrolimus and Azole Agents against the Eleven Currently Accepted Malassezia Species

Sugita¹,

et al. 2005

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The lipophilic yeast Malassezia is an exacerbating factor in atopic dermatitis (AD) and colonizes the skin surface of patients with AD. With the goal of reducing the number of Malassezia cells, we investigated the antifungal activities of a therapeutic agent for AD, tacrolimus, and the azole agents itraconazole and ketoconazole against Malassezia species in vitro. We examined 125 strains of the 11 currently accepted Malassezia species by using the agar dilution method. All strains of the 11 Malassezia species were very susceptible to both azole agents, with MICs ranging from 0.016 to 0.25 g/ml. Tacrolimus had antifungal activities against half of the strains, with MICs ranging from 16 to 32 g/ml. Two of the major cutaneous floras, Malassezia globosa and Malassezia restricta, have several genotypes in the intergenic spacer region of the rRNA gene; the azole agents had slightly higher MICs for specific genotype strains of both microorganisms. A combination of azole agents and tacrolimus had a synergistic effect against Malassezia isolates, based on a fractional inhibitory index of 0.245 to 0.378. Our results provide the basis for testing these agents in future clinical trials to reduce the number of Malassezia cells colonizing the skin surface in patients with AD.Although lipophilic yeasts, Malassezia spp., colonize the skin surface of healthy individuals, they may also cause seborrheic dermatitis (SD), pityriasis (tinea) versicolor, and Malassezia folliculitis and may exacerbate atopic dermatitis (AD) (1). AD is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease. The standard treatment of AD is topical corticosteroids and topical immunomodulating agents, although some patients do not respond to these treatments. Cutaneous microorganisms are considered an exacerbating factor. Although large numbers of lipophilic Malassezia species organisms colonize the skin surfaces of both AD patients and healthy subjects, anti-Malassezia-specific immunoglobulin E antibody is detected only in AD patient sera (14,16,32). This is probably owing to the disrupted barrier function of the skin surface and the effects of scratching on sensitization to the organisms (30). The application of topical antifungal agents to AD patients decreases Malassezia colonization and the severity of eczematous lesions (2), suggesting that Malassezia species play a role in atopic dermatitis. In addition, several candidate Malassezia antigens have been implicated in the pathogenesis of AD (15,19,20,23,34).In 1996, the taxonomy of the genus Malassezia was revised by Guého et al. (8). The authors described seven species (Malassezia furfur, M. globosa, M. obtusa, M. restricta, M. slooffiae, M. sympodialis, and M. pachydermatis). Subsequently, Japanese researchers found another four new species: Malassezia dermatis (25), M. yamatoensis (28), M. japonica (27), and M. nana (11) were isolated from an AD patient, SD patients, a healthy individual, and an animal, respectively, between 2002 and 2004. At present, 11 species have been accepted in this genus. By use of the r...

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“…Application of topical antimycotic agents to AD patients decreases Malassezia colonization and the severity of eczematous lesions (2), suggesting that Malassezia species play a role in AD. In addition, several candidate Malassezia antigens have been implicated in the pathogenesis of AD (10,11,16,17,19,24).The taxonomy of the genus Malassezia was recently revised, primarily by using rRNA gene sequences, into seven species: M. furfur, M. globosa, M. obtusa, M. restricta, M. pachydermatis, M. slooffiae, and M. sympodialis (4, 5, 6). M. globosa, M. obtusa, M. restricta, and M. slooffiae were formerly designated M. furfur.…”

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Molecular Analysis of Malassezia Microflora on the Skin of Atopic Dermatitis Patients and Healthy Subjects

et al. 2001

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Members of the genus Malassezia, lipophilic yeasts, are considered to be one of the exacerbating factors in atopic dermatitis (AD). We examined variation in cutaneous colonization by Malassezia species in AD patients and compared it with variation in healthy subjects. Samples were collected by applying transparent dressings to the skin lesions of AD patients. DNA was extracted directly from the dressings and amplified in a specific nested PCR assay. Malassezia-specific DNA was detected in all samples obtained from 32 AD patients. In particular, Malassezia globosa and M. restricta were detected in approximately 90% of the AD patients and M. furfur and M. sympodialis were detected in approximately 40% of the cases. The detection rate was not dependent on the type of skin lesion. In healthy subjects, Malassezia DNA was detected in 78% of the samples, among which M. globosa, M. restricta, and M. sympodialis were detected at frequencies ranging from 44 to 61%, with M. furfur at 11%. The diversity of Malassezia species found in AD patients was greater (2.7 species detected in each individual) than that found in healthy subjects (1.8 species per individual). Our results suggest that M. furfur, M. globosa, M. restricta, and M. sympodialis are common inhabitants of the skin of both AD patients and healthy subjects, while the skin microflora of AD patients shows more diversity than that of healthy subjects. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of a nested PCR as an alternative to fungal culture for analysis of the distribution of cutaneous Malassezia spp.Members of the genus Malassezia, lipophilic yeasts, colonize the skin of the head, neck, and shoulders of humans and are one of the causative factors in pityriasis versicolor and seborrheic dermatitis (3). Malassezia species are also considered to be one of the factors that exacerbate atopic dermatitis (AD), based on the finding that AD patients (but not healthy subjects) have specific serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies against Malassezia spp. (9, 22, 23). Application of topical antimycotic agents to AD patients decreases Malassezia colonization and the severity of eczematous lesions (2), suggesting that Malassezia species play a role in AD. In addition, several candidate Malassezia antigens have been implicated in the pathogenesis of AD (10,11,16,17,19,24).The taxonomy of the genus Malassezia was recently revised, primarily by using rRNA gene sequences, into seven species: M. furfur, M. globosa, M. obtusa, M. restricta, M. pachydermatis, M. slooffiae, and M. sympodialis (4, 5, 6). M. globosa, M. obtusa, M. restricta, and M. slooffiae were formerly designated M. furfur. The frequency of isolation of each species and its correlation with the clinical manifestations of AD have not been well investigated. Studies examining colonization by Malassezia spp. may aid in the understanding of the mechanism of AD and the development of an effective treatment. Due to the difficulties inherent in culturing Malassezia spp., we analyzed the cutaneous Malassezia mi...

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Identification and Cloning of Two Novel Allergens from the Lipophilic Yeast,Malassezia furfur

Cited by 59 publications

References 22 publications

Immunology of Diseases Associated withMalasseziaSpecies

Immunology of Diseases Associated withMalasseziaSpecies

Antifungal Activities of Tacrolimus and Azole Agents against the Eleven Currently Accepted Malassezia Species

Molecular Analysis of Malassezia Microflora on the Skin of Atopic Dermatitis Patients and Healthy Subjects

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