[Mycoflora assessment in drinking tap water [Sari, Iran]]

Fungi are widely distributed in nature and they are usually present in atmosphere but other sources such as water play an important role in their ecology. This study was done to evaluate mycoflora assessment in drinking tap water in Sari, North of Iran. The tap water collected form Sari water distribution system for fungi. In this descriptive study, a volume of 100 ml of tap drinking water samples [n=60] were collected in sterile bottles. All water samples passed through sterile 0.45 micrometer filters. The filters were placed directly on Malt extract agar and incubated at 27°C for 3-7 days. Routine mycological techniques were applied to identify the grown fungi. Out of 468 grown fungal colonies, eight different fungal genera were identified. The total mean cfu per 100 ml for the positive samples were 8.4. Aspergillus [37.4%] and Penicillium [27.3%] were the most common isolated fungi. Rhizopus [0.6%] had the lowest frequency. Among Aspergillus species, A. flavus had the highest frequency. Our result showed that various fungi were present in the tap drinking water. We propose fungi should be considered as part of the microbiological analysis parameters in drinking tap water

[ overview on rapid diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis by galactomannan antigen detection]

Invasive aspergillosis [IA] is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in severely immuno-compromised patients. Despite the advances made in diagnostic methods, accurate diagnosis of IA is not easy. At the present time, in Iran, the diagnosis is most often made based on a combination of clinical and abnormal radiologic findings, which are nonspecific, and the treatment is often given without establishing the diagnosis. Considering the invasive and progressive nature of the disease, if proper diagnostic methods are not used, control of the disease will be difficult. Therefore establishing the diagnosis of IA at an early stage by non-invasive and specific methods is necessary for early successful treatment. The detection of circulating galactomannan [GM] antigen in serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid and tissue has become an important method for the early diagnosis of IA. Recent data have indicated that this test has a high specify and sensitivity and is more valuable than other methods such as culture and CT scan. In general this method is non-invasive, time-saving and specific which permits early treatment of the disease and helps physicians to select the proper treatment and other clinical measures. Certainly, well designed prospective studies with systematic sampling and use of accepted definations are required to compare the efficiency of antigen detection in different samples and population

Survey of keratinophilic fungi in sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants of Mazandaran, Islamic Republic of Iran

To isolate keratinophilic fungi in sewage sludge from wastewater treatment plants in Sari city, Mazandaran province, Islamic Republic of Iran, samples were taken from 7 plants with different sewage treatment technologies. From 35 sludge samples cultured on Sabouraud's agar with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol, 326 fungal colonies belonging to 7 species were isolated. Geotrichum [59.5%], Cladosporium [13.8%], Alternaria [11.3%] and Penicillium [10.7%] species were the most prevalent. No growth of keratinophilic fungi was observed on this medium. However, using the hairbaiting technique, Microsporum gypseum, Chrysosporium spp. and Geotrichum spp. were isolated

[ study on specific igE against candida albicans in atopic dermatitis patients referred to boali hospital, Sari- Iran]

Candida albicans [C. albicans] as a micro flora of the human could be responsible for a continuous release of allergen and may be responsible for chronic atopic dermatitis [AD] in sensitive patients. Thus, in this study, we analyzed AD patients for total IgE and specific IgE, against C. albicans. A total of 120 AD patients [male 52 and female 68] were introduced in this study. The age range varied from 4 months to 60 years [mean about 12.9 years]. Serum total IgE was assayed by ELISA kit [RADIM]. Solid phase was captured by sandwich ELISA assay, using a micro well format for the determination of serum specific IgE to C. Albicans was used according to the manufacturer's instructions, [ALerCHEK Allergen specific human IgE]. Of the 120 AD patients, 37 subjects [30.8%] had total IgE higher than 100 IU/mL, 44 subjects [63.7%] 20-100IU/mL and 39 subjects [32.5%] less than 20 IU/mL. 9 [7.5%] of the patients had specific IgE against C. albicans. Among the patients who were positive for specific IgE to C. albicans, 6 [66.7%] were women. The result of our study on serum total IgE in AD patients is concordant with other studies from different countries. In comparison to other studies, our AD patients showed less frequency of specific IgE against Candida albicans. The explanations for the variation in the results obtained in various studies could be due to the age of patients, severity of disease, difference in the antigen preparation, different methods for IgE analysis and total IgE level

[Investigation into allergenic components of cladosporium herbarum by immunoblotting technique]

Numerous studies on Clasporidium herbarum antigens have shown that these antigens play a major role in produceing specific IgE in atopic individuals and exacerbate the patients' clinical conditions like atopic dermatitis. Thus, in this study allergenic components of clasporium herbarum were investigated using immunoblotting technique. Cladosporium herbarum was cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar. The grown mycelia were harvested and ruptured by liquid nitrogen and glass beads. Samples were centrifuged and the supernatant was collected as crude extract. The crude extract was separated through sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE]. The separated proteins were transferred to nitrocellulose filter and then soaked through atopic dermatitis patients' sera. The responsive bands to IgE were revealed by antihuman IgE antibodies conjugated with enzyme in chromogenic substrate. In SDS-PAGE, the crude extract of Cladosporium herbarum showed 16 different protein bands with molecular weight between 15.1 and 110 kDa. The bands with 15.1, 18.4, 25.1, 36.3, 45 and 54 kDa were identified as strong bands. In immunoblotting, the bands with molecular weights of 15.1, 18.4, 42 and 110 kDa showed a strong reaction with IgE sera from patients with atopic dermatitis. The results of this study showed that the strong bands in SDS-PAGE had the highest reaction with anti- Cladosporium herbarum IgE antibody in immunoblotting technique. Thus, we speculate the intensity of bands can affect IgE response. Like other studies we contend that Cladosporium herbarum antigen can initiate allergic reaction in atopic dermatitis patients