Regulation of ERG3, ERG6, and ERG11 genes in antifungal-resistant isolates of candida parapsilosis

Background: Candida parapsilosis is one of the five common strains of yeasts involved in invasive candidiasis. The expression analysis of sterol biosynthesis pathway genes, which are associated with resistance, can assist the better understanding of antifungal resistance mechanisms

Methods: The antifungal susceptibility of 120 clinical C. parapsilosis isolates was examined. The changes in the gene expression related to resistance were analyzed

Results: Eight strains were resistant to fluconazole [FLC], itraconazole [ITC], and amphotericin B [AMB]. The regulation variations included increased mRNA levels of ERG3, ERG6, and ERG11 and decreased mRNA levels of ERG3 and ERG6 in response to FLC. ERG11 mRNA level increases in response to ITC and AMB

Conclusion: The mechanism of resistance to azoles in C. parapsilosis is very similar to C. Albicans. This feature may help to design new treatment strategy for candidiasis

relationship between intestinal parasites and some immune-mediated intestinal conditions

Over the last decades, the incidence of infestation by minor parasites has decreased in developed countries. Infectious agents can also suppress autoimmune and allergic disorders. Some investigations show that various protozoa and helminthes are connected with the main immune-mediated intestinal conditions including celiac disease [CD], inflammatory bowel diseases [IBD] and irritable bowel syndrome [IBS]. Celiac disease is a digestive and autoimmune disorder that can damage the small intestine and characterized by a multitude gastrointestinal [GI] and extra GI symptoms. IBD [including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease] is a group of inflammatory conditions of the small intestine and colon. The etiology of IBD is unknown, but it may be related to instability in the intestinal microflora that leading to an immoderate inflammatory response to commensal microbiota. Irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] is a common, long-term condition of the digestive system. Bloating, diarrhoea and/or constipation are nonspecific symptoms of IBS. Various studies have shown that some intestinal parasites can effect on immune system of infected hosts and in some cases, they are able to modify and change the host's immune responses, particularly in autoimmune disorders like celiac disease and IBD. The main objective of this review is to investigate the relationship between intestinal parasites and different inflammatory bowel disorders

Molecular identification of Candida species isolated from gastrooesophageal candidiasis in Tehran, Iran

The aim of this investigation is identification of Candida strains isolated from patients with gastro oesophageal candidiasis in Tehran, Iran. Gastro-oesophageal candidiasis is a rare infection and appears mainly in debilitated or immunocompromised patients. Colonization by Candida spp. may occur in this region and the organism can remain for several months or years in the absence of inflammation. The main infection symptom is the presence of white plaques in gastro-oesophageal surface. C. albicans remains the most prevalent Candida spp. identified in gastrointestinal candidiasis. Regarding differences in susceptibilities to antifungal drugs among Candida spp., identification of isolates to the species level is significant to quick and appropriate therapy. A total of 398 patients underwent gastrointestinal endoscopy during February 2012 to October 2014 were included in the present study. Histological sections from all endoscopic gastric and oesophageal biopsies were prepared, stained with Periodic acid-Schiff [PAS], and examined for the presence of fungal elements. Part of the biopsy sample was sub-cultured on sabouraud glucose agar. The genomic DNA of each strain was extracted using FTA[R] Elute MicroCards. Molecular identification of Candida isolates was performed by PCR-RFLP technique with the restriction enzyme HpaII. Twenty-one out of 398 cases [5.2%] were found to have gastro-oesophageal candidiasis. Candida albicans was the main strain isolated from clinical samples [90.5%], followed by C. glabrata [4.7%], and C. parapsilosis [4.7%]. Due to varying antifungal susceptibility of Candida spp. careful species designation for clinical isolates of Candida was recommended by a rapid and meticulous method like PCR-RFLP

molecular epidemiological survey of clinically important dermatophytes in Iran based on specific RFLP profiles of betatubulin gene

Surveillance of dermatophytosis is essential to determine the likely changes in etiological trends and distribution profile of this infection. In this study beta tubulin gene [BT2], was used as the first time in a PCR-RFLP format to clarify the distribution of dermatophytosis agents in some parts of Iran. A total of 603 clinical isolates was obtained from 500 patients in Tehran, Isfahan, Mazandaran and Guilan provinces. The isolates were identified using macro/micro-morphological criteria and electrophoretic patterns of PCR amplicons of BT2 after digestion with each of the restriction enzymes. FatI, Hpy CH4V, MwoI and Alw21L. Among the patients, 59.2% were male and 40.8% female. The most prevalent clinical form was tinea pedis [42.4%], followed by tinea cruris [24.2%], tinea unguium [12.3%], tinea corporis [10.8%], tinea faciei [4%], tinea manuum [3.14%], tinea capitis [3%] and tinea barbae [0.16%], respectively. Trichophyton interdigitale ranked the first, followed by T.rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, T. tonsurans, T. erinacei and T. violaceum [each 0.49%] and the less frequent species were T. schoenleinii, M. gypseum and T. anamorph of Arthroderma benhamiae [each 0.16%]. A case of scalp infection by E. floccosum was an exceptional event in the study. No case of T.verrucosum was found. Trichophyton species and E. floccosum are yet the predominant agents of infection in Iran, while Microsporum species are decreasing. T.interdigitale and Tinea pedis remain as the most causal agent and clinical form of dermatophytosis, respectively. it seems that BT2 can be a useful genetic marker for epidemiological survey of common pathogenic dermatophytes