An Unusual Case of Tubo-ovarian Abscess by Gemella morbillorum

Gemellae is a gram positive cocci that forms part of the oropharyngeal microflora in humans and is anaerobic to aerotolerant. Unlike the other members of the same genus, G. morbillorum rarely causes human infections. Recently, we experienced a case of tubo-ovarian abscess caused by G. morbillorum which was initially suspected to be actinomycosis associated with intrauterine device. This is the first case in the world on tubo-ovarian abscess with G. morbillorum as the culprit.

An Unusual Case of Tubo-ovarian Abscess by Gemella morbillorum

Gemellae is a gram positive cocci that forms part of the oropharyngeal microflora in humans and is anaerobic to aerotolerant. Unlike the other members of the same genus, G. morbillorum rarely causes human infections. Recently, we experienced a case of tubo-ovarian abscess caused by G. morbillorum which was initially suspected to be actinomycosis associated with intrauterine device. This is the first case in the world on tubo-ovarian abscess with G. morbillorum as the culprit.

A Comparative Genome-Wide Analysis of GATA Transcription Factors in Fungi

GATA transcription factors are widespread eukaryotic regulators whose DNA-binding domain is a class IV zinc finger motif in the form CX(2)CX(17-20)CX(2)C followed by a basic region. In fungi, they act as transcriptional activators or repressors in several different processes, ranging from nitrogen source utilization to mating-type switching. Using an in-house bioinformatics portal system, we surveyed 50 fungal and 9 out-group genomes and identified 396 putative fungal GATA transcription factors. The proportion of GATA transcription factors within a genome varied among taxonomic lineages. Subsequent analyses of phylogenetic relationships among the fungal GATA transcription factors, as well as a study of their domain architecture and gene structure, demonstrated high degrees of conservation in type IVa and type IVb zinc finger motifs and the existence of distinctive clusters at least at the level of subphylum. The SFH1 subgroup with a 20-residue loop was newly identified, in addition to six well-defined subgroups in the subphylum Pezizomycotina. Furthermore, a novel GATA motif with a 21-residue loop (CX(2)CX(21)CX(2)C, designated 'zinc finger type IVc') was discovered within the phylum Basidiomycota. Our results suggest that fungal GATA factors might have undergone multiple distinct modes of evolution resulting in diversified cellular modulation in fungi.