[Mycobacterium shinshuense isolated from cutaneous ulcer lesion of right lower extremity in a 37-year-old woman].

PURPOSE: Second clinical infection case of Mycobacterium shinshuense was presented, we tried the identification of M. shinshuense that is isolated from skin. OBJECT: Mycobacteria species isolated from cutaneous ulcer lesion of right lower extremity in a 37-year-old woman. METHOD: Identification by DNA-DNA Hybridization, 16S rRNA and rpoB method as genomic level and conventional method. RESULT: It did not grow on 1% Ogawa's slant medium at both 37 degrees C and 42 degrees C, but grew at 28 degrees C. It formed yellowish colonies in the dark. It was difficult to distinguish M. shinshuense from M. ulcerans and M. marinum by DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) and DNA sequencing. To identify that it is M. shinshuense, growth rate, temperature range of mycobacterial growth, light coloration reaction, biochemical and biological tests, and drug susceptibility testing were further explored. Finally it was identified as M. shinshuense based on these CONSIDERATION: For Mycobacteria species which grow 2 weeks after inoculation at 28 degrees C, and which is identified as M. marinum by DDH method, it is necessary to identify with sequence and conventional method.

Serum antibody response and nasal lymphoid tissue (NALT) structure in the absence of IL-4 or IFN-gamma.

Immunization via the nasal route is effective for inducing not only mucosal immunity but also antibody (Ab) response in serum. Nasal lymphoid tissue (NALT) is important for induction of systemic immunity. It remains controversial which T effector cell response is important for serum Ab response after nasal immunization. We investigated serum Ab responses and NALT structures in interleukin (IL)-4 gene targeted (IL-4(-/-)) and interferon (IFN)-gamma gene targeted (IFN-gamma(-/-)) mice. Mice were immunized via nostrils with ovalbumin (OVA) and cholera toxin as adjuvant and serum Ab titers were measured 1 week after final antigen challenge. OVA-specific IgG titers in sera of IL-4(-/-) mice indicated a Th(1) type response, whereas titers in IFN-gamma(-/-) mice and wild-type mice indicated a Th(2) type response. Enhanced serum Ab responses were observed in IL-4(-/-) mice but not IFN-gamma(-/-) mice. OVA-specific Ab-forming cells were detected in the cervical draining lymph nodes but were rare or absent in and around the NALT of all strains of mice. Numbers of OVA-specific Ab-forming cells in cervical lymph nodes were significantly higher in IL-4(-/-) mice than in wild-type and IFN-gamma(-/-) mice. Germinal centers of lymphoid follicles were present in NALT of IL-4(-/-) and other mice. Immunohistochemistry for B and T cell markers revealed that NALT of all mice had approximately the same cellular compositions. Although the absence of IL-4 had no effect on NALT structure, IL-4 may suppress induction of serum Ab responses by nasal immunization.