Contribuições para a construção de um modelo biossocial de liderança testosterona, relação digital e lócus de controle / Contributions towards building a biosocial model of leadership: testosterone, digit ratio and locus of control

A presente pesquisa investigou a relação de alguns comportamentos de liderança, denominados de Liderança Executiva, com a concentração hormônio Testosterona, medido na saliva. Também foram analisadas as relações da Liderança Executiva com a Relação Digital (RD=2d/4d), definida pela razão entre o comprimento do 2º dedo (indicador) dividido pelo comprimento do 4º dedo (anelar) e com o conceito de internalidade do Lócus de Controle. Estes estudos visavam dar um subsídio maior para a adoção de um modelo bio-social no estudo da liderança. Um grupo de 169 participantes, estudantes de um curso de Pós-graduação, foram submetidos ao questionário de auto-avaliação (autopercepção) de liderança executiva, elaborado a partir do Inventário Fatorial de Personalidade - IFP. Com base no escore obtido foram divididos em três grupos: (1) baixa percepção de liderança (BPL), (2) média percepção de liderança (MPL) e (3) alta percepção de liderança (APL). Uma análise estatística permitiu selecionar 10 participantes mais característicos em cada grupo. Estes 30 participantes foram submetidos à coleta e análise da concentração de T salivar, utilizando-se o kit da Salimetrics Inc (catalog nº 1-2412). Também foram feitas medições do comprimento do segundo e quarto dedo, para o cálculo da Relação Digital. Para avaliação do Lócus de Controle (LoC) foi aplicada a Escala de Rotter. A hipótese principal de que os três grupos iriam diferir na concentração de testosterona salivar foi confirmada (...)

... estatisticamente, revelando uma relação direta positiva entre autopercepção de liderança e concentração de T salivar. A hipótese relativa à relação inversa entre percepção de liderança e relação digital não foi confirmada. Da mesma forma a relação entre percepção de liderança e internalidade do lócus de controle também não foi confirmada pelos dados da pesquisa. Os resultados obtidos oferecem uma contribuição importante para os projetos futuros de aperfeiçoamento de um modelo mais integrado, de natureza biossocial, para o constructo da liderança

The current research investigated the relationship of some leadership behaviors, thereafter called Executive Leadership, with the concentration levels of testosterone found in the human saliva. The research also investigated the corelations among Executive Leadership behaviors, the digital ratio (2nd:4th) and the concept of internal Locus of Control. The digit ratio is defined as the division of the length of 2nd finger (index finger) by the length of 4th finger (ring finger). Such study aimed at providing additional subsidies for adopting a biosocial model to understanding leadership. A group of 169 male students enrolled in a postgraduation program was selected as participants. They answered an Executive Leadership behaviors self assessment questionnaire (self perception). The questionnaire was based on the Inventário Fatorial de Personalidade - IFP. The subjects were grouped based on their questionnaire\'s scores: (1) low self perception of leadership (BPL), (2) average self perception of leadership (MPL) e (3) high self perception of leadership (APL). Through statistic analysis the 10 most characteristic participants of each of the three groups were selected. These 30 participants were submitted to collection and analysis of saliva testosterone concentration level, using the kit provided by Salimetrics Inc (catalog nº 1-2412). On top of that, their index and ring fingers´s length was measured, as means to obtain data to calculate the digital ratio. The Rotter Scale was used to assess the Locus of Control (LoC). The main hypothesis - the three groups would differ with regards to the concentration of testosterone found in their saliva - was statistically confirmed, therefore there is direct positive relationship between self perception of leadership and concentration of T in (...)

... the saliva. The hypothesis of inverse relationship between self perception of leadership and Digit Ratio was not confirmed. The research data also did not confirm relationship between internal Locus of Control and self perception of leadership. The results obtained through the research offer an important contribution for future studies of integrated biosocial leadership models

Proteção do recém-nascido contra o tétano pela imunização ativa da gestante com antitoxina tetânica: estudo original de 1953 / Protection of newborn infants against tetanus by active immunization of the pregnant women with tetanus antitoxin: the 1953 original study

OBJETIVO: Determinar, em cobaias prenhes e em gestantes, a produção de antitoxina tetânica induzida pela aplicação da anatoxina tetânica e estudar a sua passagem para o recém-nascido. MÉTODOS: Na primeira fase, em estudo experimental, cobaias prenhes foram vacinadas com duas doses de toxóide tetânico em um intervalo de 15 dias, seguida da dosagem de anticorpos na cobaia imunizada, na prole ao nascer e 15 dias após o nascimento. Outro grupo de animais previamente vacinado recebeu uma dose de reforço 30 dias antes do parto, medindo-se o nível de anticorpos na cobaia e na prole. Na segunda fase, em ensaio clínico, as gestantes humanas foram vacinadas com três injeções de anatoxina tetânica, com um intervalo de 30 dias, em qualquer período da gravidez, medindo-se, a seguir, a antitoxina tetânica. Nos recém-nascidos, os anticorpos foram medidos ao nascer e aos 15 dias de vida. RESULTADOS: O título de antitoxina no sangue da prole de cobaias vacinadas com anatoxina tetânica foi elevado ao nascimento e aos 15 dias de vida. A dose de reforço provocou elevação do título basal. Nas gestantes, a aplicação de três doses de toxóide antitetânico conferiu imunidade a 95% dos recém-nascidos estudados. Os recém-nascidos de mães vacinadas apresentaram títulos elevados de antitoxina que persistiram por mais de 15 dias de vida. CONCLUSÕES: A vacinação durante a gestação foi acompanhada de títulos protetores de antitoxina contra o tétano tanto nos filhotes de cobaias quanto nos recém-nascidos humanos.

OBJECTIVE: To measure, in pregnant guinea pigs and women, the production of tetanus antitoxin, induced by vaccination with tetanus toxin, and to study the transmission of these antibodies to the offspring. METHODS: In an experimental design, pregnant guinea pigs were vaccinated with two doses of tetanus toxoid with a 15-day interval followed by determination of antibodies in the immunized guinea pig, in the offspring at birth and after 15 days of life. One group of guinea pigs received a booster dose of tetanus toxoid 30 days before delivery and the immunization status of dam and offspring was also studied. In a clinical trial, pregnant women were vaccinated in any period of gestation with three doses of tetanus toxoid with a 30-day interval; the antibody levels were measured in the mother and in the newborn infant at birth and at the 15th day of life. RESULTS: The antibody levels of guinea pigs offspring immunized with tetanus toxoid during gestation were elevated at birth and at the 15th day of life. These levels were elevated by the booster dose 30 days prior to delivery. In pregnant women, the immunization with three doses of tetanus toxoid was followed by immunity in 95% of the studied infants studied. The newborn infants of vaccinated women presented elevated levels of antibodies at birth and at 15th day of life. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination during gestation was followed by protective levels of antibodies in guinea pigs and in newborn infants.

Cerebral aspergillosis due to Aspergillus fumigatus in AIDS patient: first culture-proven case reported in Brazil.

Cerebral aspergillosis is a rare cause of brain expansive lesion in AIDS patients. We report the first culture-proven case of brain abscess due to Aspergillus fumigatus in a Brazilian AIDS patient. The patient, a 26 year-old male with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and history of pulmonary tuberculosis and cerebral toxoplasmosis, had fever, cough, dyspnea, and two episodes of seizures. The brain computerized tomography (CT) showed a bi-parietal and parasagittal hypodense lesion with peripheral enhancement, and significant mass effect. There was started anti-Toxoplasma treatment. Three weeks later, the patient presented mental confusion, and a new brain CT evidenced increase in the lesion. He underwent brain biopsy, draining 10 mL of purulent material. The direct mycological examination revealed septated and hyaline hyphae. There was started amphotericin B deoxycholate. The culture of the material demonstrated presence of the Aspergillus fumigatus. The following two months, the patient was submitted to three surgeries, with insertion of drainage catheter and administration of amphotericin B intralesional. Three months after hospital admission, his neurological condition suffered discrete changes. However, he died due to intrahospital pneumonia. Brain abscess caused by Aspergillus fumigatus must be considered in the differential diagnosis of the brain expansive lesions in AIDS patients in Brazil.

Cerebral aspergillosis due to Aspergillus fumigatus in AIDS patient: first culture - proven case reported in Brazil

La aspergilosis cerebral es una causa rara de lesión expansiva cerebral en pacientes con SIDA. Presentamos el primer reporte de un absceso cerebral causado por Aspergillus fumigatus en un paciente brasileño con SIDA. El paciente, de 26 años de edad, presentaba antecedentes de infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH), tuberculosis pulmonar y toxoplasmosis cerebral. Manifestó fiebre, tos, disnea y dos episódios de convulsiones. La tomografía computadorizada (TC) demostró una lesión hipodensa parasagital y bi-parietal con realce periférico e importante efecto de masa. Se inició tratamiento anti-Toxoplasma. Tres semanas después, el paciente evidenció confusión mental y una nueva TC de cráneo mostró aumento de la lesión. Se realizó biopsia cerebral con drenaje de 10 mL de material purulento. El examen micológico directo reveló hifas hialinas septadas. Se inició anfotericina B deoxicolato. La cultura del material demostró presencia de Aspergillus fumigatus. En los siguientes dos meses el paciente fue sometido a otras tres cirugías, insertándose un catéter de drenaje y administrándose anfotericina B intralesional. Tres meses después de la admisión hospitalaria, la condición neurológica del paciente sufrió discretos cambios. Sin embargo, falleció debido a neumonia intrahospitalaria. Aunque muy raros, los abscesos cerebrales causados por Aspergillus fumigatus deben ser considerados en el diagnóstico diferencial de las lesiones expansivas cerebrales en pacientes con SIDA.

Quem se acha é?: percepção de dominância e outros atributos / Those who see themselves as dominant, are they really?: perception of dominance and co-related attributes

0 projeto de pesquisa objetivou analisar o tema da percepção da dominância e seus atributos em 'neogrupos masculinos'¹, envolvidos em uma atividade dinâmica de busca de consenso (teste da Nasa). Foram conduzidos seis grupos de discussão, com seis participantes em cada grupo. Um primeiro resultado do trabalho aferiu a correlação entre a autopercepção (a idéia que cada um faz de sua inclinação para a dominância) e a heteropercepção (o julgamento que cada elemento do grupo faz dos demais, relativamente ao quesito dominância). Os dados experimentais revelaram correlação entre estas duas percepções. Correlações altas foram também encontradas entre a heteropercepção e a alopercepção (a percepção de um juiz independente, qualificado e treinado). Outro resultado importante foi obtido na comparação entre dominância e diferentes traços comportamentais. Correlações mais fortes foram encontradas entre a manifestação da dominância e traços comportamentais considerados hard, quando comparados a traços comportamentais softs. Os resultados confirmam a hipótese de que, em grupos sem contato preliminar, a dominância emerge e relaciona-se mais a comportamentos de origem agonística, como diretividade, competitividade e determinação (considerados hard) - e menos a comportamentos pró-sociais, como cooperação, contribuição e confiabilidade (considerados softs). Foram também encontradas correlações significativas entre dominância e tempo de fala, idade e experiência profissional. Não foram encontradas correlações entre a dominância e o volume corporal. Os resultados, em sua maioria, confirmam as hipóteses levantadas de que as relações de dominância e as hierarquias são percebidas claramente, mesmo em grupos recém formados (AU)

Immunoprecipitation techniques and Elisa in the detection of anti-Fonsecaea pedrosoi antibodies in chromoblastomycosis

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a chronic subcutaneous infection caused by several dematiaceous fungi. The most commonly etiological agent found in Brazil is Fonsecaea pedrosoi, which appears as thick walled, brownish colored cells with transverse and longitudinal division in the lesions, called "muriform cells". This disease is found worldwide but countries like Madagascar and Brazil have highest incidence. Diagnosis is made by clinical, direct and histopathologic examination and culture of specimens. Serological tests have been used to identify specific antibodies against Fonsecaea pedrosoi antigens, as well as immunotechniques have been used for CBM serological identification and diagnosis. In the present study double immunodiffusion (DID), counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and immunoenzymatic test (ELISA) have been used to evaluate humoral immune response in patients with CBM caused by F. pedrosoi. Metabolic antigen was used for immunoprecipitation tests (DID and CIE) while somatic antigen for ELISA. Our results demonstrated 53 percent sensitivity and 96 percent specificity for DID, while CIE presented 68 percent sensitivity and 90.5 percent specificity. ELISA demonstrated 78 percent sensibility and 83 percent specificity. Serological tests can be a useful tool to study different aspects of CBM, such as helping differential diagnosis, when culture of the pathogenic agent is impossible.

Phylogeography of the fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum.

Until recently, Histoplasma capsulatum was believed to harbour three varieties, var. capsulatum (chiefly a New World human pathogen), var. duboisii (an African human pathogen) and var. farciminosum (an Old World horse pathogen), which varied in clinical manifestations and geographical distribution. We analysed the phylogenetic relationships of 137 individuals representing the three varieties from six continents using DNA sequence variation in four independent protein-coding genes. At least eight clades were idengified: (i) North American class 1 clade; (ii) North American class 2 clade; (iii) Latin American group A clade; (iv) Latin American group B clade; (v) Australian clade; (vi) Netherlands (Indonesian?) clade; (vii) Eurasian clade and (viii) African clade. Seven of eight clades represented genetically isolated groups that may be recognized as phylogenetic species. The sole exception was the Eurasian clade which originated from within the Latin American group A clade. The phylogenetic relationships among the clades made a star phylogeny. Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum individuals were found in all eight clades. The African clade included all of the H. capsulatum var. duboisii individuals as well as individuals of the other two varieties. The 13 individuals of var. farciminosum were distributed among three phylogenetic species. These findings suggest that the three varieties of Histoplasma are phylogenetically meaningless. Instead we have to recognize the existence of genetically distinct geographical populations or phylogenetic species. Combining DNA substitution rates of protein-coding genes with the phylogeny suggests that the radiation of Histoplasma started between 3 and 13 million years ago in Latin America.

Fonsecaea pedrosoi cerebral phaeohyphomycosis ("chromoblastomycosis"): first human culture-proven case reported in Brazil.

Cerebral phaeohyphomycosis ("chromoblastomycosis") is a rare intracranial lesion. We report the first human culture-proven case of brain abscesses due to Fonsecaea pedrosoi in Brazil. The patient, a 28 year-old immunocompetent white male, had ocular manifestations and a hypertensive intracranial syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed a main tumoral mass involving the right temporo-occipital area and another smaller apparently healed lesion at the left occipital lobe. A cerebral biopsy was performed and the pathological report was cerebral chromoblastomycosis. The main lesion was enucleated surgically and culture of the necrotic and suppurative mass grew a fungus identified as Fonsecaea pedrosoi. The patient had received a knife wound sixteen years prior to his hospitalization and, more recently, manifested a pulmonary granulomatous lesion in the right lung with a single non-pigmented form of a fungus present. It was speculated that the fungus might have gained entrance to the host through the skin lesion, although a primary respiratory lesion was not excluded. The patient was discharged from the hospital still with ocular manifestations and on antimycotic therapy and was followed for eight months without disease recurrence. Few months after he had complications of the previous neuro-surgery and died. A complete autopsy was performed and no residual fungal disease was found.

Fonsecaea pedrosoi cerebral phaeohyphomycosis ("chromoblastomycosis"): first human culture-proven case reported in Brazil

Cerebral phaeohyphomycosis ("chromoblastomycosis") is a rare intracranial lesion. We report the first human culture-proven case of brain abscesses due to Fonsecaea pedrosoi in Brazil. The patient, a 28 year-old immunocompetent white male, had ocular manifestations and a hypertensive intracranial syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed a main tumoral mass involving the right temporo-occipital area and another smaller apparently healed lesion at the left occipital lobe. A cerebral biopsy was performed and the pathological report was cerebral chromoblastomycosis. The main lesion was enucleated surgically and culture of the necrotic and suppurative mass grew a fungus identified as Fonsecaea pedrosoi. The patient had received a knife wound sixteen years prior to his hospitalization and, more recently, manifested a pulmonary granulomatous lesion in the right lung with a single non-pigmented form of a fungus present. It was speculated that the fungus might have gained entrance to the host through the skin lesion, although a primary respiratory lesion was not excluded. The patient was discharged from the hospital still with ocular manifestations and on antimycotic therapy and was followed for eight months without disease recurrence. Few months after he had complications of the previous neuro-surgery and died. A complete autopsy was performed and no residual fungal disease was found

Células fúngicas permanecem viáveis por até dozes dias em lesões de cromomicose tratadas pela criocirurgia com nitrogênio líquido / Fungal cells remain viable for up to 12 days in chromomycosis lesions treated by cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen

A criocirurgia com nitrogênio líquido (C-N2L) é um método terapêutico que vem sendo usado com freqüência crescente no tratamento da cromomicose. Acreditava-se anteriormente que as temperaturas baixas poderiam destruir o agente infectante, mas foi demonstrado que as culturas fúngicas em temperaturas tão baixas como -196°C não causaria a morte do mesmo. Apesar da comprovada eficácia, ainda não se conhece o exato mecanismo de cura.Avaliar o período de persistência de fungos viáveis em lesões de cromomicose tratadas pela C-N2L.Cinco pacientes com cromomicose tiveram suas lesões tratadas pela C-N2L. Foram colhidos, em diferentes intervalos de tempo após a criocirurgia, fragmentos do tecido tratado. A coleta, realizada com punch de 4mm, foi feita em três períodos diferentes: de 0 a 48h, de cinco a sete dias e de 10 a 14 dias após a realização da criocirurgia. Os fragmentos obtidos foram inoculados em Agar Sabouraud para verificação de crescimento de colônias fúngicas. Cada paciente teve um total de três amostras colhidas, uma em cada um dos três períodos mencionados.O crescimento de colônias foi maior nas coletas mais precoces, enquanto nas amostras colhidas entre o pós-operatório imediato e o quinto dia de pós-operatório o índice de viabilidade foi de 7/8 (87,5 por cento), e naquelas colhidas a partir do sexto dia de pós-operatório foi de apenas 2/7 (28,5 por cento). O maior período de pós-operatório que demonstrou positividade foi de 12 dias.Os resultados confirmam os achados anteriores, os quais demonstraram que as baixas temperaturas alcançadas pela C-N2L não são responsáveis pela destruição dos fungos nas lesões de cromomicose. Os autores acreditam que fenômenos biológicos tardios, como necrose ou imunoestimulação sejam os verdadeiros responsáveis pela erradicação dos fungos nas lesões de cromomicose

Treatment of chromomycosis by cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen: 15 years' experience.

BACKGROUND: Chromomycosis is a chronic fungal infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by various dematiaceous fungi, the most common of which is Fonsecaea pedrosoi. The disease is difficult to treat. METHODS: Twenty-two chromomycosis patients treated by cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen as the sole or associated therapy were studied. Diagnosis was confirmed by direct examination of KOH cleared specimens, culture, and histology, according to a method previously described by Pimentel et al. (Pimentel ERA, Castro LGM, Cucé LC, Sampaio SAP. Treatment of chromomycosis by cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen. J Dermatol Surg Oncol 1989; 15: 72-77). Small lesions were frozen in a single session, whilst larger lesions were frozen in small parts. All patients received double freeze-thaw cycles. An author-created severity index, based on the extent of the diseased area, number of lesions, presence of complications (lymphedema, ulceration, and secondary infection) and unresponsiveness to previous treatments, was used to determine disease severity. RESULTS: Fonsecaea pedrosoi was isolated from all but one patient. Caucasian (50.0%) males (4.5 : 1.0) were most commonly affected. The average number of cryosurgery sessions per patient was 6.7, varying from one to 22 sessions. The duration of treatment lasted for up to 126 months. Nine patients (40.9%) were considered to be cured (clinically disease-free period of at least 3 years), eight (36.4%) were under observation (clinically disease-free but less than 3 years of follow-up), two (9.1%) were under treatment (still with active lesions), and three (13.6%) were classified as unsuccessful. The average cure period was 7.5 years, varying from 3 to 16 years. Five (55.6%) of the nine cured patients had been cured for periods exceeding 9 years. Six (66.7%) of the nine cured patients were classified as having mild, two (22.2%) severe, and one (11.1%) moderate disease. CONCLUSIONS: Cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen is an option in the treatment of chromomycosis.

Immunoprecipitation techniques and Elisa in the detection of anti-Fonsecaea pedrosoi antibodies in chromoblastomycosis.

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a chronic subcutaneous infection caused by several dematiaceous fungi. The most commonly etiological agent found in Brazil is Fonsecaea pedrosoi, which appears as thick walled, brownish colored cells with transverse and longitudinal division in the lesions, called "muriform cells". This disease is found worldwide but countries like Madagascar and Brazil have highest incidence. Diagnosis is made by clinical, direct and histopathologic examination and culture of specimens. Serological tests have been used to identify specific antibodies against Fonsecaea pedrosoi antigens, as well as immunotechniques have been used for CBM serological identification and diagnosis. In the present study double immunodiffusion (DID), counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and immunoenzymatic test (ELISA) have been used to evaluate humoral immune response in patients with CBM caused by F. pedrosoi. Metabolic antigen was used for immunoprecipitation tests (DID and CIE) while somatic antigen for ELISA. Our results demonstrated 53% sensitivity and 96% specificity for DID, while CIE presented 68% sensitivity and 90.5% specificity. ELISA demonstrated 78% sensibility and 83% specificity. Serological tests can be a useful tool to study different aspects of CBM, such as helping differential diagnosis, when culture of the pathogenic agent is impossible.

Serotype, mating type and ploidy of Cryptococcus neoformans strains isolated from patients in Brazil

Serotype, mating type and ploidy of 84 strains of Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from 61 AIDS and 23 non-AIDS patients admitted in a tertiary teaching hospital in Sõo Paulo, Brazil were examined. Among 61 strains isolated from AIDS patients, 60 strains were var. grubii (serotype A). Only one strain was var. gattii (serotype B). No var. neoformans (serotype D) was found. Among 23 strains isolated from non-AIDS patients, 15 were var. grubii (serotype A) and the remaining 8 were var. gattii, all of which were serotype B. Seventy-three of the 75 serotype A strains were the heterothallic alpha type (MATalpha) and the remaining 2 were untypable (asexual). Most of the MATalpha strains (69/73) were haploid and the remaining 4 strains were diploid. Similarly, both of the 2 asexual strains among the 75 serotype A strains were haploid. There were no alpha-mating type (MATalpha) strains among the 84 isolates. All of the 8 var. gattii strains were serotype B and haploid. Among a total of 84 strains tested, neither serotype AD nor serotype D were found. Neither triploid nor tetraploid were found. These results suggest that the serological, sexual and ploidy characteristics in C. neoformans strains isolated from AIDS patients in Sõo Paulo were rather simple, whereas strains isolated from non-AIDS patients presented serotype A and B with predominance of serotype A

Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis due to Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii serotype B, in an immunocompetent patient.

The authors report a male patient, a seller with no detected immunosuppression, with an extensive ulcerated skin lesion localized on the left forearm, caused by Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii serotype B. Oral treatment with fluconazole was successful. A review of the literature showed the rarity of this localization in HIV-negative patients. In contrast, skin lesions frequently occurs in HIV-positive patients, with Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans serotype A predominating as the etiological agent. In this paper, the pathogenicity of C. neoformans to skin lesions in patients immunocompromised or not, is discussed, showing the efficacy of fluconazole for the treatment of these processes.

Primary cutaneous cryptococcosis due to Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii serotype B, in an immunocompetent patient

The authors report a male patient, a seller with no detected immunosuppression, with an extensive ulcerated skin lesion localized on the left forearm, caused by Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii serotype B. Oral treatment with fluconazole was successful. A review of the literature showed the rarity of this localization in HIV-negative patients. In contrast, skin lesions frequently occurs in HIV-positive patients, with Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans serotype A predominating as the etiological agent. In this paper, the pathogenicity of C. neoformans to skin lesions in patients immunocompromised or not, is discussed, showing the efficacy of fluconazole for the treatment of these processes

Serotype, mating type and ploidy of Cryptococcus neoformans strains isolated from patients in Brazil.

Serotype, mating type and ploidy of 84 strains of Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from 61 AIDS and 23 non-AIDS patients admitted in a tertiary teaching hospital in São Paulo, Brazil were examined. Among 61 strains isolated from AIDS patients, 60 strains were var. grubii (serotype A). Only one strain was var. gattii (serotype B). No var. neoformans (serotype D) was found. Among 23 strains isolated from non-AIDS patients, 15 were var. grubii (serotype A) and the remaining 8 were var. gattii, all of which were serotype B. Seventy-three of the 75 serotype A strains were the heterothallic alpha type (MATalpha) and the remaining 2 were untypable (asexual). Most of the MATalpha strains (69/73) were haploid and the remaining 4 strains were diploid. Similarly, both of the 2 asexual strains among the 75 serotype A strains were haploid. There were no alpha-mating type (MATalpha) strains among the 84 isolates. All of the 8 var. gattii strains were serotype B and haploid. Among a total of 84 strains tested, neither serotype AD nor serotype D were found. Neither triploid nor tetraploid were found. These results suggest that the serological, sexual and ploidy characteristics in C. neoformans strains isolated from AIDS patients in São Paulo were rather simple, whereas strains isolated from non-AIDS patients presented serotype A and B with predominance of serotype A.