In vitro characterization of virulence factors among species of the Candida parapsilosis complex.

INTRODUCTION: Candida parapsilosis complex species differ from each other with regard to their prevalence and virulence. METHODS: The hydrolytic enzyme activity, biofilm production, and adhesion to epithelial cells were analyzed in 87 C. parapsilosis complex strains. RESULTS: Among the studied isolates, 97.7%, 63.2%, and 82.8% exhibited very strong proteinase, esterase, and hemolysin activity, respectively. All the C. parapsilosis complex isolates produced biofilms and presented an average adherence of 96.0 yeasts/100 epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that Candida parapsilosis complex isolates showed different levels of enzyme activity, biofilm production, and adhesion to epithelial cells.

In vitro characterization of virulence factors among species of the Candida parapsilosis complex

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Candida parapsilosis complex species differ from each other with regard to their prevalence and virulence. METHODS: The hydrolytic enzyme activity, biofilm production, and adhesion to epithelial cells were analyzed in 87 C. parapsilosis complex strains. RESULTS: Among the studied isolates, 97.7%, 63.2%, and 82.8% exhibited very strong proteinase, esterase, and hemolysin activity, respectively. All the C. parapsilosis complex isolates produced biofilms and presented an average adherence of 96.0 yeasts/100 epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that Candida parapsilosis complex isolates showed different levels of enzyme activity, biofilm production, and adhesion to epithelial cells.

Nosocomial invasive infection caused by Cunninghamella bertholletiae: case report.

Human infection by Cunninghamella bertholletiae occurs almost exclusively in immunocompromised patients. Infections due to this microorganism have been most frequently diagnosed in patients with hematological malignancies, with neutropenia and in diabetes mellitus patients. This work reports a case of fungal infection by Cunninghamella bertholletiae isolated from blood in a man with a complex clinical picture, involving diabetes and pharmacological immunosupression. Blood culture at room temperature and at 37 degrees C on Sabouraud agar grew a single mold with characteristic properties of Cunninghamella. In the microscopic morphology, were found wide, non-septate, branching hyphae with erect sporangiophores terminated in swollen vesicles and sporangioles borne off the vesicles. C. bertholetiae was identified after subculture on Sabouraud dextrose agar at 45 degrees C. The patient died 15 days after the beginning of amphotericin B therapy.

Açäo da anfotericina B e Levamisole em camundongos albinos inoculados com Paracoccidioidomicose Brasiliensis / Study on anphotericin B and levamisole in albino mice inoculated with paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Paracoccidioidomicose experimental, em camundongos albinos de 3-4 semanas de idade. Inoculaçäo de 0,5 ml de suspensäo, contendo 1x10(devada a sexta potência) células/ml de Paracoccidioides brasiliensis e tratamento com anfotericina B (1 mg/Kg) em doses diárias; com levamisole (3 mg/Kg) administrada em intervalos de 15 dias e em séries de uma dose por dia, em três dias consecutivos; e com anfotericina B e levamisole associadas, de maneira a cobrir o período de 50, 80 e 95 dias para necrópsia. Estudo comparativo do quadro histológico de fígado e baço, com ênfase em granulomas, parasitas, células de Küpffer, células gigantes, reaçäo linforreticular, folículos e amioloidose. O animal revela-se satisftório, como modelo experimetnal, porém de uso limitado, devido ao fenômeno de auto-cura. Isoladamente, anfotericina B é menos eficiente do que quando em associaçöes com levamisole, para a reduçäo do número de parasitas. Animais com amiloidose esplênica apresentam alto número de parasitas. O quadro reativo revela qe a açäo de levamisole, isolada ou combinadamente com anforicina B, induz aumento de defesa com notável incremento da açäo de células fagocitárias