Genetic diversity of Trichomonas vaginalis clinical isolates determined by EcoRI restriction fragment length polymorphism of heat-shock protein 70 genes.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis using a multilocus heat-inducible cytoplasmic heat-shock protein 70 (Hsp70) hybridization probe with EcoRI-digested genomic DNA was used in molecular typing of 129 Trichomonas vaginalis isolates. Results indicate that Trichomonas organisms exhibit considerable polymorphism in their Hsp70 RFLP patterns. Analysis of seven American Type Culture Collection reference strains and 122 clinical isolates, including 84 isolates from Jackson, Mississippi, 18 isolates from Atlanta, Georgia, and 20 isolates from throughout the United States, showed 105 distinct Hsp70 RFLP pattern subtypes for Trichomonas. Phylogenetic analysis of the Hsp70 RFLP data showed that the T. vaginalis isolates were organized into two clonal lineages. These results illustrate the substantial genomic diversity present in T. vaginalis and indicate that a large number of genetically distinct Trichomonas isolates may be responsible for human trichomoniasis in the United States.

Effects of amphotericin B and caspofungin on histamine expression.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of amphotericin B deoxycholate and caspofungin on the release of histamine from human peripheral blood cells, mononuclear cells, and mast cells. DESIGN: In vitro cell culture experiments. SETTING: University medical center. MATERIAL: Cultured human mononuclear (THP-1) and mast (HMC-1) cells from five healthy volunteers. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The cultured cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of amphotericin B deoxycholate, diphenhydramine, amphotericin B deoxycholate plus diphenhydramine, caspofungin, caspofungin plus diphenhydramine, and the calcium ionophore A23187 for up to 24 hours. Histamine concentrations and histamine N-methyltransferase activity were determined at various time points throughout exposure. Cell viability was assessed by exclusion of erythrocin B. The A23187 increased histamine concentrations from baseline in peripheral blood and HMC-1 cells. No change in histamine concentrations was observed in response to amphotericin B deoxycholate, whereas caspofungin induced a significant increase in histamine release in peripheral blood cells and HMC-1 cells. No change in histamine concentrations was observed in THP-1 cells in response to any pharmacologic agent tested. Similarly, histamine N-methyltransferase activity in peripheral blood was not affected by amphotericin B deoxycholate, but was significantly decreased by caspofungin. CONCLUSION: Amphotericin B deoxycholate does not affect histamine concentrations or histamine N-methyltransferase activity in whole blood or HMC-1 cells, suggesting that the amphotericin B-induced infusion-related reaction is not a histamine-mediated event. Conversely, caspofungin increased histamine concentrations in whole blood and HMC-1 cells and inhibited histamine N-methyltransferase activity. These data suggest that infusion-related reactions associated with caspofungin may be mediated by histamine release secondary to caspofungin.