Confirmed microsporidial graft infection in a HIV-negative renal transplant recipient: A case report and review of the literature.

Microsporidia are intracellular organisms most commonly known to cause opportunistic infection in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). There have been several case reports of infection in solid organ and bone marrow transplant recipients. Here, we report a case of a non-HIV-infected renal transplant patient with microsporidiosis of the renal tract associated with acute graft dysfunction. We also review the literature of 12 previously reported cases of microsporidiosis in patients with renal transplants who had described graft involvement. We review the pattern of illness as well as the common renal biopsy features when microsporidial infection is associated with renal graft infection.

Antidermatophytic Action of Resorcinol Derivatives: Ultrastructural Evidence of the Activity of Phenylethyl Resorcinol against Microsporum gypseum.

In this work, we evaluated the antidermatophytic activities of three resorcinol derivatives that have a history of use in dermo-cosmetic applications to discover molecules with multiple dermatological activities (i.e., multi-target drugs), thereby reducing the cost and time necessary for new drug development. The antidermatophytic activities of the three skin lighteners were evaluated relative to the known antifungal drug fluconazole on nine dermatophytes responsible for the most common dermatomycoses: Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton violaceum, Arthroderma cajetani, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, Nannizzia gypsea, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton tonsurans. Among the three tested resorcinols, only two showed promising properties, with the ability to inhibit the growth of all tested dermatophytes; additionally, the IC50 values of these two resorcinols against the nine dermatophytes confirmed their good antifungal activity, particularly for phenylethyl resorcinol against M. gypseum. Ultrastructural alterations exhibited by the fungus were observed using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and reflected a dose-dependent response to treatment with the activation of defence and self-preservation strategies.

Rare zoonotic infection with Microsporum persicolor with literature review.

We report a case of dermatophytosis caused by Microsporum persicolor in a 38-year-old male from Poland. Direct microscopic examination revealed high amounts of fungal hyphae from the right elbow material. The mould recovered in multiple cultures was identified as Microsporum persicolor by molecular identification based on partial of ß-tubulin gene (BT2), internal transcribed spacer, partial small ribosomal subunit (SSU) and large ribosomal subunit, partial translation elongation factor (TEF1) and RNA polymerase second largest subunit (RPB1) loci sequence data. The patient was treated with terbinafine. Clinical and mycological cure was achieved with this regimen and the patient was subsequently followed for 1 year without relapse. Microsporum persicolor is a very rare causative agent of dermatophytosis worldwide. The source of infection for the patient remained unclear and zoonotic transmission could not be confirmed.

A Multi-Target Approach toward the Development of Novel Candidates for Antidermatophytic Activity: Ultrastructural Evidence on α-Bisabolol-Treated Microsporum gypseum.

Multi-target strategies are directed toward targets that are unrelated (or distantly related) and can create opportunities to address different pathologies. The antidermatophytic activities of nine natural skin lighteners: α-bisabolol, kojic acid, ß-arbutin, azelaic acid, hydroquinone, nicotinamide, glycine, glutathione and ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, were evaluated, in comparison with the known antifungal drug fluconazole, on nine dermatophytes responsible for the most common dermatomycoses: Microsporum gypseum, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton violaceum, Nannizzia cajetani, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum, Arthroderma gypseum, Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton tonsurans. α-Bisabolol showed the best antifungal activity against all fungi and in particular; against M. gypseum. Further investigations were conducted on this fungus to evaluate the inhibition of spore germination and morphological changes induced by α-bisabolol by TEM.

The microsporidian spore invasion tube. III. Tube extrusion and assembly.

The polar filaments within microsporidian spores discharges as tubes with subsecond velocity. Populations of discharging tubes of Glugea hertwigi spores pulse-labeled with latex particles for 1-3 s were consistently devoid of label at the distal ends; discharging tubes were completely labeled after 30- to 60-s exposure to latex. This experiment indicates that discharge tubes grow at the tip. Completely assembled discharge tubes consisted of single, empty cylinders; however, incompletely discharged tubes had a cylinder-within-a-cylinder profile at the distal ends. This observation indicates that the discharge tube material emerges at the distal end by an eversion process. Finally, studies with cinematic Nomarski interference optics of spore tubes extruding across a water-air interphase indicate that all the material emerging from the growing tip of the tube is incorporated into the wall of the discharge tube. Evidence indicates that the polar filament of undischarged spores is a homogeneous coil of polar tube protein equivalent to the polar tube protein in discharged tubes.

The microsporidian spore invasion tube. II. Role of calcium in the activation of invasion tube discharge.

A swelling response by the polaroplast organelle initiated microsporidian invasion tube extrusions by Glugea hertwigi spores. The tumescence was induced by the displacement of internal calcium. Sodium citrate, phosphate, and the calcium ionophore A23187 were effective in initiating polaroplast swelling and spore discharge; however, the addition of external CaCl2 switched the expanded polaroplasts to a contracted state and blocked spore discharge. Unlike CaCl2, equivalent concentrations of KCl, NaCl, MgCl2, and BaCl2 did not induced polaroplast contraction, and spore discharge was not blocked. 45CaCl2 readily incorporated into spores with expanded polaroplasts; however, little calcium uptake was apparent in spores with contracted polaroplasts. Metallochromic arsenazo III yielded a color spectrum characteristic of the dye-Ca++ complex in the polaroplast region; furthermore, a membrane association with calcium was indicated by strong chlorotetracycline fluorescence within the polaroplast; this fluorescence was extinguished by pretreating spores with ionophore A23187. An association of the membrane with calcium was also indicated by a potassium ferrocyanide-osmium tetroxide technique. All evidence indicates that an internal calcium displacement is an important initial step in the swelling response of the polaroplast organelle.

Ultrastructural changes on clinical isolates of Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Microsporum gypseum caused by Solanum chrysotrichum saponin SC-2.

Worldwide, dermatophytoses represent a high percentage of all superficial mycoses. The most frequently isolated dermatophyte is Trichophyton rubrum. Solanum chrysotrichum is a vegetal species widely used in Mexican traditional medicine to treat skin infections; its extract has been used to formulate an herbal medicinal product that is used successfully to treat Tinea pedis. Spirostanic saponin SC-2 from S. Chrysotrichum possesses high activity against dermatophytes. The present study reports the ultrastructural changes observed by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in clinical isolates of T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, and Microsporum gypseum induced by saponin SC-2. Strains were grown in RPMI 1640 containing SC-2 (1600 microg/mL). Fungi were harvested at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h; controls without SC-2 were included. T. mentagrophytes was the most susceptible to the SC-2 saponin, followed by M. gypseum, while T. rubrum was the most resistant. The main alterations caused by the SC-2 saponin were as follows: i) loss of cytoplasmic membrane continuity; ii) organelle degradation; iii) to a lesser extent, irreversible damage to the fungal wall; and iv) cellular death.

Glucose improves the in vitro viability of Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes.

We describe simple and cost-effective methods using carbohydrates to improve the in vitro viability of dermatophytes. Glucose and sucrose in different concentrations (3, 6, 9 and 12%) were used to maintain fifteen strains of M. canis and T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes at 4 and -20 degrees C. The strains were phenotypically analyzed before storage and reevaluated at 1, 3, 6 and 9 months. At 1 and 3 months, any alterations in the viability or phenotype pattern of the stored strains were noted. At 6 months, both dermatophytes were 100% viable, when preserved in glucose (3, 6, 9 and 12%) at -20 degrees C. All T. mentagrophytes strains were also viable in sucrose (12%), at 4 degrees C and -20 degrees C. However, sucrose failed to improve the viability of M. canis at both temperatures. At 9 months, the higher viabilities without pleomorphism were seen for both dermatophytes preserved in glucose (9 and 12%) at -20 degrees C.

Chemical composition and antifungal activity of essential oil from Eucalyptus smithii against dermatophytes.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we evaluated the chemical composition of a commercial sample of essential oil from Eucalyptus smithii R.T. Baker and its antifungal activity against Microsporum canis ATCC 32903, Microsporum gypseum ATCC 14683, Trichophyton mentagrophytes ATCC 9533, T. mentagrophytes ATCC 11480, T. mentagrophytes ATCC 11481, and Trichophyton rubrum CCT 5507. METHODS: Morphological changes in these fungi after treatment with the oil were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antifungal activity of the oil was determined on the basis of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values. RESULTS: The compound 1,8-cineole was found to be the predominant component (72.2%) of the essential oil. The MIC values of the oil ranged from 62.5µg·mL-1 to >1,000µg·mL-1, and the MFC values of the oil ranged from 125µg·mL-1 to >1,000µg·mL-1. SEM analysis showed physical damage and morphological alterations in the fungi exposed to this oil. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the potential of Eucalyptus smithii essential oil as a natural therapeutic agent for the treatment of dermatophytosis.

In vitro antifungal activity and mechanism of essential oil from fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) on dermatophyte species.

Fennel seed essential oil (FSEO) is a plant-derived natural therapeutic against dermatophytes. In this study, the antifungal effects of FSEO were investigated from varied aspects, such as MIC and minimum fungicidal concentration, mycelia growth, spore germination and biomass. The results indicated that FSEO had potent antifungal activities on Trichophyton rubrum ATCC 40051, Trichophyton tonsurans 10-0400, Microsporum gypseum 44693-1 and Trichophyton mentagrophytes 10-0060, which is better than the commonly used antifungal agents fluconazole and amphotericin B. Flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy experiments suggested that the antifungal mechanism of FSEO was to damage the plasma membrane and intracellular organelles. Further study revealed that it could also inhibit the mitochondrial enzyme activities, such as succinate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and ATPase. With better antifungal activity than the commonly used antifungal agents and less possibility of inducing drug resistance, FSEO could be used as a potential antidermatophytic agent.

Fungus invasion of human hair tissue in tinea capitis caused by Microsporum canis: light and electron microscopic study.

Previously, we reported a morphological change of Trichophyton violaceum in hair tissue in black dot ringworm. To investigate the morphology of Microsporum canis in human hais tissue, three cases of tinea capitis by M. canis were examined by both light and electron microscopy. The fungal elements, which were located deeplyin the keratogenous zone, showed nonseptate hyphae in the outer part of the hair cortex. With the upward development of hair tissues, some hyphae invaded the keratinized inner root sheath and were there transformed into arthrospores, which then occupied the large volume of the inner root sheath; each spore was surrounded by an electron-lucent halo. In some affected hair follicles, at the follicular isthmus level, a microabscess composed of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was often formed in the outer root sheath adjacent to the arthrospores in the keratinized inner root sheath. On the other hand, the remaining hyphae in the cortex became degenerated. Fungi did not invade the hair-germinative cells. There is a distinct relationship between the morphological change of fungi and the differentiation of hair cells in tinea capitis by M. canis as well as in that by T. violaceum, although the direction of invasion and pathological roles of fungal elements within hair tissue are significantly different between the two species of fungi.

Antimicrobial activity of Cassia alata from Malaysia.

Ethanolic extract of Cassia alata leaves was investigated for its antimicrobial activities on several microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, dermatophytic fungi and non-dermatophytic fungi. In vitro, the extract exhibited high activity against various species of dermatophytic fungi but low activity against non-dermatophytic fungi. However, bacterial and yeast species showed resistance against in vitro treatment with the extract. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the extract revealed that Trichophyton mentagorphytes var. interdigitale, Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagorophytes, Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum gypseum had the MIC of 125 mg/ml, whereas Microsporum canis had the MIC of 62.5 mg/ml. The inhibition can be observed on the macroconidia of Microsporum gypseum which resulted in structural degeneration beyond repair. The mechanism of inhibition can be related to the cell leakage as observed by irregular, wrinkle shape and loss in rigidity of the macroconidia.

Origins of onychomycosis.

Onychomycosis, or tinea unguium, is generically thought of as a fungus infection of the nails characterized by thickening, splitting, roughening, and discoloration. This article discusses the origins of this condition as well as methods of classification and evaluation.

[Ultrastructure of Nosema diplostomi - hyperparasite of the trematodes of the genus Diplostomum]. / Ul'trastruktura mikrosporidii Nosema diplostmi - giperparazita trematod roda Diplostomum.

Studies were undertaken of the fine structure of microsporidian, schizont, sporoblast and spore of Nosema diplostomi Schigina et Grobov, 1972 parasitic in metacercariae of fish eyes. The spore wall with outer membrane of the nuclear substance, polar filament, polaroplast, sporoplasm and rough endoplasmic reticulum are described. The diameter of a partially ejected filament is larger than the polar filament inside the spore.

Chemical composition and antifungal activity of essential oil from Eucalyptus smithii against dermatophytes

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: In this study, we evaluated the chemical composition of a commercial sample of essential oil from Eucalyptus smithii R.T. Baker and its antifungal activity against Microsporum canis ATCC 32903, Microsporum gypseum ATCC 14683, Trichophyton mentagrophytes ATCC 9533, T. mentagrophytes ATCC 11480, T. mentagrophytes ATCC 11481, and Trichophyton rubrum CCT 5507. METHODS: Morphological changes in these fungi after treatment with the oil were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antifungal activity of the oil was determined on the basis of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values. RESULTS: The compound 1,8-cineole was found to be the predominant component (72.2%) of the essential oil. The MIC values of the oil ranged from 62.5μg·mL−1 to >1,000μg·mL−1, and the MFC values of the oil ranged from 125μg·mL−1 to >1,000μg·mL−1. SEM analysis showed physical damage and morphological alterations in the fungi exposed to this oil. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the potential of Eucalyptus smithii essential oil as a natural therapeutic agent for the treatment of dermatophytosis.

The septal ontogeny, germination and electron microscopy of Microsporum gypseum macroaleurioconidia.

Microsporum gypseum strains obtained from human and animal cases of dermatophytosis were used to study the septal ontogeny, the germination, and the electron microscopy of the macroaleurioconidia, which are produced so abundantly by this organism. It was found that the number of septa in a macroaleurioconidium depends upon the stage of development, and that their order of formation remains relatively constant. The macroaleurioconidial cell wall proved to be impressive on electron microscopy. The use of a wetting agent (Tween 80) and negative pressure proved necessary for adequate fixation. Poor penetration of the fixing agent is attributable to the electron-dense encrustations over the entire surface of the macroaleurioconidium.