In situ TLR2 and TLR4 expression in a murine model of mycetoma caused by Nocardia brasiliensis.

Actinomycetoma caused by Nocardia brasiliensis is a common disease in tropical regions. This ailment is characterized by a localized chronic inflammation that mainly affects the lower limbs. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns, inducing the production of proinflammatory mediators. The role of TLRs in the immune response against N. brasiliensis is unknown. The aim of this work was to locate and quantify in a murine model the expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in the infection site using reverse transcription-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that TLR2 expression increased in the infected tissue, whereas TLR4 expression decreased. The presence of TLR2 and TLR4 was demonstrated in different cell populations throughout the chronic infectious process. In the early stages of this process, TLR2 was expressed in neutrophils and macrophages in direct contact with the inoculum, whereas TLR4 was observed in mast cells. In the advanced stages of the infection, TLR2 was expressed in foam cells and fibroblasts and was likely associated with bacterial containment, while TLR4 was downregulated, probably resulting in an imbalance between the host immune response and the bacterial load that favoured chronic disease.

[Effectiveness of imazalil to control the effect of fungal deterioration on mummies at the Mexico City Museum "El Carmen"]. / Efectividad del imazalil en el control del deterioro por hongos de momias del museo de El Carmen, Ciudad de México.

We present a study on the control and elimination of the fungi affecting the mummies specifically at the museum "El Carmen", in San Angel, Mexico City. Twelve analysed mummies presented an important deterioration attributed to colonizing fungi. The degree of fungal contamination and the efficacy of imazalil were evaluated. Two samplings were performed in order to isolate and identify the fungal genera, one for control and the other after the treatment. Isolation was done by the carpet-square technique and identification was performed by morphological features. Each sampling gave a total of 100 samples as follows: 17 from the air, 23 from the walls and 60 from the mummies. Samples were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar. From the first sampling a total of 649 colonies corresponding to 24 genera were obtained being the most frequent Penicillium, Cladophialophora and Aspergillus. From the second sampling, after the imazalil treatment, which was applied by means of lit candles containing the antifungal drug, 57 colonies were recovered, representing a 91.2% fungal reduction; 18 genera were eliminated. In spite of resistance showed by many Penicillium strains, the imazalil is an alternative drug for the control of fungal colonization on these studied materials.

Efectividad del imazalil en el control del deterioro por hongos de momias del museo de El Carmen, Ciudad de México / Effectiveness of imazalil to control the effect of fungal deterioration on mummies at the Mexico City Museum “El Carmen”

Se presenta un estudio sobre el control y la eliminación de mohos sobremomias del museo de El Carmen, San Ángel, en Ciudad de México. Docemomias de este museo presentaban un importante deterioro producido por laactividad de los hongos. Se evaluó la magnitud de la contaminación fúngica yla eficacia del imazalil (enilconazol). Se hicieron dos muestreos para elaislamiento y la identificación de los hongos, el segundo de ellos después deltratamiento. La identificación se basó en las características morfológicas. Decada muestreo se obtuvo un total de 100 muestras: 17 de aire, 23 de muros y60 de las momias. Todas ellas fueron sembradas en agar dextrosa Sabouraud.En el primer muestreo se aislaron 649 colonias distribuidas en 24 géneros, delos cuales los más frecuentes fueron Penicillium, Cladophialophora yAspergillus. En el segundo muestreo, después del tratamiento con imazalil,contenido en velas encendidas para la emisión de humo, se obtuvieron 57colonias. Dieciocho géneros fueron eliminados, lo que supuso una reducciónde la contaminación del 91,2%. A pesar de la resistencia mostrada por elgénero Penicillium, el imazalil se perfila como una buena alternativa para elcontrol de la colonización fúngica en los materiales estudiados(AU)

We present a study on the control and elimination of the fungi affecting themummies specifically at the museum “El Carmen”, in San Ángel, Mexico City.Twelve analysed mummies presented an important deterioration attributed tocolonizing fungi. The degree of fungal contamination and the efficacy ofimazalil were evaluated. Two samplings were performed in order to isolate andidentify the fungal genera, one for control and the other after the treatment.Isolation was done by the carpet-square technique and identification wasperformed by morphological features. Each sampling gave a total of 100samples as follows: 17 from the air, 23 from the walls and 60 from themummies. Samples were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar. From the firstsampling a total of 649 colonies corresponding to 24 genera were obtainedbeing the most frequent Penicillium, Cladophialophora and Aspergillus.From the second sampling, after the imazalil treatment, which was applied bymeans of lit candles containing the antifungal drug, 57 colonies wererecovered, representing a 91.2% fungal reduction; 18 genera were eliminated.In spite of resistance showed by many Penicillium strains, the imazalil is analternative drug for the control of fungal colonization on these studied materials(AU)