Table of Content

28 October 2010, Volume 5 Issue 5

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Generation and expansion of Aspergillus fumigatus specific T cells in vitro

ZHAO Zuo-tao, SUN Zheng, WAN Zhe, WANG Xiao-hong, LI Ruo-yu

2010, 5(5):  257-263. 

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Objective To generate and proliferate Aspergillus fumigatus (AF) specific T cells for immunotherapy of aspergillosis in vitro.Methods Monocyte-derived dendrictic cells (DCs) were seperated and proliferated from whole blood of healthy individuals.Aspergillus fumigatus loaded DCs were generated and cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) descreted with DCs.Then Aspergillus fumigatus specific T lymphocytes were induced.IFN-γ secreation,cytokine synthesis,type and ratio of function cells were examined.Results ELISPOT analysis showed IFN-γ secretion in experimental group (87.33±1.33/4.0×10⁵) was significant higher than that in control groups (P<0.05).Flow cytometric analysis showed 2.76% of total cells in PBMC+DC+Conidia group secreted IFN-γ,including 1.61% of CD4 positive,which is significantly higher than those in other groups (P<0.05).AF-specific T cells expanded to a large number in vitro.Conclusions Conidia of AF is a potent immunogen to induce CD4+ T cell mediated specific Th1 type immune response in vitro and provide basic data on generation and expansion of AF-specific T cells for immunotherapy of IA in the future.

Serum interleukin-17 after bronchopulmonary infection by Candida albicans in rats

CHEN Yao-hua, WANG Li, MENG Xin-li, ZHOU Yang-yang, LIN Li

2010, 5(5):  264-268. 

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Objective To investigate the changes and significance of serum interleukin 17 (IL-17) in bronchiopulmonary infection of Candida albicans in rats.Methods Immunocompromised rat model was set up with glucocorticoid injection.Model rats were administered with Candida albicans suspension and salines through tracheal intubation as positive group and negative control group.Candida albicans suspension was also administered to healthy rats as experimental group.Blood was collected bia the tail vein 1,3,5,7 days after infection for serum IL-17 detection by ELISA; Rats were sacrificed after 7 days and the right lower lung tissue was removed for HE staining.Results The serum levels of IL-17 in the experimental group at day 3 and 5 were higher than those in the control group.But no significant difference was observed at day 1 and 7 among the three groups (P>0.05).Pathology showed significant inflammation of lung in the experimental grou,but mild in the positive group.Inflammatory cell infiltration was not found in the control group.Conclusions IL-17 may participate in the inflammatory response by promoting neutrophil accumulation in the airway and the level is related to the body inflammation.IL-17 plays an important role in fungal infection-mediated inflammation of respiratory tract.

Antifungal activity of fluconazole against Ssk1p mutant of Candida albicans

LI Xiao-fang, Neeraj Chauhan, Richard Calderone, LIU Wei-da

2010, 5(5):  269-272. 

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Objective To investigate the in vitro antifungal activity of fluconazole against two-component signal transduction protein Ssk1p mutant of Candida albicans (SSK21).Methods The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of fluconazole against SSK21 and wild type of C.albicans (CAF2-1) were tested by broth microdilution and ergosterol content assays.RT-PCR was performed to determine the expression of SSK1 in CAF2-1 in the presence of fluconazole.Results The MIC of fluconazole against SSK21 was 0.032 μg/mL,while that against CAF2-1 was 16 μg/mL.After administration with fluconazole,the transcription level of SSK1 from CAF2-1 was increased.Conclusions SSK21 is hypersensitive to fluconazole compared with wild type strain CAF2-1.Ssk1p and related genes should be exploited for new therapeutic approach.

Conversion of mycelial to yeast phase of Sporothrix schenckii

CAI Qing, SONG Yang, SHEN Yong-nian, LÜ Gui-xia, CHEN Wei, LI Shan-shan, LIU Wei-da

2010, 5(5):  273-276. 

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Objective To evaluate the morphology and conversion rate of mycelial phase to yeast phase of Sporothrix schenckii isolates after successive passages.Methods Ninety-five clinical isolates of Sporothrix schenckii were incubated on BHIA until yeast phase.Morphology and proportion of mycelium to spore were observed.Result Twenty-three of tatal 95 isolates of Sporothrix schenckii converted to yeast phase after the first passage,with 14 isolates after the second passage,10 isolates after the third passage,6 isolates after the fourth passage.After four passages,55.8% of all isolates converted to yeast phase.Conclusion Several successive passages were needed for part of Sporothrix schenckii converting from mycelia phase to yeast phase and helpful for conversion improvement.

Diagnostic value of Chinese assay of (1,3)-β-D-glucan in invasive fungal infections

GAO Lu-juan, YU Jin, WANG Xiao-hong, WAN Zhe, LI Ruo-yu

2010, 5(5):  277-281. 

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Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of Chinese assay of (1,3)-β-D-glucan in invasive fungal infections (IFI) and compare with Japenese assay.Methods A retrospective study was performed on 203 patients at risk of IFI (totally 342 sanmples) in our hospital from April,2008 to May,2009.Paired-sample t test was analyzed in 100 samples which were detected by both Chinese and Japanese assay.Sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated under different criterion,which was compared by McNemar paired χ² test.Results The significance values of t test between the two assays were 0.235 for IFI samples and 0.076 for non-IFI samples,respectively.For Chinese assay ,the sensitivity (78.3%,56.5%,25.0%,25.0%) and specificity (67.2%,85.0%,64.9%,87.7%) were obtained by single cutoff values or double cutoff values of 20 pg/mL,50 pg/mL respectively.Conclusions There is no statistical significance between Chinese and Japanese assays.The specificity with single cutoff value of 50 pg/mL was significantly elevated without evident influence on sensitivity compared with that with 20 pg/mL.The NPV and specificity were elevated with double cutoff values.

PCR identification of Trichophyton rubrum

FEI Shi, GAO Ai-li, LI Xiao-dong, LI Zhen-jie, XIAO Chang-qing, ZHU Hui-lan

2010, 5(5):  282-285. 

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Obiective To develop a rapid method to for identification of Trichophyton rubrum.Methods Primed ITS1986 5’GAC ACC AAG AAA AAA TTC TCT GAA GA3’,ITS2441 5’GTC CTG AGG GCG CTG AA3’ were chosen to amplify 45 strains of Trichophyton rubrum,5 strains of Trichophyton mentagrophytes and 1 strain of Trichophyton violaceum.Results Characteristic bands were amplified in Trichophyton rubrum.But there was no characteristic band found in Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton violaceum.Conclusions Trichophyton rubrum could be identificated by PCR rapidly.

Clinical and mycological analysis of deep fungal infection after general surgery

LI Zhu, SUN Jian, DENG Jie, YANG Guo-dong

2010, 5(5):  286-288. 

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Objective To investigate the risk factors and prevention methods of deep fungal infection after general surgery.Methods The clinical and mycological materials of 48 cases with deep fungal infection after general surgery from 2006 to 2009 were retrospectively analyzed.Results Fifty-six strains were isolated from different specimens of the 48 patients.Candida albicans was the most frequently isolated pathogen,which accounted for 41.1%.Long-term and combination usage of broad-spectrum antibiotic,and underline disease were the risks factor for fungal infection.Conclusions The deep fungal infection is not uncommon and a severe complication after general surgery.Candida albicans was still the most frequently isolated pathogen.Appropriate use of antibiotics,timely mycological test and early diagnosis and treat in time were important for fungal infection.

A case of disseminated cryptococcosis with multiple abscesses

SHI Hui-lian, CHEN Shu, JIANG Wei-ming, ZHU Li-ping, WENG Xin-hua

2010, 5(5):  291-293. 

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A case of disseminated cryptococcosis with multiple abscesses is reported.A 68-year-old male was admitted to the hospital with 1-year multiple abscesses and 2-month low fever as chief complaint.The recurrent abscesses on bellows,skins and skeletons showed negative results in examination and latex agglutination tests.Cryptococcus neoformans was found identified in the abscess in the right iliac.The abscess disappeared after incision and drainage and antifungal therapy with amphotericin B liposome and itraconazole.Fluconazole and flucytosine were administered afterwards for 4 months.No fever or abscess relapse was observedover a 7-month follow-up till now.

Diagnostic value of Bronchoalveoalr Lavage in Fungal Infections

JIAO Yang, BAI Chong

2010, 5(5):  316-320. 

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The incidence of pulmonary fungal infection increased recently.Fungal culture is gold-standard for diagnosis but restricted for time-comsuming.Bronchoscopic lavage is safe,rapid and minimally invasive to obtain bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).Cytologic analysis,antigen detection and molecula technique to BALF becoming important for rapid diagnosis of fungal infections.