scholarly journals Pathogenic Budding Yeasts Isolated outside of Clinical Settings

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Opulente ◽  
Quinn Langdon ◽  
Kelly Buh ◽  
Max Haase ◽  
Kayla Sylvester ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogens ◽  
Pathogenic Yeast ◽  
Pichia Kudriavzevii ◽  
Issatchenkia Orientalis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Clinical Environments ◽  
Human Infections

Budding yeasts are distributed across a wide range of habitats, including as human commensals. However, under some conditions, these commensals can cause superficial, invasive, and even lethal infections. Despite their importance to human health, little is known about the ecology of these opportunistic pathogens, aside from their associations with mammals and clinical environments. During a survey of approximately 1000 non-clinical samples across the United States of America, we isolated 54 strains of budding yeast species considered opportunistic pathogens, including Candida albicans and Candida (Nakaseomyces) glabrata. We found that, as a group, pathogenic yeasts were positively associated with fruits and soil environments, while the species Pichia kudriavzevii (syn. Candida krusei syn. Issatchenkia orientalis) had a significant association with plants. These results suggest that pathogenic yeast ecology is more complex and diverse than is currently appreciated and raises the possibility that these additional environments could be a point of contact for human infections.

scholarly journals Pathogenic budding yeasts isolated outside of clinical settings

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana A Opulente ◽  
Quinn K Langdon ◽  
Kelly V Buh ◽  
Max A B Haase ◽  
Kayla Sylvester ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Association ◽  
The United States ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogens ◽  
Pathogenic Yeast ◽  
Pichia Kudriavzevii ◽  
Issatchenkia Orientalis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Clinical Environments ◽  
Human Infections

ABSTRACT Budding yeasts are distributed across a wide range of habitats, including as human commensals. However, under some conditions, these commensals can cause superficial, invasive, and even lethal infections. Despite their importance to human health, little is known about the ecology of these opportunistic pathogens, aside from their associations with mammals and clinical environments. During a survey of approximately 1000 non-clinical samples across the United States of America, we isolated 54 strains of budding yeast species considered opportunistic pathogens, including Candida albicans and Candida (Nakaseomyces) glabrata. We found that, as a group, pathogenic yeasts were positively associated with fruits and soil environments, whereas the species Pichia kudriavzevii (syn. Candida krusei syn. Issatchenkia orientalis) had a significant association with plants. Of the four species that cause 95% of candidiasis, we found a positive association with soil. These results suggest that pathogenic yeast ecology is more complex and diverse than is currently appreciated and raises the possibility that these additional environments could be a point of contact for human infections.

scholarly journals Burkholderia species in human infections in Mexico: Identification of B. cepacia, B. contaminans, B. multivorans, B. vietnamiensis,B. pseudomallei and a new Burkholderia species

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. e0009541
Author(s):  
Georgina Meza-Radilla ◽  
Violeta Larios-Serrato ◽  
Rigoberto Hernández-Castro ◽  
J. Antonio Ibarra ◽  
Paulina Estrada-de los Santos
Keyword(s):  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Correct Identification ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogens ◽  
Burkholderia Species ◽  
Medical Centers ◽  
Accurate Treatment ◽  
Immunosuppressed Patients ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
First Time

Background Burkholderia sensu stricto is comprised mainly of opportunistic pathogens. This group is widely distributed in the environment but is especially important in clinical settings. In Mexico, few species have been correctly identified among patients, most often B. cepacia is described. Methodology/Principal findings In this study, approximately 90 strains identified as B. cepacia with the VITEK2 system were isolated from two medical centers in Mexico City and analyzed by MLSA, BOX-PCR and genome analysis. The initial identification of B. cepacia was confirmed for many strains, but B. contaminans, B. multivorans and B. vietnamiensis were also identified among clinical strains for the first time in hospitals in Mexico. Additionally, the presence of B. pseudomallei was confirmed, and a novel species within the B. cepacia complex was documented. Several strains misidentified as B. cepacia actually belong to the genera Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas and Providencia. Conclusions/Significance The presence of different Burkholderia species in Mexico was confirmed. Correct identification of Burkholderia species is important to provide accurate treatment for immunosuppressed patients.

scholarly journals Scedosporium spp. from Clinical Setting in Argentina, with the Proposal of the New Pathogenic Species Scedosporium americanum

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 160
Author(s):  
Ruben A. Abrantes ◽  
Nicolás Refojo ◽  
Alejandra I. Hevia ◽  
Julián Fernández ◽  
Guillermina Isla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Phenotypic Characterization ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Phylogenetic Study ◽  
Reference Laboratory ◽  
In Vitro Susceptibility ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Scedosporium Species

Species of the genus Scedosporium (family Microascaceae, phylum Ascomycota) are responsible for a wide range of opportunistic human infections, and have a low susceptibility to most antifungal drugs. It is well known that the pattern of Scedosporium species distribution varies according to geographic region. To assess the diversity of Scedosporium species in Argentina involved in human infections, we carried out a retrospective study reviewing 49 strains from clinical samples sent for diagnosis to the National Clinical Mycology Reference Laboratory between 1985 and 2019. Then, a phenotypic characterization, a phylogenetic study and and in vitro susceptibility test to antifungals were carried out. An analysis of combined nucleotide sequences dataset of the internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal DNA (ITS) and of a fragment of the β-tubulin gene (BT2) demonstrated that 92 % of the strains belonged to the species S. boydii, S. apiospermum and S. angustum, all them pertaining to S. apiospermum species complex. However, two strains (4%) were identified as S. aurantiacum, a species never reported in clinical settings in the Americas’. Surprisingly, one of them displayed a polycytella-like conidiogenesis, up to date only reported for S. apiospermum. In addition, the strain DMic 165285 was phylogenetically located far away from the rest of the species, so is proposed as the novel species Scedosporium americanum. On the other hand, from all seven antifungals tested, voriconazole and posaconazole were the most active drugs against Scedosporium spp.

scholarly journals Serratia ficaria: a Misidentified or Unidentified Rare Cause of Human Infections in Fig Tree Culture Zones

1998 ◽  
Vol 36 (11) ◽  
pp. 3266-3272 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Anahory ◽  
H. Darbas ◽  
O. Ongaro ◽  
H. Jean-Pierre ◽  
P. Mion
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Present Report ◽  
The United States ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Card System ◽  
Fig Tree ◽  
Fig Trees ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Additional Explanation

Serratia ficaria, an enterobacterium involved in the fig tree ecosystem, has been isolated from human clinical samples in rare instances, and its role as a pathogen is unclear. In 7 years, we have isolated S. ficaria from seven patients; it was the only pathogen in 4 patients, including a patient with septicemia described previously and three patients with gallbladder empyemas described in the present report. From March 1995 to July 1997, the incidence of biliary infections due to S. ficaria was 0.7%. We discuss the digestive carriage of this bacterium and its epidemiology with respect to the fig tree life cycle. Since fig trees grow around the Mediterranean as well as in the United States (California, Louisiana, Hawaii), S. ficaria should be more frequently isolated. In our experience, various strains have been misidentified or unidentified by commercial systems. Incorrect identification could be an additional explanation for the paucity of reported cases. S. ficaria produces nonpigmented, lactose-negative colonies which give off a potatolike odor. This odor is the primary feature of S. ficaria and must prompt reexamination of the identifications proposed by commercial systems. We tested 42 novel strains using three commercial systems: Vitek gram-negative identification (GNI) cards and API 20E and ID 32E strips (bioMérieux, Marcy-l’Etoile, France). The percentages of positivity that we have obtained were lower than those published previously for the following characteristics: lipase, gelatinase, DNase, and rhamnose. The best system for the recognition of S. ficaria is ID 32E, which correctly identified 27 of 42 strains. The API 20E system gave correct identifications for only two strains.S. ficaria was not present in the Vitek GNI card system database.

scholarly journals Acquired AmpC β-Lactamases among Enterobacteriaceae from Healthy Humans and Animals, Food, Aquatic and Trout Aquaculture Environments in Portugal

Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Gonçalves Ribeiro ◽  
Ângela Novais ◽  
Elisabete Machado ◽  
Luísa Peixe
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Healthy Humans ◽  
Chicken Carcass ◽  
Clinical Environments ◽  
Potential Shifts ◽  
Third Generation Cephalosporins ◽  
Epidemiological Information

We aimed to investigate the occurrence of acquired AmpC β-lactamases (qAmpC), and characterize qAmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae from different non-clinical environments in Portugal. We analysed 880 Enterobacteriaceae resistant to third-generation cephalosporins recovered from 632 non-clinical samples [healthy human and healthy animal (swine, chickens) faeces; uncooked chicken carcasses; aquatic and trout aquaculture samples]. Bacterial and qAmpC identification, antibiotic susceptibility, clonal (PFGE, MLST) and plasmid (S1-/I-CeuI-PFGE, replicon typing, hybridization) analysis were performed using standard methods. The occurrence of qAmpC among Enterobacteriaceae from non-clinical origins was low (0.6%; n = 4/628 samples), corresponding to CMY-2-producing Escherichia coli from three healthy humans (HH) and one uncooked chicken carcass (UCC). We highlight a slight increase in CMY-2 human faecal carriage in the two periods sampled [1.0% in 2013–2014 versus 0% in 2001–2004], which is in accordance with the trend observed in other European countries. CMY-2-producing E. coli belonged to B22-ST4953 (n = 2, HH), A0-ST665 (n = 1, HH) or A1-ST48 (n = 1, UCC) clones. blaCMY-2 was identified in non-typeable and IncA/C2 plasmids. This study is one of the few providing an integrated evaluation of the qAmpC-producing Enterobacteriaceae occurrence, which was low, from a very large collection of different non-clinical origins. Further surveillance in contemporary collections can provide an integrated epidemiological information of potential shifts in reservoirs, transmission routes and mechanisms of dissemination of blaqAmpC in non-clinical settings.

scholarly journals Dear medical mycologists, it is time to look outside the box

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Florent Morio
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Setting ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Yeast Species ◽  
The United States ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Candida Auris ◽  
Pathogenic Potential ◽  
Pichia Kudriavzevii ◽  
Wild Yeast

ABSTRACT Opulente et al. (Opulente DA, Langdon QK, Buh KV et al. Pathogenic budding yeasts isolated outside of clinical settings. FEMS Yeast Res 2019;19:foz032) published early this year a study aiming to investigate the diversity of wild yeast species, by collecting 1000 environmental samples coming from different substrates across the United States of America. The main finding of this work is the recovery of 54 strains of budding yeasts of which several are having a pathogenic potential in the clinical setting, such as Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, Nakaseomyces glabrata and Pichia kudriavzevii. These findings, discussed here in light of other recent studies highlighting the role of fungicides in the rise of antifungal resistance in the clinical setting or the emergence of Candida auris, demonstrate that our environment can represent an alternative niche for several opportunistic fungal pathogens that can be a concern for human health.

Adverse-Effect Profile of Kava

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 848-853 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn M. Connor ◽  
Jonathan R.T. Davidson ◽  
L. Erik Churchill
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Safety Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
Medicinal Herbs ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Piper Methysticum ◽  
Safety Parameters ◽  
Pharmacologic Treatments

ABSTRACTThe use of alternative therapies has increased substantially over the last decade, particularly for more chronic conditions such as anxiety. Among the most widely used treatments are medicinal herbs, or phytomedicines, such as kava (Piper methysticum), which has demonstrated anxiolytic activity in both animal models and clinical samples. Kava has several advantages over conventional pharmacologic treatments for anxiety—in clinical settings it has been associated with better tolerability and lack of physiologic dependence and withdrawal. However, phytomedicines are not rigorously regulated in the United States and systematically collected safety data are very limited. These issues are a leading concern regarding the safety of medicinal herbs such as kava. In this report, the safety profile for kava is provided, including findings from a study of its use in generalized anxiety disorder. Safety parameters assessed include occurrence of adverse events, withdrawal symptoms, effect on heart rate, blood pressure, laboratory assessments, and sexual function. No differences were found between kava and placebo on any of the parameters evaluated. The data support the safety of kava in treating anxiety at 280 mg kava lactones/day for 4 weeks.

Biscogniauxia (Hypoxylon) Canker or Dieback in Trees

EDIS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Paez ◽  
Jason A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Root Disease ◽  
Poor Health ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogens ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Quercus Spp

Biscogniauxia canker or dieback (formerly called Hypoxylon canker or dieback) is a common contributor to poor health and decay in a wide range of tree species (Balbalian & Henn 2014). This disease is caused by several species of fungi in the genus Biscogniauxia (formerly Hypoxylon). B. atropunctata or B. mediterranea are usually the species found on Quercus spp. and other hosts in Florida, affecting trees growing in many different habitats, such as forests, parks, green spaces and urban areas (McBride & Appel, 2009).  Typically, species of Biscogniauxia are opportunistic pathogens that do not affect healthy and vigorous trees; some species are more virulent than others. However, once they infect trees under stress (water stress, root disease, soil compaction, construction damage etc.) they can quickly colonize the host. Once a tree is infected and fruiting structures of the fungus are evident, the tree is not likely to survive especially if the infection is in the tree's trunk (Anderson et al., 1995).

Music after the Fall

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Rutherford-Johnson
Keyword(s):  
New Media ◽  
Contemporary Music ◽  
The United States ◽  
Art Music ◽  
Sound Art ◽  
Musical Composition ◽  
Western Art ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Cold War

By the start of the 21st century many of the foundations of postwar culture had disappeared: Europe had been rebuilt and, as the EU, had become one of the world’s largest economies; the United States’ claim to global dominance was threatened; and the postwar social democratic consensus was being replaced by market-led neoliberalism. Most importantly of all, the Cold War was over, and the World Wide Web had been born. Music After The Fall considers contemporary musical composition against this changed backdrop, placing it in the context of globalization, digitization, and new media. Drawing on theories from the other arts, in particular art and architecture, it expands the definition of Western art music to include forms of composition, experimental music, sound art, and crossover work from across the spectrum, inside and beyond the concert hall. Each chapter considers a wide range of composers, performers, works, and institutions are considered critically to build up a broad and rich picture of the new music ecosystem, from North American string quartets to Lebanese improvisers, from South American electroacoustic studios to pianos in the Australian outback. A new approach to the study of contemporary music is developed that relies less on taxonomies of style and technique, and more on the comparison of different responses to common themes, among them permission, fluidity, excess, and loss.

Death in the City

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn A. Sloan
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Inquiry ◽  
The United States ◽  
Violent Death ◽  
Special Relationship ◽  
Intimate Friend ◽  
Counter Narrative ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
European Heritage ◽  
The City ◽  
The Temple

Popular culture has long conflated Mexico with the macabre. Some persuasive intellectuals argue that Mexicans have a special relationship with death, formed in the crucible of their hybrid Aztec-European heritage. Death is their intimate friend; death is mocked and accepted with irony and fatalistic abandon. The commonplace nature of death desensitizes Mexicans to suffering. Death, simply put, defines Mexico. There must have been historical actors who looked away from human misery, but to essentialize a diverse group of people as possessing a unique death cult delights those who want to see the exotic in Mexico or distinguish that society from its peers. Examining tragic and untimely death—namely self-annihilation—reveals a counter narrative. What could be more chilling than suicide, especially the violent death of the young? What desperation or madness pushed the victim to raise the gun to the temple or slip the noose around the neck? A close examination of a wide range of twentieth-century historical documents proves that Mexicans did not accept death with a cavalier chuckle nor develop a unique death cult, for that matter. Quite the reverse, Mexicans behaved just as their contemporaries did in Austria, France, England, and the United States. They devoted scientific inquiry to the malady and mourned the loss of each life to suicide.

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