Immunisation with the BCG and DTPw vaccines induces different programs of trained immunity in mice

In addition to providing pathogen-specific immunity, vaccines can also confer nonspecific effects (NSEs) on mortality and morbidity unrelated to the targeted disease. Immunisation with live vaccines, such as the BCG vaccine, has generally been associated with significantly reduced all-cause infant mortality. In contrast, some inactivated vaccines, such as the diphtheria, tetanus, whole-cell pertussis (DTPw) vaccine, have been controversially associated with increased all-cause mortality especially in female infants in high-mortality settings. The NSEs associated with BCG have been attributed, in part, to the induction of trained immunity, an epigenetic and metabolic reprograming of innate immune cells, increasing their responsiveness to subsequent microbial encounters. Whether non-live vaccines such as DTPw induce trained immunity is currently poorly understood. Here, we report that immunisation of mice with DTPw induced a unique program of trained immunity in comparison to BCG immunised mice. Altered monocyte and DC cytokine responses were evident in DTPw immunised mice even months after vaccination. Furthermore, splenic cDCs from DTPw immunised mice had altered chromatin accessibility at loci involved in immunity and metabolism, suggesting that these changes were epigenetically mediated. Interestingly, changing the order in which the BCG and DTPw vaccines were co-administered to mice altered subsequent trained immune responses. Given these differences in trained immunity, we also assessed whether administration of these vaccines altered susceptibility to sepsis in two different mouse models. Immunisation with either BCG or a DTPw-containing vaccine prior to the induction of sepsis did not significantly alter survival. Further studies are now needed to more fully investigate the potential consequences of DTPw induced trained immunity in different contexts and to assess whether other non-live vaccines also induce similar changes.     

Use of MALDI-TOF MS for fungal species distribution of interdigital intertrigo in seafarers,Dakar, Senegal

To determine fungal species distribution of interdigital intertrigo among seafarers in Dakar, Senegal, a cross-sectional study was carried out from May to August 2017 among seafarers clinically diagnosed with interdigital intertrigo. A questionnaire was filled to each patient before sampling the affected folds and transporting to Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital where mycological analyses were realized. Species identification by MALDI-TOF MS was performed in Marseille, France. In total, 169 men (21–66 years) were included. Few of them (3%) had a high level of education and the duration of the mycosis exceed 10 years for 88% of patients. Direct microscopic examination (ME) was positive in 34.3%. Among samples with positive ME, 58.6% had positive culture. An overall incidence of 30.2% was found. Patients with confirmed cases aged between 28 and 66 years. Among them, those between 36–50 years were predominant (52.9%). Those with a high level of education were less representative (2%). For 52.1% of patients, the duration of the mycosis was superior to 10 years. Furthermore, 57% of cases were significantly associated with other types of tinea pedis and/or onychomycosis (P = 0.03). Culture was positive in 23.7% isolating 43 strains successfully identified at the species level by MALDI-TOF MS for 31 isolates: 20 Candida and 11 dermatophytes. The rest was identified only at the genus level belonged to Fusarium. In definitive, MALDI-TOF MS could be a useful tool for routine and fast identification of dermatophytes, yeasts and NDFF in clinical mycology laboratories.     

Analysis of the strain relatedness of oral Candida albicans in patients with diabetes mellitus using polymerase chain reaction‐fingerprinting

To increase our understanding of Candida pathogenicity, the identification of those strains most frequently associated with infections is of paramount importance. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based methods are extremely effective in differentiating and determining reproducibility, they require minimum starting material and are rapid and simple to perform. In this study, the genetic relatedness of Candida albicans was assessed for two geographically different patient groups (London, UK and Parma, Italy) affected by diabetes mellitus. C. albicans samples from the oral cavities of non‐diabetic healthy subjects were also examined by PCR fingerprinting to evaluate the possible genetic differences among endogenous strains in individuals with and without diabetes mellitus. PCR fingerprinting, with subsequent phylogenetic analysis of C. albicans isolates from the diabetic patients from London and Italy and from the non‐diabetic subjects, revealed that there were significant differences (P < 0.0001) between C. albicans isolates indicative of the distinct ecological niches that occur in the oral cavities of these patient cohorts. The most diverse group comprised the isolates from the diabetic patients in the UK, possibly reflecting the antifungal treatment that these patients had received. Further studies that include isolates from patient cohorts with systemic diseases other than diabetes mellitus, and from more diverse geographic localities are required to explain the relatedness of C. albicans isolates in the mouth.     

Prevalence of Candida tropicalis in clinical specimens from patients with variable clinical syndromes over a 5-year period

Summary. In this study, we have examined our records for the isolation of Candida tropicalis from clinical specimens of patients with heterogeneous clinical presentations during the past 5 years. We have found that this species ranks third among all yeasts in frequency of isolation from clinical specimens and that the trend of recovery from the specimens is rising over the years. The isolation rate of C. tropicalis was highest from urine specimens (36%) followed by respiratory specimens (22%). The frequency of isolation of C. tropicalis from vaginal specimens was relatively high (14%), however the trend was declining over the years. In general, the high recovery of Candida tropicalis from clinical specimens of patients with variable disease supports the views of this organism being a major pathogen.
Zusammenfassung. Die Studie basiert auf einer Durchsicht der Patientenarchive der letzten fünf Jahre auf die Isolationshäufigkeit von Candida tropicalis aus klinischen Untersuchungsmaterialien von Patienten mit unterschiedlichen klinischen Krankheitsbildern. Diese Hefeart war die dritthäufigste mit steigender Tendenz über die Jahre. Die Isolierungsrate von C. tropicalis war am höchsten aus Urin (36%), gefolgt von Respirationstrakt-Materialien (22%). Die Isolationshäufigkeit aus dem hinteren Scheidengewölbe war relativ hoch (14%), nahm jedoch mit den jahren ab. Allgemein unterstreicht die hohe Isolationsrate von C. tropicalis aus klinischen Untersuchungsmaterialien die ätiologische Bedeutung dieses Erregers.     

汉傣藏三民族健康婴幼儿及少年念珠菌带菌率的调查

本文对汉、傣、及藏三民族1996名健康婴幼儿及少年进行了念殊菌带菌率的调查。分别从舌,颊肛门皮肤泌尿道及阴道取材培养。结果表明五个部位中白念的带菌率以口腔最高,舌部带菌率汉族为4.5%,傣族为5.3%,藏族为1.0%,故认为口腔内白念的寄居可能是念珠菌病内源感染的主要传染源。1996人中无一例小便中培养出白念。阴道白念带菌率汉族为仅0.15%,傣族及藏族中也无1例从阴道汾物中培养出白念。说明健康婴幼儿及少年小便及阴道白念带菌率极低。在不同年龄组中白念带菌率以刚出生一周的新生儿最低,说明在分娩过程中新生儿被感染的机会并不多。口腔白念带菌率舌部(4.56%)明显高于颊部(2.81%),故进行临床真菌检验时,应对该部加以重视。     

仙草消毒液杀灭微生物效果与毒性的试验观察

仙草消毒液为含 3 0 %乙醇的植物消毒剂 ,其中包括五味子、细辛、丁香等成分 ,p H6.0 1。为了解其杀灭微生物效果及其毒性 ,进行了载体定量杀菌试验及毒性试验。结果 ,1∶ 1的水稀释液对金黄色葡萄球菌作用2分钟 ,1∶ 2的稀释液对金黄色葡萄球菌作用 8分钟 ,以其原液对白色念珠菌作用 2 min,平均杀灭率均大于99.90 %。小牛血清对其杀灭效果有影响 ,原液经 5 4℃存放 14天 ,杀菌效果无明显变化。以其原液对雌、雄小鼠经口 LD50 >5 0 0 0 mg/Kg,对大耳白兔一次眼、皮肤刺激试验平均积分指数为 0 ,微核试验阴性 ,蓄积毒性试验为弱蓄积毒性     

Acute renal failure as a result of bilateral ureteral obstruction by Candida albicans fungus balls

A 73-year-old male with a history of diabetes mellitus was admitted to our hospital for acute renal failure. An ultrasonogram revealed bilateral hydronephrosis, which worsened despite insertion of a bladder catheter. Nephrostomy catheters were positioned bilaterally, and Candida albicans was found in the urine culture. The patient was successfully treated with intermittent direct irrigation and i.v. antifungal agent therapy. Since 1977, approximately 50 cases of fungus balls or fungal bezoars in the urinary tract have been reported, but the majority of these cases have been characterized by unilateral ureteral or bladder involvement. Herein, we report a case of acute renal failure as a result of bilateral ureteral obstruction by Candida albicans fungus balls.