FEBS Lett, 1991 Apr 22, 282(1), 98 - 102 Diversity of the protein kinase gene family in rice; Feng XH et al.; Multiple genes have been found to encode families of protein kinases in animals and yeasts . Little is known of the diversity of protein kinase families in plants . We have used the polymerase chain reaction to identify members of protein kinase gene family in rice . We have cloned eight partial cDNA sequences from which deduced amino acid sequences contained conserved sequences or amino acid residues characteristic of catalytic domains of eukaryotic protein serine/threonine kinases . Our results suggest that there is great complexity in the protein kinase gene family in plants and that protein phophorylation may play an as important role in plants as in in other eukaryotes. J Protozool, 1991 Mar-Apr, 38(2), 148 - 57 The fine structure of secretion in Hyalophysa chattoni: formation of the attachment peduncle and the chitinous phoretic cyst wall; Landers SC; The settling tomite stage of the apostome Hyalophysa chattoni secretes a phoretic cyst wall composed of chitin, mucopolysaccharides, and protein . Within 1 1/2 h after settling, an electron-dense proteinaceous cyst layer (the outer layer) is formed from secretions originating at the base of the kineties and from the thick pellicular layer between the kineties . The inner cyst layer, composed primarily of chitin (acidic and neutral polysaccharides are also present), is secreted across the entire cell surface . Cyst wall formation is completed within 6 h . The fine structure of endocyst secretion resembles stages in the secretion of chitin by fungi, yeasts, and arthropods . A proteinaceous attachment peduncle is secreted to anchor the cell to a shrimp host and is formed by the release of electrondense dense secretory bodies from the cell's ventral surface. Mol Cell Biol, 1991 Mar, 11(3), 1578 - 89 Leucine periodicity of U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) A' protein is implicated in snRNP assembly via protein-protein interactions; Fresco LD et al.; Recombinant A' protein could be reconstituted into U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) upon addition to HeLa cell extracts as determined by coimmunoprecipitation and particle density; however, direct binding to U2 RNA could not be demonstrated except in the presence of the U2 snRNP B" protein . Mutational analysis indicated that a central core region of A' was required for particle reconstitution . This region consists of five tandem repeats of approximately 24 amino acids each that exhibit a periodicity of leucine and asparagine residues that is distinct from the leucine zipper . Similar leucine-rich (Leu-Leu motif) repeats are characteristic of a diverse array of soluble and membrane-associated proteins from yeasts to humans but have not been reported previously to reside in nuclear proteins . Several of these proteins, including Toll, chaoptin, RNase/angiogenin inhibitors, lutropin-choriogonadotropin receptor, carboxypeptidase N, adenylyl cyclase, CD14, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev, may be involved in protein-protein interactions . Our findings suggest that in cell extracts the Leu-Leu motif of A' is required for reconstitution with U2 snRNPs and perhaps with other components involved in splicing through protein-protein interactions. J Mol Evol, 1991 Mar, 32(3), 227 - 37 Structure and molecular evolutionary analysis of a plant cytochrome c gene: surprising implications for Arabidopsis thaliana; Kemmerer EC et al.; We have isolated a cytochrome c gene from Arabidopsis thaliana (cv . Columbia), which is the first cytochrome c gene to be cloned from a higher plant . Genomic DNA blot analysis indicates that there is only one copy of cytochrome c in Arabidopsis . The gene consists of three exons separated by two introns . Gene features such as regulatory regions, codon usage, and conserved splicing-specific sequences are all present and typical of dicotyledonous plant nuclear genes . We have constructed phenograms and cladograms for cytochrome c amino acid sequences and histone H3, alcohol dehydrogenase, and actin DNA sequences . For both cytochrome c and histone H3, Arabidopsis clusters poorly with other higher plants . Instead, it clusters with Neurospora and/or the yeasts . We suggest that perhaps this observation should be considered when using Arabidopsis as a model system for higher plants. J Clin Microbiol, 1991 Feb, 29(2), 227 - 30 Amplification of repetitive DNA for the specific detection of Naegleria fowleri; McLaughlin GL et al.; By using hybridization at low C0t values, a genomic library on Naegleria fowleri was screened for clones containing repetitive DNA . Partial sequence information from a repetitive clone, Nf9, showed sequence homologies with the mitochondrial ATPase 6 subunit from yeasts and other organisms . Synthetic DNA primers were selected and tested in amplification reactions . Nonstringent hybridization conditions were defined which allowed amplification of N . fowleri DNA and reduced amplification of DNA from nonpathogenic Naegleria species . Stringent conditions were selected which allowed detection only of N . fowleri . Identity of the amplified DNA was confirmed by using internal restriction sites and an internal primer . In a blind study, tissue from mice experimentally infected with N . fowleri was specifically detected by using stringent hybridization conditions. Drugs, 1991 Feb, 41(2), 178 - 84 The control of seborrhoeic dermatitis and dandruff by antipityrosporal drugs; McGrath J et al.; For many years the exact nature of the pathophysiology of seborrhoeic dermatitis and dandruff was in doubt . Different schools of thought debated whether Pityrosporum yeasts were of primary pathogenic significance or a secondary phenomenon, with epidermal hyperproliferation as the primary pathology . Although effective therapy in seborrhoeic dermatitis and dandruff has for a long time been based on compounds whose only common link was antipityrosporal activity, proof of this relevance was lacking until the introduction of effective antifungal drugs, in particular ketoconazole . This article charts the swing of opinion towards the primary pityrosporal aetiology of seborrhoeic dermatitis and dandruff, reviews the evidence that antipityrosporal activity is the common link to various compounds which benefit these conditions, and compares the efficacy of these substances in treatment. Clin Ther, 1991 Jan-Feb, 13(1), 126 - 41 Oxiconazole nitrate: pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of a new imidazole antifungal agent; Jegasothy BV et al.; Oxiconazole nitrate (1%) cream became available in the United States in 1989 for the once-daily treatment of tinea pedis, tinea cruris, and tinea corporis . It has also proved valuable in the once-daily treatment of tinea (pityriasis) versicolor . In vitro oxiconazole is highly effective against many dermatophytes, including Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton tonsurans, and Epidermophyton floccosum . After application to the skin, oxiconazole is rapidly absorbed into the stratum corneum, maximum concentrations often being attained within 100 minutes . Fungicidal concentrations are maintained in the epidermis, upper corium, and deeper corium for at least five hours, and levels exceeding the minimum inhibitory concentrations of susceptible fungi are present in the corneum, epidermis, upper corium, and the hair follicle for over 16 hours . Applied once daily for four weeks in the treatment of tinea pedis or for two weeks in the treatment of tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and tinea versicolor, 1% oxiconazole cream has produced mycologic and clinical cures in at least 80% of patients . In plantar-type tinea pedis caused primarily by T rubrum, once-daily oxiconazole cream resulted in a mycologic cure in 76% of patients . The efficacy of once-daily and twice-daily regimens is similar . In comparative clinical trials of various types of dermatophytoses, oxiconazole was shown to be as effective as or more effective than miconazole, clotrimazole, and tolnaftate creams, and as effective as econazole and bifonazole creams . Tolerability of oxiconazole and the other antifungal creams was similar; in irritation studies oxiconazole was better tolerated than econazole . Oxiconazole cream exerts no detectable systemic effect since only a negligible amount is absorbed from the skin . Once-daily use of oxiconazole cream could be valuable in patients with a history of noncompliance with multiple-daily regimens of other topical antifungal agents. Cytometry, 1991, 12(5), 398 - 404 Coincidence in high-speed flow cytometry: models and measurements; Keij JF et al.; In flow cytometry, the coincident arrival of particles becomes a major problem when high sample rates are required . For the development of our high-speed photodamage flow cytometer (ZAPPER), it was of importance to understand the behavior of cells at flow rates of around 50,000-250,000 event/s . We developed and compared two models that describe the relation between the real cell rate and the detectable single cell rate . Both the Computer Simulation model and the Input/Output Device model show distinct optima for the cell rate . The models were compared to measurements performed on the ZAPPER-prototype . Fits of the two models to the experimental data were excellent for cycle times of 4 and 15 microseconds and acceptable for a 2 microseconds cycle time . A third model (Mercer WB, Rev . Sci . Instr . 37:1515-1521,1966) could be fitted to the experimental data, after the proportionality constant k was adapted to the experimental data . At a yield of detectable single cells of 70%, the maximum cell rates are 180,000, 100,000, and 40,000 cells/s for cycle times of 2, 4, and 15 microseconds, respectively . Based on these results we can now select an optimal cell rate for analysis and sorting based on criteria such as accepted cell loss . In addition, the advantages of reducing the cycle time can now be evaluated with respect to the costs of that modification. C R Acad Sci III, 1991, 312(1), 37 - 42 {Detection of homologous oncogene sequences in the genome of Plasmodium falciparum}; Macary C et al.; Homologous sequences of the acute RNA tumor virus oncogenes have been found to be highly conserved within vertebrates, insects and yeasts . In the present work, seven different oncogene DNA sequences have been used as probes to search for homologous sequences in the DNA of the protozoan Plasmodium falciparum . Both the v-fms v-Ha ras probes hybridized P . falciparum DNA . The oncogene study will allow an understanding of the biology of the parasite and particularly the host-parasite relationships which allow P . falciparum to develop, keeping the established harmony between the parasite and his host. Ann Dermatol Venereol, 1991, 118(9), 607 - 9 {Seborrheic dermatitis and cancer of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts}; Guillaume JC et al.; Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is frequent in adults . Its aetiology is unknown, and the alleged causative effect of Pityrosporum-type yeasts is strongly controverted . Nutritional, genetic and neuropsychological factors may play a part in its occurrence . The responsibility of immunological factors has recently been illustrated by the high prevalence of SD in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . We found a high frequency of SD in patients under treatment for carcinomas of the upper respiratory and digestive tracts (URDT), and in order to confirm this finding we carried out a prospective case-control epidemiological study . Since most patients with URDT carcinoma are heavy drinkers and smokers, we divided our controls into two groups: chronic alcoholics without cancer (Group B) and patients with non-URDT cancers . At the time of admission, all patients were examined by the same physician, and SD was diagnosed on clinical grounds . Cases (Group A) comprised 50 patients (48 men, 2 women; mean age 56 years) with URDT carcinoma . All were alcohol and tobacco addicts . Thirty-six of these patients had undergone surgery for their cancer, and among these 19 had received radiotherapy, 8 chemotherapy and 18 both chemo- and radiotherapy . The first control group (Group B) also comprised 50 patients, all male, with a mean age of 59 years, who had been admitted for diseases due to alcoholism but showed no evidence of cancer . The second control group (Group C) consisted of 50 male patients (mean age 69 years) whose cancer was not an URDT carcinoma.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Mycoses, 1991, 34 Suppl 1, 87 - 9 {Candida colonization in diseases of the oral mucosa: clinical observations}; Hook B; The influence of Candida colonization of the oral mucosa in cases of diseases such as lichen planus mucosae and pemphigus vulgaris is demonstrated . Those colonizations which are not clinically evident may easily be overlooked . They may be one of the reasons why the treatment of the underlying diseases appears to be not effective . Repeated cultural investigations of yeasts in those diseases are necessary, especially during their sometimes prolonged therapy. Cytometry, 1991, 12(8), 743 - 7 Amphotericin B susceptibility testing of Candida species by flow cytometry; O'Gorman MR et al.; We have developed an 8 hr flow cytometry (FCM) method for assessing susceptibility of yeasts to amphotericin B (AmpB) . The method detects both high-level and relative-resistance to the drug . Variables found to affect fluorescence of control and AmpB treated cells included pH, presence of glucose, incubation conditions, concentration and length of exposure to both AmpB and ethidium bromide (ETBR), and the degree of resistance to AmpB . The FCM method was optimized based on increased red fluorescence intensity (RF), decreased forward angle light scatter (FALS), and a negative gating technique . A dose response was seen between 0.1 and 10 micrograms AmpB/ml for the susceptible control strain . Greater than 50% of cells from all susceptible strains tested transfer into the negative gate when exposed to 2.5 micrograms Amp B/ml while fewer than 5% of cells of the highly resistant C . tropicalis (ATCC 28707) are affected at concentrations up to 20 micrograms/ml . This method may provide a more accurate assessment of Amp B susceptibility than conventional tube dilution methods. Rev Mal Respir, 1991, 8(5), 495 - 7 {Pulmonary histoplasmosis due to Histoplasma capsulatum . A case}; Mongeal E et al.; The authors report a case of benign multinodular pulmonary histoplasmosis, occurring in a 65 year old woman coming back from Guatemala . The disease presented with both fever and cough . The diagnosis was made on a lung biopsy (by thoracotomy) that showed granulomas with giant cells, lymphocytes and central necrosis, and histoplasma capsulatum yeasts on Gomori Grocott coloration . The authors recall the main radiological forms of the disease, and the difficulties of the diagnosis . When not disseminated, histoplasmosis usually has a good prognosis and does not require any treatment. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol, 1991, 56, 237 - 41 Regulation of ras p21 by GTPase activating proteins; McCormick F et al.; We propose a model for dual effector functions of the known ras GAPs p120-GAP and NF1-GAP . This model is consistent with known biological and biochemical effects of GAPs in mammalian cells, but it is clearly not a proven hypothesis, and several difficulties remain in making this model convincing . One is the apparent difference between mammalian cells and yeasts, in which GAPs do not have a demonstrable effector function . The other is the difficulty of eliminating the possibility that other effectors exist that do not have GAP activity and do not bind ras p21 sufficiently tightly to allow detection through physical association . We hope that further analysis of GAP function will clarify the roles of these proteins, allowing at least a partial description of ras action in normal and malignant mammalian cells. Zh Evol Biokhim Fiziol, 1991 Jan-Feb, 27(1), 75 - 8 {A method for determining the classification of a protein in a given family at a low level of similarity}; Klebanov SE et al.; Basing on the analysis of the primary structure of proteins from a family of signal receptor proteins, the existence of short extremely conservative family-specific chains was postulated . These chains may serve as a marker in determination of the relationship of a protein to the given family . On the basis of the performed analysis, it is suggested that mass-oncogene belongs to the family of signal receptors, whereas pheromonal receptor of the yeasts STE-2--presumably does not. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1990 Dec, 142(6 Pt 2), S3 - 6 Progression through the cell cycle: an overview; Fridovich-Keil JL et al.; Tissues in adults can be maintained at constant mass or they can increase or decrease in size because of imbalances of synthetic and degradative processes acting at the cellular and molecular levels . Some size changes are caused by physiologic conditions to which the tissue must adjust . Alternatively, the balance may be distorted in favor of net tissue increase in pathologic situations such as cancer . Strict regulatory mechanisms are required to keep proliferation responsive to the organism's needs; these mechanisms may be defective in disease . Net tissue proliferation requires repeated rounds of cell duplication in excess of that necessary to counterbalance cell death . Duplication of a cell requires a net doubling of its every molecule and structure . The myriad of molecular events required for cell proliferation such as DNA duplication and its partitioning at mitosis are tightly regulated in normal cells . One may conceive of two classes of molecules: those required for "housekeeping," which constitute the cell's structural and functional machinery, and those such as growth factors, their receptors, and second messengers involved in signal transduction responsible for regulating the activities of the housekeeping molecules . These molecular events and the cascade of processes that control them can be organized within the sequence of the cell cycle . In this brief overview, we illustrate these issues with a few examples taken from very recent discoveries of novel proteins that appear to have major regulatory roles . Most of these results have been obtained with mammalian fibroblasts, but some have originated with discoveries made using two very different yeasts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Trends Genet, 1990 Dec, 6(12), 395 - 400 Nucleosomes: regulators of transcription; Grunstein M; Histones and nucleosomes are involved in the folding of DNA in the eukaryotic cell . Recent evidence suggests that they are also involved in a multistep process of DNA unfolding and gene regulation. Indian J Biochem Biophys, 1990 Dec, 27(6), 443 - 5 Identification and characterization of receptors for protein import into chloroplasts and mitochondria; Pain D et al.; An anti-idiotypic antibody approach was used to identify chloroplast and mitochondrial protein component(s) which interact with the corresponding signal sequence . The proteins thus identified can be operationally defined as receptor(s) for import of proteins into chloroplasts and mitochondria . The import receptor(s) was found in "contact sites" between the outer and inner membrane of chloroplast envelope or of mitochondria. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol, 1990 Nov, 70(5), 631 - 6 Oral histoplasmosis as a presenting disease in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; Oda D et al.; A 43-year-old homosexual man visited his dentist with painful, nodular, ulcerated lesions on the soft palate, right buccal mucosa, and right posterior maxillary gingiva . Serologic studies for exposure to human immunodeficiency virus, performed before biopsy, were positive . Biopsy of the maxillary gingiva demonstrated sheets of histiocytes containing small intracellular yeasts, which on culture were identified as Histoplasma capsulatum . Bilateral leukoplakic lesions with some vertical furrowing involving the lateral borders of the tongue were also noted . Histologically, hyperkeratosis and fungal hyphae were identified . The patient was treated for histoplasmosis with amphotericin B, which resulted in significant improvement of the oral lesions . He was subsequently hospitalized for fatigue and dyspnea and was found to have Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia . Pulmonary status deteriorated within a 3-week period, and the patient died . Autopsy findings were negative for histoplasmosis but positive for necrotizing and cavitary P . carinii pneumonia, pulmonary and hepatic herpes simplex infections, and pulmonary and intestinal cytomegalovirus infection. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1990 Nov, 58(4), 265 - 9 Capnobotryella renispora on roof tile; Titze A et al.; Capnobotryella renispora J . Sugiyama is described from a specimen on roof tile and in culture . Its relationship with the black yeasts is discussed. Biopolymers, 1990 Oct-Nov, 29(12-13), 1519 - 29 Block-units method for conformational calculations of large nucleic acid chains . II . The two-hierarchical approach and its application to conformational arrangement of the unusual T psi C loop of rabbit tRNA(Val); Vorobjev YN; The two-level hierarchical methodology is suggested for conformational calculations of large fragments of nucleic acids . The method of the first level is intended for performing a fast screening of the conformational phase space . The high-level method may be used to refine structurally important conformations . The method of the first level is the block-units method, which has been developed specially for these purposes (see part I) . It has been shown that the block-units method allows the satisfactory calculation of the structure parameters of the optimal conformations of polynucleotides . The results of the conformational rearrangement calculations of the T psi C loop of the tRNA(Phe) after modification of its sequence are represented. Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr, 1990 Oct, 21(5), 199 - 204 {Extension of life: the apotheosis of the molecular biomedical sciences?}; Vijg J; Evolutionary biologists have shown that many of the adverse effects associated with the ageing process are the (by)products of certain genes: the manifestation of the negative effects of these genes only late in life has effectively constrained their elimination from the germ line by natural selection . In addition, during evolution genes have evolved that govern mechanisms for the protection of the body against exogenous and endogenous insults . These two types of genes, in interaction both with themselves and with the environment specify the maximum life span of a species . New scientific developments, especially in molecular biology, allow the careful analysis of the genetic information and its manipulation . On the basis of these developments more insight will be obtained in the causes of ageing and it will be possible to design new therapies for many of the adverse effects associated with ageing . In the long term it may be possible to remove the basic causes of ageing by genetic manipulation . The mission of the biomedical sciences may then be considered as completed. Trends Biochem Sci, 1990 Oct, 15(10), 378 - 83 Cell cycle control in eukaryotes: molecular mechanisms of cdc2 activation; Draetta G; cdc2 kinase regulates the progression of eukaryotic cells through the division cycle . Events such as cell growth, DNA replication and mitosis are coordinated through the activation of specific forms of this kinase . Here I discuss our present knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate the activity of cdc2 kinase. J Clin Lab Immunol, 1990 Oct, 33(2), 55 - 9 Triggering effects of opsonized-IgG antibody on the superoxide release in the phagosome and phagosome-lysosome fusion by pulmonary alveolar macrophages in rabbits; Suga M et al.; We studied the triggering effects of opsonized-IgG antibody on the superoxide (O2-) release and phagosome-lysosome fusion in the phagosome of pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) . Both were histochemically assayed in the same cell to enable simultaneous observation, using the qualitative superoxide dismutase (SOD)-inhibitable nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction test and the acridine orange (AO) method . When PAM from normal rabbit lungs were made to phagocytize the IgG-treated yeasts, the cells showed the enhanced release of O2- which acted directly on the antibody-coated yeasts as an oxidant, and the enhanced phagosome-lysosome fusion that was inhibited by SOD and was closely related to the enhanced release of O2- in the phagosomes . In contrast, neither enhanced O2- release nor phagosome-lysosome fusion was observed in the PAM which phagocytized saline-treated yeasts . These results may suggest that the opsonized-IgG antibody enhances the O2- release in the phagosome, resulting in the enhanced phagosome-lysosome fusion. Nature, 1990 Sep 27, 347(6291), 400 - 2 Hypervariable ultra-long telomeres in mice; Kipling D et al.; Telomere structure and behaviour is less well understood in vertebrates than it is in ciliates and yeasts (reviewed in ref . 1) . Like all other eukaryotic chromosomes, those of vertebrates terminate in an array of a short repeated sequence . In vertebrates this sequence is (TTAGGG)n, as shown by in situ hybridization . In humans, these terminal repeats are heterogeneous in length, averaging about 10 kilobases in blood cells . Here we report the structure and inheritance of the terminal repeats present at mouse telomeres . The (TTAGGG)n tracts are many times larger than those present at human telomeres . Because of their constancy in length through somatic cell divisions, they are resolved as multiple discrete restriction fragments of up to 150 kilobases . Strikingly, this banding pattern is highly polymorphic within populations of inbred mice, suggesting an unusually high mutation rate . Indeed, although the banding pattern is inherited in a largely mendelian fashion, (TTAGGG)n tracts of new size appear frequently in family studies. J Nat Prod, 1990 Sep-Oct, 53(5), 1176 - 81 CAF-603: a new antifungal carotane sesquiterpene . Isolation and structure elucidation; Watanabe N et al.; A new antifungal compound, CAF-603, was isolated from the culture broth of Gliocladium virens IFO 9166 . The structure of compound 1 has been elucidated by spectroscopic methods that also allowed the relative stereochemistry to be assigned . CAF-603 {1} was active against yeasts and dermatophytes. Br J Clin Pract Suppl, 1990 Sep, 71, 41 - 6 Biochemical basis for the activity and selectivity of oral antifungal drugs; Vanden Bossche H et al.; The ergosterol biosynthesis-inhibiting (EBI) antifungals constitute the most important group of compounds developed for the control of fungal diseases in man . Currently, representatives of two classes of EBI antifungals are available: the squalene epoxidase inhibitors and those that interfere with cytochrome P450-dependent ergosterol synthesis . The allylamines (eg, terbinafine) inhibit squalene epoxidase in sensitive fungi, Trichophyton mentagrophytes being the most sensitive species . The most important developments have come from the introduction of the N-substituted imidazoles and triazoles, the so-called azole antifungals . Most of the currently available imidazoles (eg, miconazole, clotrimazole, econazole) and the triazole derivative terconazole are mainly for topical treatment . Ketoconazole was the first azole derivative orally active against yeasts, dermatophytes and dimorphic fungi . The new triazole, itraconazole, appears to be among the most promising orally active systemic agents . All the azole antifungals inhibit the cytochrome P450-dependent, 14 alpha-demethylase, a key enzyme in the synthesis of ergosterol, the main sterol in most fungal cells . Of all the azoles tested, itraconazole shows the highest affinity for the cytochrome P450 involved . It is about three and ten times more active in vitro than miconazole and the bis-triazole, fluconazole, respectively . Itraconazole's high affinity for the fungal P450 originates from its triazole group as well as from the nonligating lipophilic tail. Cent Afr J Med, 1990 Aug, 36(8), 190 - 2 Anti-Candida antibody levels in psoriasis vulgaris; Soyuer U et al.; Recent reports have suggested a role of Candida colonization of gut in psoriatic patients . In this study, intestinal yeasts and anti-candida immune response were investigated in 39 patients with psoriasis vulgaris . Anti-candida antibodies were determined by indirect haemagglutination (IHAT) and indirect immunofluorescence (IFAT) tests . Stool specimens showed 93pc C . albicans colonization but none of the patients showed clinical candidiasis . Four patients showed an increased IHAT titer and six patients showed an increased IFAT titer, the others were all in normal limits . Anti-Candida antibody titers did not correlate with PASI (Psoriasis area and severity index) scores. Cutis, 1990 Aug, 46(2), 128 - 32 Athlete's foot and onychomycosis caused by Hendersonula toruloidea; Abramson C; Fungi other than the dermatophytes can cause infections of the foot, toes and toenails that simulate classic "athlete's foot." Unless diagnosed culturally and morphologically by the clinical laboratory, treatment failures may occur . The saprophyte Hendersonula toruloidea as well as other fungi and yeasts reported to cause such infections have been shown to be clinically indistinguishable from classic dermatophytic "athlete's foot." The clinical and laboratory diagnosis of these types of foot infections caused by Hendersonula toruloidea are described . Specific transport media required for laboratory diagnosis and therapeutic alternatives are reviewed. Curr Genet, 1990 Aug, 18(2), 117 - 24 Two group I mitochondrial introns in the cob-box and coxI genes require the same MRS1/PET157 nuclear gene product for splicing; Bousquet I et al.; We have studied the role of the product of the nuclear gene PET157 in mitochondrial pre-mRNA splicing . Cytoduction experiments show that a mitochondrial genome deleted for the three introns bI3, aI5 and aI6 is able to suppress the pet157-1 mutation: the strain recovers respiratory competency indicating that the product of the PET157 gene is only required for mitochondrial pre-mRNA splicing . Characterization of the high molecular weight pre-mRNAs which accumulate in the pet157 mutant demonstrate that the product of the PET157 gene is required for the excision of two group I introns bI3 and aI6 (corresponding to aI5 beta) located in the cob-box and coxI genes respectively . Furthermore, the pet157 mutant strain accumulates the bI3 maturase in the form of a polypeptide of 50K (p50) previously observed in mitochondrial mutants defective in the excision of bI3 . We have shown by restriction analysis and allelism tests that the pet157-1 mutation is allelic to the nuclear mrs1 mutation, previously described as specifically blocking the excision of bI3 . Finally, revertants obtained by the deletion of bI3 or aI6 from the mitochondrial DNA were isolated from the MRS1 disrupted allele, confirming the involvement of the product of the MRS1/PET157 gene in the excision of the two introns bI3 and aI6. J Biochem (Tokyo), 1990 Jul, 108(1), 7 - 8 Site-directedly mutated human cytochrome c which retains heme c via only one thioether bond; Tanaka Y et al.; Although Cys-14 (human numbering) of cytochrome c was conserved during its molecular evolution and it is supposed to be essential for most cytochromes c to retain heme c via two thioether bonds, a site-directedly mutated human cytochrome c which has an alanine residue at this position and only one thioether bond through Cys-17 turns out to be functional . This shows that Cys-14 is not essential . The absorption spectrum of the atypical cytochrome c is red shifted, and similar to those of Euglena and Crithidia cytochromes c, which also have only one thioether bond {Pettigrew, G.W., Leaver, J.L., Meyer, T.E., & Ryle, A.P . (1975) Biochem . J . 147, 291-302}. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis, 1990 Jul-Aug, 13(4), 337 - 9 A comparison of calcofluor white, potassium hydroxide, and culture for the laboratory diagnosis of superficial fungal infection; Haldane DJ et al.; A total of 207 skin scrapings were prospectively studied using potassium hydroxide (KOH), calcofluor white (CW), and culture to determine the clinical usefulness of each microscopic method . For dermatophytes (prevalence 13.2%), CW had a sensitivity of 92% and a specificity 95%, giving a positive predictive value of 74% and negative predictive value of 99% . KOH had a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 95%, giving a positive predictive value of 73% and a negative predictive value of 98% . CW was simple, rapid, and easy to read . For dermatophyte infection, CW results are as useful as KOH results. J Immunol, 1990 Jun 15, 144(12), 4765 - 72 The respiratory burst response to Histoplasma capsulatum by human neutrophils . Evidence for intracellular trapping of superoxide anion; Schnur RA et al.; Human neutrophils (PMN) have received little attention as to the role they play in host defense against Histoplasma capsulatum (Hc) . We have characterized the binding and phagocytosis of Hc yeasts by human PMN and quantified the PMN respiratory burst in response to this organism . mAb specific for CD11a, CD11b, and CD11c all partially blocked the attachment of unopsonized yeasts to PMN; a mAb to CD18 inhibited attachment by greater than 90% . Thus, human PMN recognize and bind Hc yeasts via CD18 adhesion receptors as has been found for human cultured macrophages and alveolar macrophages . Unopsonized yeasts were phagocytosed by PMN, but phagocytosis was increased markedly by heat-labile and heat-stable serum opsonins . These opsonins promoted enhanced phagocytosis of yeasts by increasing the attachment of Hc yeasts to the PMN membrane . Phagocytosis of viable or heat-killed Hc yeasts by PMN did not induce the secretion of superoxide anion (O2-) as quantified by the reduction of cytochrome c . O2- was not detected when yeasts were opsonized in normal serum or immune serum, or at a ratio of yeasts to PMN of up to a 100:1 . However, phagocytosis of opsonized yeasts by PMN did not prevent them from subsequently releasing O2- after further incubation with opsonized zymosan or PMA . Opsonized Hc yeasts clearly stimulated the PMN respiratory burst as quantified by intracellular reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium, reduction of cytochrome c in the presence of cytochalasin D, oxygen consumption, luminol-enhanced and nonenhanced chemiluminescence, and H2O2 production . These data suggest that phagocytosis of Hc yeasts by PMN is associated with intracellular entrapment of O2- that is not detectable by reduction of extracellular cytochrome c. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Jun, 34(6), 1281 - 4 Penetration of SCH-39304, a new antifungal triazole, into cerebrospinal fluid of primates; Walsh TJ et al.; We characterized the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration and pharmacokinetics of SCH-39304 in adult rhesus monkeys receiving a single oral dose of SCH-39304 (2.0 mg/kg of body weight) . The mean CSF-to-plasma area under the curve ratio was 0.63 (+/- 0.18, standard error of the mean); maximum concentrations were 1.34 micrograms/ml (+/- 0.18) in CSF and 1.96 micrograms/ml (+/- 0.43) in plasma . The mean plasma half-life was 45.7 h (+/- 11), and mean CSF half-life was 38.7 h (+/- 3.5) . The mean levels of SCH-39304 at 24 h were 1.48 micrograms/ml (+/- 0.3) in plasma and 0.96 microgram/ml (+/- 0.12) in CSF . We conclude that SCH-39304 effectively penetrates into CSF and achieves concentrations considered active against many opportunistic yeasts and that these concentrations are sustained in CSF for greater than or equal to 24 h. Pathol Biol (Paris), 1990 Jun, 38(5 ( Pt 2)), 579 - 84 {Electron microscopy study of amorolfin action against Malassezia furfur (Robin) Baillon}; Moulin-Traffort J et al.; During 48 hours, yeasts (Malassezia furfur) are brought into contact with a new antifungal agent of broad antifungal spectrum, amorolfine, used with the following concentrations: 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10 micrograms/ml . After centrifugation, pellets are fixed, using the conventional technique of electron microscopy . Although the cell wall seems intact, the changes observed at the level of the cytoplasm and of the cell organels can be compared to those observed in blastospores of C . albicans . This analogy of activity of amorolfine and of azole derivatives is discussed. Magn Reson Med, 1990 Jun, 14(3), 435 - 44 Measurement of translational displacement probabilities by NMR: an indicator of compartmentation; Cory DG et al.; We introduce and demonstrate an NMR pulsed gradient stimulated echo method of directly obtaining the molecular translational displacement probability (displacement profile) of a liquid . The temporal development of the displacement profile reflects the presence of diffusion, restrictions to diffusion (e.g., walls, membranes), flow, and spatially dependent relaxation sinks . This approach allows the study of compartments which are too small to be observed by conventional NMR imaging methods . The distribution of spatial properties of compartments can be characterized over a spatial field of about 0.1 to 25 microns, completely independent of the absolute spatial location of the individual compartments. Pathol Biol (Paris), 1990 Jun, 38(5 ( Pt 2)), 572 - 4 {Sensitivity of Aspergillus to ketoconazole and itraconazole using a standardized micromethod}; Guinet R et al.; The standardized micromethod Mycototal is based on ready-to-use microtitration plates and the same culture medium for sensitivity testing of all antifungal agents . Since the method was very reproducible for yeasts it was applied for the determination of minimal inhibitory concentrations of Aspergillus to itraconazole and ketoconazole . Again the reproducibility for itraconazole was excellent since for 19 strains tested two times 18 showed no more than two dilutions different results and this was also observed for 6 strains over 7 tested 4 or 5 times . Over 31 strains tested belonging to different Aspergillus species, itraconazole was much more active than ketoconazole since for 2.5 mg/l all the strains were sensitive to itraconazole and only one to ketoconazole . Moreover no strains were sensitive to ketoconazole for 0.62 mg/l versus 9 strains sensitive to itraconazole . These results showed on one hand the reproducibility of the method and on the other hand the potency of itraconazole against Aspergillus according to the literature and let us hope to a better chemotherapy of aspergillosis. Carbohydr Res, 1990 May 15, 199(1), 37 - 54 Synthesis and biological activities of methyl oligobiosaminide and some deoxy isomers thereof; Shibata Y et al.; Methyl oligobiosaminide (1) the core structure of oligostatin C, and five analogues, the 6-hydroxy-(2), 2-deoxy- (3), 2-deoxy-6-hydroxy- (4), 3-deoxy- (5), and 3-deoxy-6-hydroxy derivatives (6), were synthesized by coupling the protected pseudo-sugar epoxide 46 with suitable methyl 4-amino-4-deoxy-alpha-D-hexopyranoside derivatives . Compounds 3 and 6 showed notable inhibitory activity against alpha-D-glucosidase and alpha-D-mannosidase, respectively, whereas compound 1 had almost no activity. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 May, 34(5), 896 - 8 Treatment of murine pulmonary blastomycosis with SCH 39304, a new triazole antifungal agent; Sugar AM et al.; SCH 39304, a broad-spectrum azole derivative, was evaluated in an experimental mouse model of blastomycosis pneumonia . Five days after being inoculated with Blastomyces dermatitidis, infected mice were treated with either oral SCH 39304, fluconazole, or intraperitoneal amphotericin B . A dose response protective effect was observed with SCH 39304 at 5 to 100 mg/kg of body weight per day, with 5 mg of SCH 39304 per kg per day providing activity similar to that of 100 mg of fluconazole per kg per day . Colony counts of yeasts in the lungs of mice sacrificed while on therapy with SCH 39304 were consistently below those of controls, and several lungs were sterile . We conclude that SCH 39304 is effective in murine blastomycosis treatment and deserves to be evaluated in the treatment of human blastomycosis. Biochemistry, 1990 Apr 3, 29(13), 3389 - 95 Enzymatic synthesis of pyrene-labeled polyphosphoinositides and their behavior in organic solvents and phosphatidylcholine bilayers; Gadella TW Jr et al.; A method is reported for the synthesis of pyrene-labeled analogues of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (Pyr-PIP) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate (Pyr-PIP2) from sn-2-(pyrenyl-decanoyl)phosphatidylinositol (Pyr-PI) using partially purified PI and PIP kinase preparations . Phosphorylation of Pyr-PI and Pyr-PIP was extensive (more than 50%) provided that the ATP concentration was high and that stabilizing agents such as sucrose and polyethylene glycol were present in the incubation medium . Pyr-PIP and Pyr-PIP2 were isolated by chromatography on immobilized neomycin . The identity of the products was established by thin-layer chromatography, UV-absorption spectroscopy, and spectrofluorometry . The pyrene excimer/monomer fluorescence technique revealed that, in contrast to Pyr-PI, Pyr-PIP and Pyr-PIP2 formed clusters in organic solvents . By use of the same technique for model membranes, it was shown that in phosphatidylcholine bilayers the collision frequency of the three fluorescent phosphoinositides decreased in the order PI greater than PIP greater than PIP2 . Addition of Ca2+ at concentrations above 0.1 mM increased the collision frequency of Pyr-PIP2 and, to a much lesser extent, Pyr-PIP; Ca2+ had no effect on Pyr-PI. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1990 Apr, 34(4), 587 - 93 Evaluation of nikkomycins X and Z in murine models of coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and blastomycosis; Hector RF et al.; Nikkomycins X and Z, competitive inhibitors of fungal chitin synthase, were evaluated as therapeutic agents in vitro and in mouse models of coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and blastomycosis . In vitro, the nikkomycins were found to be most effective against the highly chitinous, dimorphic fungi Coccidioides immitis and Blastomyces dermatitidis, were less effective against yeasts, and were virtually without effect on the filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus . Additionally, by transmission electron microscopy, nikkomycin Z was highly disruptive to the cell wall and internal structure of the spherule-endospore phase of C . immitis in vitro . In vivo, nikkomycin Z was more effective than nikkomycin X, was also found to be superior on a milligram per milligram basis to the majority of azoles tested in the models of coccidioidomycosis and blastomycosis, and was moderately effective in histoplasmosis . A study of the pharmacokinetics in mice showed that nikkomycin Z was rapidly eliminated after intravenous infusion but that absorption after oral administration was sufficiently slow to allow inhibitory levels to persist for more than 2 h . Results of limited toxicology tests suggest that nikkomycin Z was well tolerated at the dosages employed. Genet Anal Tech Appl, 1990 Apr, 7(2), 35 - 8 Complexity charts can be used to map functional domains in DNA; Konopka AK et al.; We measured local compositional complexity (LCC) of DNA sequences by calculating Shannon information content over mononucleotide frequencies . Eukaryotic DNA appeared to be "simpler" than bacterial DNA even at the level of short oligonucleotides . Moreover, different DNA functional domains displayed different compositional complexity in a systematic manner . In particular, the complexity of exon sequences was systematically higher than the complexity of corresponding introns . We therefore present examples of complexity charts (plots of complexity versus position in sequence) for pre-mRNA sequences from higher eukaryotes . By taking a window width of 100 nucleotides and a window step of 1 nucleotide, introns can be distinguished from exons in the majority of cases studied . Complexity charts of immunoglobulin variable regions allowed correct mapping of exons and introns in these sequences as well, a task that was impossible with commercial programs available to date. Biochemistry, 1990 Mar 13, 29(10), 2586 - 92 Resonance Raman spectroscopy of cytochrome c peroxidase single crystals on a variable-temperature microscope stage; Smulevich G et al.; Good quality resonance Raman (RR) spectra have been obtained for cytochrome c peroxidase single crystals (0.2 x 0.5 x 1 mm) lying on their 110 faces on a microscope stage . Crystal orientation and polarization effects are observed which differentiate the RR bands on the basis of the symmetries of the porphyrin vibrational modes . The measured depolarization ratios are accurately calibrated for isolated bands of both totally symmetric and non totally symmetric modes by using a model of D4h chromophores in an oriented gas using the crystal structure atomic coordinates . The calculations indicate that the electronic transition moments are approximately along the lines connecting the methine bridges, suggesting an electronic steering effect of the vinyl groups . Deviations are observed for bands associated with the porphyrin v10 and the vinyl C = C stretching modes, which may be due to their near-resonant interaction . The band frequencies correspond to those of a five-coordinate high-spin FeIII heme, as previously observed in solution, consistent with the X-ray structure showing the Fe atom to be out of the heme plane on the proximal side with a distal water molecule located at a nonbonded distance, 2.4 A . The temperature dependence of the RR spectrum was determined with a Joule-Thompson cryostat on crystals sealed in glass capillaries . As the temperature is lowered, the spectrum converts to one characteristic of a low-spin FeIII heme . The conversion, which is readily reversible, is quite gradual . It is detectable at -50 degrees C but is incomplete even at -190 degrees C . A temperature effect on the protein structure is proposed which permits the Fe atom to approach the heme plane and bind the distal water molecule, or the distal histidine. Clin Exp Dermatol, 1990 Mar, 15(2), 95 - 100 Changes in fungal ultrastructure after short-course ciclopiroxolamine therapy in pityriasis versicolor; del Palacio-Hernanz A et al.; The clinical outcome and the effects on morphogenesis and cell ultrastructure induced by a 1% ciclopiroxolamine solution in six patients with proven pityriasis versicolor were studied . Treatment regimens consisting of a once-daily application for 1 day, 2 days (Days 1 and 4) or 3 days (Days 1, 4 and 8) . Clinical evaluation, scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed on skin scrapings before treatment, and at 3, 7, 15 and 21 days after the start of therapy . SEM techniques have shown severe changes in the surface ultrastructure of yeasts and hyphae of Pityrosporum spp . (Malassezia furfur) 15 days after the start of therapy . TEM techniques showed extensive internal disruption, mainly severe necrosis of the cytoplasm, 3 and 7 days after the start of treatment . However, KOH direct microscopy showed apparently normal morphology of Pityrosporum spp . (Malassezia furfur) at all assessment points . The final clinical cure in all the patients was achieved 21 days after the start of therapy. Rev Infect Dis, 1990 Mar-Apr, 12 Suppl 3, S364 - 8 Therapy for oropharyngeal candidiasis in the immunocompromised host: a randomized double-blind study of fluconazole vs . ketoconazole; Meunier F et al.; Optimal therapy for oropharyngeal candidiasis, a common infection in immunocompromised patients, has yet to be clearly defined . Topical therapy is usually poorly tolerated; ketoconazole is effective but absorption is highly variable . New antifungal agents have been developed to increase the therapeutic options . Fluconazole is active against yeasts, is available in both oral and intravenous formulations, and has a pharmacokinetic profile different from that of ketoconazole . This randomized double-blind study evaluates systemic antifungal therapy with fluconazole (100 mg daily) or ketoconazole (400-mg daily) for oropharyngeal candidiasis in patients with cancer . Clinical cure was observed in 15 of 19 and 14 of 18 patients treated with fluconazole and ketoconazole, respectively . Eradication of pathogenic yeasts ws documented for 10 patients in both groups . The rates of relapse were similar, but relapse occurred earlier in patients in the ketoconazole group . Overall, this study demonstrates the value of a dosage of 100 mg of fluconazole or of 400 mg of ketoconazole daily for the management of oropharyngeal candidiasis in patients with cancer. FEBS Lett, 1990 Feb 12, 261(1), 131 - 4 The redox-cycling assay is not suited for the detection of pyrroloquinoline quinone in biological samples; van der Meer RA et al.; Based on the results of the so-called redox-cycling assay it has been claimed that various common foods and beverages as well as mammalian body fluids and tissues contain substantial quantities (microM) of free PQQ {M . Paz et al . (1989) in: PQQ and Quinoproteins (J.A . Jongejan and J.A . Duine, eds.) Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp . 131-143 and J . Killgore et al . (1989) Science 245, 850-852} . However, by investigating samples from such sources with a biological assay of nM sensitivity, we could not confirm these claims . Analysis of the samples with procedures that proved adequate for the detection of PQQ adducts and conjugates gave equally negative results . To account for the positive response in the redox-cycling assay, as opposed to the negative results obtained by other methods, a search was made for those substances in these samples that caused the false-positive reactions . It was found that a number of commonly occurring biochemicals like ascorbic and dehydroascorbic acid, riboflavin and to a lesser extent pyridoxal phosphate, gave a positive response in the redox-cycling assay . The amounts of these interfering substances that were determined in the samples by independent methods could well explain the response . In separate experiments it was found that the effect of PQQ added to biological samples was obscured over an appreciable range of concentrations . For these reasons it must be concluded that the redox-cycling assay is not suited for the detection of PQQ in these samples . Any claims that are based on the results of this method should be disregarded. J Biochem (Tokyo), 1990 Feb, 107(2), 242 - 7 The difference in the type of codon-anticodon base pairing at the ribosomal P-site is one of the determinants of the translational rate; Kato M et al.; By utilizing an enzymatically reconstructed tRNA variant containing an altered anticodon sequence, we have examined the different biochemical behavior of translation between the Watson-Crick type and the wobble type base pair interactions at the first anticodon position . We have found that the Watson-Crick type base pair has an advantage in translation in contrast to the wobble type base pair by comparing the efficiency of transpeptidation of native tRNA(Phe) (anticodon; GmAA) with its variant tRNA (anticodon; AAA) in the poly(U)-programmed ribosome system . Thomas et al . {Proc . Natl . Acad . Sci . U.S . (1988) 85, 4242-4246} showed that the wobble codon at the ribosomal A-site accepted its cognate tRNA less efficiently than the Watson-Crick base pairing codon . We report here that the wobble interaction at the ribosomal P-site also affected the rate of translation . This variable translational rate may be a mechanism of gene regulation through preferential codon usage. Biokhimiia, 1990 Feb, 55(2), 276 - 84 {Components of human complement system . Testing and isolation of C3 and C5}; Kosiak AV et al.; Modified reagents for testing the hemolytic activity of human complement components, C3 and C5, have been obtained . These reagents were obtained by treatment of human blood serum pools with a saturated solution of KBr (reagent R3) or 2 M KSCN and denaturated yeasts (reagent R5) . These reagents were found to be rich in the serum factor obtained through the use of DEAE-cellulose DE-52 and containing the active component of the complement (C4) . To test the sensitivity and specificity of the above reagents, components C3 and C5 were purified . After this procedure these components emerged as hemolytically active, electrophoretically and immunophoretically homogeneous components, C3 and C5 . DEAE-cellulose DE-52, DEAE-Sephacel, Hydroxylapatite and Ultra-gel AcA-34 were used consecutively as purification agents . The activity yields of components C3 and C5 with regard to the initial serum levels were 31% and 18%, respectively. J Protein Chem, 1990 Feb, 9(1), 59 - 67 Substitution of a proline for alanine 183 in the hinge region of phosphoglycerate kinase: effects on catalysis, activation by sulfate, and thermal stability; Bailey JM et al.; A "hinge-bending" domain movement has been postulated as an important part of the catalytic mechanism of phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) (Banks et al., 1979) . In order to test the role of the flexibility of a putative interdomain hinge in the substrate- and sulfate-induced conformational transitions, alanine-183 was replaced by proline using site-directed mutagenesis . The maximal velocity of the Ala 183----Pro mutant, measured at saturating concentrations of ATP and phosphoglycerate (5 mM and 10 mM, respectively) and in the absence of sulfate ions, is increased approximately 21% in comparison to the wild type PGK . The Km values for both substrates are essentially unchanged . The effect of sulfate on the specific activity of the Ala 183----Pro mutant and the wild type PGK was measured in the presence of 1 mM ATP and 2 mM 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PG) . A maximum activation of 70% was observed at 20 mM sulfate for the mutant enzyme, as compared to 130% activation at 30 mM sulfate for the wild type PGK . These results demonstrate that the increased rigidity of the putative hinge, introduced by the Ala----Pro mutation, does not impair catalytic efficiency of phosphoglycerate kinase, while it appears to decrease the sulfate-dependent activation . The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) studies demonstrate an increased susceptibility of the Ala 183----Pro mutant to thermal denaturation . In contrast to one asymmetric transition observed in the DSC scan for the wild type PGK, with Tm near 54 degrees C, two transitions are evident for the mutant enzyme with Tm values of about 45 and 54 degrees C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Nephrologie, 1990, 11(3), 153 - 6 {Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis in Tunisia}; el Matri A et al.; CAPD covers about 4% of renal replacement therapy patients in Tunisia . From February 1983 to 1988, 47 patients, 21 males and 26 females whose mean age was 36, 14 +/- 15 were treated . Their socio-cultural level was variable . The mean duration of therapy was 14.5 months/patient/year . The five years patient survival rate was 46% and the technique survival rate 21% . Most patients had a good general condition and were professionally rehabilitated . Peritonitis was the main complication: its incidence was 1.8 episodes/patient/year . Yeasts peritonitis were relatively frequent, specially in patients who had previously been treated with antibiotics . Peritonitis was often cured with a local and general treatment . Yearly CAPD cost was 1/3 lower than center hemodialysis and a better management allowed to decrease the expenses due to laboratory and X ray investigations and to hospitalization . On the basis of this clinical experience, we believe that CAPD is an efficient and valid therapeutic modality, less expensive than hemodialysis . It is probably a suitable renal replacement therapy in other centers in Tunisia and in other developing countries. Mol Cell Biol, 1990 Jan, 10(1), 430 - 4 Molecular cloning of Xenopus fibrillarin, a conserved U3 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein recognized by antisera from humans with autoimmune disease; Lapeyre B et al.; Autoantibodies against U3 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein are associated with scleroderma autoimmune disease . They were shown to react with fibrillarin, a 34- to 36-kilodalton protein that has been detected in all eukaryotes tested from humans to yeasts . We isolated a 1.6-kilobase cDNA encoding fibrillarin from a Xenopus laevis cDNA library . The protein contains a 79-residue-long Gly-Arg-rich domain in its N-terminal region and a putative RNA-binding domain with ribonucleoprotein consensus sequence in its central portion . This is the first report of cloning of fibrillarin, and the deduced protein sequence is in agreement with the involvement of the protein in a ribonucleoprotein particle. Princess Takamatsu Symp, 1990, 21, 137 - 55 Structure-function aspects of the glucocorticoid receptor; Gustafsson JA et al.; The glucocorticoid receptor belongs to a family of ligand activated nuclear receptors . In addition to steroid hormone receptors, this family also includes receptors for thyroid hormone, retinoic acid and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 as well as some receptors with as yet unknown ligands, the so called orphan receptors . It is possible that the dioxin receptor is a member of this family as well although this cannot be definitely assessed until the receptor has been cloned . Interestingly, the clofibrate receptor, believed to be involved in clofibrate induction of certain isozymes of cytochrome P-450, has recently been shown to be a member of the steroid receptor supergene family and it is conceivable that other P-450 inducers might act via as yet uncharacterized receptors belonging to the same gene family . Therefore, we should learn significantly about principles of P-450 regulation by considering basic mechanisms of glucocorticoid action; the glucocorticoid receptor probably represents the most extensively studied member of the nuclear receptor family . Our laboratory has been particularly interested in structural aspects of this receptor and has used gene technology to overexpress its different domains, particularly the DNA-binding domain, the structure of which has been resolved using NMR. Pol Arch Weter, 1990, 30(1-2), 103 - 15 {Radioactivity of fodder mixtures for poultry and swine}; Dziura A et al.; The investigation was conducted to determine the radioactivities of fodder mixtures and their components for poultry and swine . The total radioactivity, concentrations of potassium, potassium radioisotopes radium and thorium in 273 fodder mixture samples for poultry, 131 fodder mixture samples and concentrates for swine, and 915 component samples of the mixtures were estimated . The radioactivities of fodder mixtures for poultry, swine, and protein concentrates ranged from 212.0 (DKM-2) to 269.0 Bq/kg (DKA-starter), from 206.0 (PT-1) to 233.0 (PP-prestarter), and from 444.0 (KT-1) to 557.0 Bq/kg (Provit), respectively . As to the components of fodder mixture, the radioactivities ranged from 18.0 (fodder phosphate) to 1104.0 Bq/kg (fodder yeasts) . The potassium concentrations in fodder mixtures for poultry ranged from 0.82 g/100 g (DKA-starter) to 0.62 g/100 g (KB-1); for swine ranged from 1.97 g/100 g (Provit) to 0.63 g/100 g (PT-1) . The highest concentration of potassium was found in fodder yeasts (3.85 g/100 g), and the lowest one in fodder phosphate (0.01 g/100 g) . The analysis of the data showed that the radioactivity of the mixtures and their components was mostly conditioned by radiopotassium and revealed correlations between the radioactivities and the total concentrations of potassium . The contamination with the natural radioelements (potassium, radium, thorium) as well as their limited absorption by the gastrointestinal tract, their metabolism in organism, and their radiotoxicological characteristics do not create radiological threat to animals. Mycoses, 1990, 33 Suppl 1, 7 - 13 {The laboratory diagnosis of deep localized candidiasis}; Muller J; A survey on the presently used methods for isolation and differentiation of Candida yeasts as well as on serological methods is presented . The difficulties of the pathognomonic evaluation of laboratory parameters are discussed. Agressologie, 1990, 31(8 Spec No), 514 - 8 {Diagnosis and prevention of candidiasis in intensive care patients}; Leon A et al.; Invasive candidiasis infections remain a major complication in I.C.U . patients . Numerous attempts have been made to evaluate potential prophylactic methods . Various agents have been tested . Gastrointestinal tract constitutes one of the major reservoirs for Candida species . One major problem is the difficulty in establishing an accurate, early, diagnosis of invasive fungal infection . A prospective randomized, controlled blind study was performed to assess the ability of oral Amphotericin B to prevent candidiasis in selected I.C.U . patients . Fifty one patients with serious infection and antibiotherapy were randomized to receive either oral Amphotericin B (2 g/day) or placebo, and observed until discharge . All patients were screened weekly for sites culture positive, sero-conversion and oesophagitis . Invasive candidiasis developed in 45% of patients receiving Amphotericin B compared with 41% receiving placebo . C . Albicans persists in the surveillance cultures . However a significant reduction of the colonization by the yeasts and a significant reduction of oesophagitis was demonstrated among the Amphotericin B group . No benefit was found in the total number of hospital days . Digestive decontamination can be successfully managed by Amphotericin B in I.C.U . patients but failed to prevent invasive candidiasis. Arch Invest Med (Mex), 1990, 21 Suppl 1, 223 - 7 {Antigens specific to pre-cysts and in vivo chitin synthetase activity in Entamoeba invadens}; Valdes J et al.; In this paper we studied the transformation of a trophozoite into a cyst in Entamoeba, using E . invadens as a model . We had the following objectives: a) identification of precyst-specific proteins (P), by a monoclonal antibody against E . invadens and heterologous polyclonal antibodies against cellular (165) fractions of Mucar rouxii, which are chitin synthetase activity rich; and b) in vivo determination of the time required for the expression of activity of the chitin synthetase during encystment . We found P markers which are not found in either trophozoites nor cysts . Monoclonal F507 antibody recognized a 33 kDa protein in P and the polyclonal anti-16S antibodies reacted with a 90 kDa protein to P . Even though the 33 and 90 kDa proteins have a different molecular weight from the chitin synthetase described in fungi (57 kDa and 65 kDa) and yeasts (63 kDa), we conclude that these proteins are specific to P and that the 90 kDa one shares epitopes with chitosomal fractions of M . rouxii . Also, the mayor accumulation of alkali-resistant material, sensitive to chitinase, occurred during the formation of P, between 40 and 50 hours post incubation, during encystment . One may conclude that chitin polymers are synthesized during the P phase. Mycoses, 1989 Dec, 32(12), 609 - 19 Onychomycosis, tinea pedis and tinea manuum caused by non-dermatophytic filamentous fungi; Summerbell RC et al.; Over 4000 cases of fungal nail, sole and palm infection recorded during a three-year study period were investigated to determine the prevalence and significance of etiologic agents other than dermatophytes and yeasts . Littman's oxgall agar, which permitted isolation of cycloheximide-sensitive species but restricted overgrowth by fast growing contaminants, was used to promote isolation of these disease agents . Non-dermatophytic filamentous fungi made up 2.3% of the confirmed etiologic agents obtained overall, and constituted 3.3% of the agents obtained from nail infections . The most common species were Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Hendersonula toruloidea, and Aspergillus sydowii . Scytalidium hyalinum was recorded for the first time from Canada, and an instance of nail infection by Gymnascella dankaliensis was recorded . Only H . toruloidea and Sc . hyalinum caused palm and sole infections. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1989 Nov, 53(1-2), 137 - 41 Experimental rat vaginal infection with Candida parapsilosis; De Bernardis F et al.; The experimental vaginopathic potential of Candida parapsilosis was determined in ovariectomized rats maintained under pseudoestrus by estrogen administrations . Of the 3 strains of C . parapsilosis tested, that isolated from the vagina of a woman affected by vulvovaginal candidosis gave a prolonged and sustained experimental vaginitis, not different in extent and duration from that caused by a vaginal isolate of C . albicans from a vaginitis patient . The other two isolates of C . parapsilosis (one from the vagina of an asymptomatic subject and another from soil) were unable to infect rat vagina . Microscopic observations of PAS-stained vaginal smears from rats infected with the vaginopathic isolate of C . parapsilosis showed pronounced adherence of yeasts to exfoliated cells . In addition, this isolate of C . parapsilosis produced an elevated quantity of acid proteinase in vitro. Presse Med, 1989 Oct 21, 18(34), 1687 - 90 {Hepato-splenic candidiasis in patients treated for leukemia}; Troussard X et al.; In patients with acute leukaemia, Candida infection may affect exclusively the liver and the spleen . Two such cases were revealed by persistent fever despite correction of bone marrow aplasia, abdominal pain, anicteric cholestasis and hypodense areas at computerized tomography suggesting hepatosplenic abscesses . Surgical liver biopsy confirmed the fungal infection and showed images of granuloma, mycelial filaments and yeasts; cultures were usually negative . The severity of these infections requires an early treatment, but amphotericin B is not very effective . Our two patients were cured after treatment with fluoconazole completed, in one of them by splenectomy. Z Hautkr, 1989 Oct 15, 64(10), 843 - 4, 847 {Pityrosporum fungi in the human--a review and a case report}; Krempl-Lamprecht L et al.; Pityrosporum pachydermatis could be isolated out of a smear taken from the auditory meatus . The occurrence of this zoophilic species prompted us to discuss the systematic position and nomenclature of pityrosporum yeasts in man. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1989 Oct 5, 998(2), 118 - 25 Phosphoglucoisomerase-catalyzed interconversion of hexose phosphates; comparison with phosphomannoisomerase; Malaisse-Lagae F et al.; The isotopic discrimination, diastereotopic specificity and intramolecular hydrogen transfer characterizing the reaction catalyzed by phosphomannoisomerase are examined . During the monodirectional conversion of D-{2-3H}mannose 6-phosphate to D-fructose 6-phosphate and D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, the reaction velocity is one order of magnitude lower than with D-{U-14C}mannose 6-phosphate and little tritium (less than 6%) is transferred intramolecularly . Inorganic phosphate decreases the reaction velocity but favours the intramolecular transfer of tritium . Likewise, when D-{1-3H}fructose 6-phosphate prepared from D-{1-3H}glucose is exposed solely to phosphomannoisomerase, the generation of tritiated metabolites is virtually restricted to 3H2O and occurs at a much lower rate than the production of D-{U-14C}mannose 6-phosphate from D-{U-14C}fructose 6-phosphate . However, no 3H2O is formed when D-{1-3H}fructose 6-phosphate generated from D-{2-3H}glucose is exposed to phosphomannoisomerase, indicating that the diastereotopic specificity of the latter enzyme represents a mirror image of that of phosphoglucoisomerase . Advantage is taken of such a contrasting enzymic behaviour to assess the back-and-forth flow through the reaction catalyzed by phosphomannoisomerase in intact cells exposed to D-{1-3H}glucose, D-{5-3H}glucose or D-{6-3H}glucose . Relative to the rate of glycolysis, this back-and-forth flow amounted to approx . 4% in human erythrocytes and rat parotid cells, 9% in tumoral cells of the RINm5F line and 47% in rat pancreatic islets. Biochim Biophys Acta, 1989 Oct 5, 998(2), 111 - 7 Phosphoglucoisomerase-catalyzed interconversion of hexose phosphates; diastereotopic specificity, isotopic discrimination and intramolecular hydrogen transfer; Liemans V et al.; When D-{1-3H}fructose 6-phosphate generated from D-{2-3H}glucose 6-phosphate is converted, in a monodirectional manner to D-glucose 6-phosphate and then 6-phospho-D-gluconate, about 42% of the radioactivity is transferred from the C1 of the ketohexose ester to the C2 of the aldohexose phosphate, whereas the remaining 58% are produced as 3H2O . The velocity of the reaction catalyzed by phosphoglucoisomerase represents, in the case of the tritiated substrate, only 43% of that recorded with D-{U-14C}fructose 6-phosphate, such an isotopic discrimination being attributable mainly to a difference in maximal velocity rather than affinity . The phenomena of both intramolecular hydrogen transfer and isotopic discrimination were less pronounced than when D-{2-3H}glucose 6-phosphate is converted, in a monodirectional manner, to D-fructose 6-phosphate and then D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate . In contrast, when either D-{1-3H}glucose 6-phosphate or D-{1-3H}fructose 6-phosphate prepared from D-{1-3H}glucose were tested, no 3H2O was formed, all radioactivity being recovered, respectively, in tritiated D-fructose 1,6-bisphosphate or NADP3H . Nevertheless, phosphoglucoisomerase was also found to discriminate between D-{U-14C}glucose 6-phosphate and D-{1-3H}glucose 6-phosphate or between D-{U-14C}fructose 6-phosphate and D-{1-3H}fructose 6-phosphate prepared from D-{1-3H}glucose . The reaction velocity with the tritiated esters averaged 78-83% of those recorded with the 14C-labelled esters . Such an isotopic discrimination was again attributable mainly to a difference in maximal velocity rather than affinity . These findings indicate that the mode of preparation of D-{1-3H}fructose cannot be ignored in considering the fate of this tritiated hexose, as ruled by the intrinsic properties, and especially the diastereotopic specificity of phosphoglucoisomerase. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1989 Oct, 56(3), 283 - 8 Zygozyma suomiensis, sp . nov . (Lipomycetaceae), a new species from Finland; Smith MT et al.; A new species of the genus Zygozyma, Z . suomiensis, is described, based on the study of a single strain, derived from a bovine skin lesion. Mol Cell Biol, 1989 Oct, 9(10), 4291 - 7 Mapping of branch sites in trans-spliced pre-mRNAs of Trypanosoma brucei; Patzelt E et al.; The process of trans splicing is essential to the maturation of all mRNAs in the Trypanosomatidae, a family of protozoan parasites, and to specific mRNAs in several species of nematode . In Trypanosoma brucei, a 39-nucleotide (nt) leader sequence originating from a small, 139-nt donor RNA (the spliced leader {SL} RNA) is spliced to the 5' end of mRNAs . An intermediate in this trans-splicing process is a Y structure which contains the 3' 100 nt of the SL RNA covalently linked to the pre-mRNA via a 2'-5' phosphodiester bond at the branch point residue . We mapped the branch points in T . brucei alpha- and beta-tubulin pre-mRNAs . The primary branch acceptors for the alpha- and beta-tubulins are 44 and 56 nt upstream of the 3' splice sites, respectively, and are A residues . Minor branch acceptors were detected 42 and 49 nt upstream of the alpha-tubulin splice site and 58 nt upstream of the splice site in beta-tubulin . The regions surrounding these branch points lack homology to the consensus sequences determined for mammalian cells and yeasts; there is also no conservation among the sequences themselves . Thus, the identified sequences suggest that the mechanism of branch point recognition in T . brucei differs from the mechanism of recognition by U2 RNA that has been proposed for other eucaryotes. Arch Environ Health, 1989 Sep-Oct, 44(5), 317 - 22 Prevention of summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis: effect of elimination of Trichosporon cutaneum from the patients' homes; Yoshida K et al.; To prevent summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis, the effect of eliminating Trichosporon cutaneum from patients' homes was investigated . To determine environmental factors associated with enhanced indoor mold growth, we compared 11 patients' homes in which T . cutaneum was isolated to 32 control homes by inspection and indoor mold survey . Statistically significantly higher isolates of T . cutaneum, total yeasts, and total fungi were associated with unsanitary rooms, and especially with damp places in the wood or tatami mats in patients' homes . Cleaning, disinfecting, and removing the colonizing locations of T . cutaneum were performed . No recurrence was observed in 6 well-cleaned homes, but recurrence was observed in all patients who resided in homes that were not cleaned or in homes where cleaning was not adequate, and where T . cutaneum was not eliminated . The efficacy of therapy by elimination of T . cutaneum was proven. Pediatr Dermatol, 1989 Sep, 6(3), 206 - 9 Autoinoculated palmar pustules in neonatal candidiasis; Resnick SD et al.; A 2-week-old infant had grouped pustules on the right hand, wrist, and antecubital flexure that appeared after the first week of life . The infant was seen repeatedly to suck the involved areas of the hand and wrist . Clinically typical candidiasis was noted in the oral cavity and the diaper area . Wright's-stained smears of pustular contents, potassium hydroxide preparations of pustular material, and scale from the diaper dermatitis confirmed the presence of pseudohyphae and budding yeasts in all the involved sites . This case demonstrates fairly typical manifestations of neonatal-onset candidiasis, with the unusual feature of unilateral upper extremity pustules that appeared to represent an autoinoculated cutaneous infection. Biofizika, 1989 Sep-Oct, 34(5), 898 - 900 {Dissipative functions of processes of electromagnetic radiation interaction with biological objects}; Chukova IuP; Entropy generation rate inside the biological systems due to internal irreversible processes of the interaction with electromagnetic radiation is calculated for the processes of chemical free-energy increase . The irreversibility of several processes (photosynthesis in plants, eyesight of man, bioresonance effects of high frequencies of microwaves) is estimated under concrete experimental conditions . It is shown that the irreversible of five biological processes differs very much (by 10(8) times). Br J Dermatol, 1989 Sep, 121(3), 353 - 7 A double-blind trial of treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis with 2% ketoconazole cream compared with 1% hydrocortisone cream; Katsambas A et al.; Fifty patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis were treated with 2% ketoconazole cream (n = 24) or with 1% hydrocortisone cream (n = 26) for 4 weeks in a double-blind comparative study . These twice daily applications resulted in 87.2% symptomatic improvement for hydrocortisone vs . 81.6% for ketoconazole . The number of P . ovale yeasts was significantly reduced after the application of ketoconazole compared with hydrocortisone . The incidence of side-effects was low in both groups. South Med J, 1989 Aug, 82(8), 1062 - 3 Trichosporon beigelii peritonitis; Parsonnet J; A patient receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, and who was known to be seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus but without AIDS or ARC, had peritonitis secondary to Trichosporon beigelii . The patient had been receiving oral antibiotics and had had recurrent bouts of bacterial peritonitis . Infection was cured with removal of the peritoneal catheter and intraperitoneal and intravenous amphotericin B . The course of this episode of Trichosporon beigelii peritonitis was similar to that of peritonitis caused by other yeasts. Eur J Biochem, 1989 Jul 15, 183(1), 161 - 7 The purification and characterization of a dextranase from Lipomyces starkeyi; Koenig D et al.; Dextranase produced by Lipomyces starkeyi was purified 43-fold, by carboxymethyl-Sepharose chromatography followed by agarose gel-filtration chromatography . The purified enzyme showed four bands by SDS/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with estimated mass 74 kDa, 71 kDa, 68 kDa and 65 kDa . This preparation exhibited multiple isoelectric points between 5.6 and 6.1 . All the isoelectric forms were active and catalytically similar . The dextranase contained a carbohydrate moiety (8%) . The physical properties of the enzyme were pH and temperature optima of 5.0 and 55 degrees C, respectively . This dextranase was stable between pH 2.5 and 7.0 at temperatures below 40 degrees C . Lipomyces dextranase was a typical endodextranase with the final product of dextran hydrolysis being isomalto-oligosaccharides from glucose to isomaltotetrose. An Esp Pediatr, 1989 Jul, 31(1), 36 - 8 {Immunologic aspects of the macrophages in the milk of preterm mothers}; Rodriguez Rodriguez MC et al.; Number and function of milk macrophages from 25 healthy mothers delivering preterm (PHMMo) (mean gestational age 33 weeks) were compared with those obtained from 74 mothers with term delivery (THMMo) . The average concentration of MMo in colostrum did not differ among both sources: 0.55 x 10(6)/ml (PHMMo) and 0.42 x 10(6)/ml (THMMo) . The mean phagocytic index of PHMMo (3.35 yeasts/cell) and THMMo (3.40 yeasts/cell) was similar (p greater than 0.05); both cell types were significantly higher than control monocytes (CMo) (1.95 yeasts/cell) (p less than 0.001) . The mean chemotactic function of PHMMo (11.58 cells/field) was significantly greater than THMMo (2.75 cells/field) (p less than 0.001) . However, both milk cells showed lower chemotaxis than CMo (32.63 cells/field) (p less than 0.001). Mycoses, 1989 Jul, 32(7), 349 - 53 {The long-time survival of dermatophytes and moulds under paraffin oil}; Schonborn C; Preservation under sterilized paraffin oil is a suitable method for the long-time maintenance of fungus strains in a medical-mycological laboratory . 140 strains of dermatophytes and moulds were checked for their viability by subculturing them after 2-15 year-storage under paraffin oil without changing the medium in the meantime . Nearly 50% of all strains remained alive more than 10 years . An average survival of 8 1/2 years is observed for all groups of fungi investigated (dermatophytes, Zygomycetes, Aspergillus, Scopulariopsis, and several Fungi imperfecti) . Subculturing after 5-6 years results in a minimal rate of non-viability . The technically simple paraffin oil method is therefore, at least of the same value for the storage of fungal cultures as other more complicated procedures. Mycopathologia, 1989 Jul, 107(1), 17 - 23 Biotyping of pathogenic fungi by the killer system and with monoclonal antibodies; Polonelli L et al.; Biotyping of pathogenic yeasts and hyphomycetes based on their susceptibility to selected killer yeasts and their reactivity with monoclonal antibodies are described . Both methods were used to differentiate fungi isolated from patients providing valuable epidemiological information on mycotic infections . The functional biotyping obtained with the two systems and the conventional auxenographic biocoding approaches commercially available for opportunistic yeasts are comparatively evaluated . The potential for biotyping of industrial fungal isolates is also discussed. Clin Lab Med, 1989 Jun, 9(2), 269 - 77 Progress in standardizing antifungal susceptibility tests; Galgiani JN; In vitro tests of antifungal agents are receiving increasing attention as important procedures for the clinical laboratory . As antifungal agents proliferate, it will become more and more valuable to have available antifungal susceptibility tests to aid in treatment selections based on the specific activities of different drugs against a patient's own isolate . Evidence is accumulating that in vitro tests can significantly correlate with treatment results and thus have the potential to improve patient care . Furthermore, concerted efforts are now underway to improve agreement in test results from different laboratories . As these activities continue, the availability of reliable testing methods for yeasts is likely to occur in the foreseeable future. J Clin Pathol, 1989 May, 42(5), 531 - 5 Mycology quality assessment: United Kingdom national scheme; Perry SF et al.; A mycology quality assessment scheme introduced in 1986 was assessed: 289 laboratories participated in the scheme, and six distributions, each containing four specimens, were made . Levels of performance varied considerably among participating laboratories: performance was highest with the commoner organisms distributed, but some laboratories, encouragingly, achieved a consistently high level of species identification . A questionnaire distributed to participants showed that a wide range of methods are commonly used, some of which are contrary to good practice . As the scheme continues, selection of organisms considered to be relevant and of use to participants will become difficult. G Ital Dermatol Venereol, 1989 May, 124(5), XXXIII - XXXVII {Evaluation of the efficacy of a new antimycotic molecule for topical use: naftifine}; Albanese G et al.; The antifungal efficacy and tolerability of naftifine (cream, gel, 1% solution), were tested in an open, mycologically controlled study in 29 patients (mean age 32.7 +/- 2.8 years; 15 males, 14 females) with dermatomycosis caused by dermatophytes and yeasts . Particularly, 16 patients were affected with Tinea corporis; 11 patients by Pityriasis Versicolor and 2 other by cutaneous candidiasis . The mean treatment period was 32.9 days in a range from 1 to 44 days . Only one patient, with cutaneous candidiasis dropped out on the first day, because of a primary irritative dermatitis . All the remaining patients (96.4%) were recovered, and the severity of clinical symptoms, particularly erythema and itching, showed a very rapid decline . Two weeks after the treatment, a relapse emerged from a fungal growth culture, only in 2 patients (6.8%) affected with Microsporum canis . Local side effects, mostly burning, were recorded in 2 patients (6.8%). Farmaco, 1989 Apr, 44(4), 383 - 90 Synthesis of substituted pyrimidines, pyrazole{3,4-d}pyrimidines and imidazo{4,5-d}pyrimidines and evaluation of their antifungal activity; Ronsisvalle G et al.; Some pyrimidines, pyrazolo{3,4-d}pyrimidines and imidazo{4,5-d}pyrimidines bearing the 5-nitro- and 5-aminothienyl-2-sulfide functionalities on the pyrimidine nucleus were synthesized and evaluated for their antifungal activity against several strains of yeasts and dermatophytes . 4-Amino-2-pyrimidinyl-5'-nitro-2'-thienylsulfide (Va) resulted active against both yeasts and dermatophytes (about 30 fold less potent than Miconazole) . Compds . (II b), (V b) and (VIII b) showed only a slight activity against dermatophytes, while the other compounds were inactive. Anal Biochem, 1989 Apr, 178(1), 135 - 6 Enzyme assay of L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthetase based on high-performance liquid chromatography of benzoylated inositol; Feth F et al.; A procedure for the determination of inositol by reversed-phase HPLC is described which is based on a precolumn benzoylation and detection at 230 nm . This procedure was used to assay the activity of L-myo-inositol 1-phosphate synthetase (EC 5.5.1.4) after treatment of the enzymatic product by a phosphatase. J Biomol Struct Dyn, 1989 Apr, 6(5), 1001 - 12 A general rule for ranged series of codon frequencies in different genomes; Borodovsky MYu et al.; Information science widely uses descriptions of the distribution of information units (words) according to the frequency of occurrence with the help of a corresponding ranged series, i.e., the sequence of occurrence frequencies p1, p2, ..., pr as taken in decreasing order . A model called the Zipf rule or Zipflaw is the most commonly used . In this model pr is inversly proportional to a certain degree of range r: pr = C/r2 (C, z greater than 0) . Upon analysis, the correspondence of codon distribution and the Zipf model is found unsatisfactory . The distribution of letters (in English and some other languages) by the occurrence frequency does not obey the Zipf rule either . A new model is proposed for a similar distribution in which pr = C.(ln(n + 1)-ln r), where n is the quantity of various symbols (codons) . This dependence is approximated by a straight line not in the co-ordinate system (ln r, ln p), like the Zipf model, but in the (ln r, p) system of co-ordinates . It is shown on the basis of statistical criteria that this model is in good agreement with the ranged series of codon frequencies for the best-studied genoms to date . This result may be regarded as an additional reason in favor of the codon-letter analogy (not the codon-word analogy) in genetic texts. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1989 Apr, 8(4), 323 - 30 Emerging fungal pathogens; Anaissie EJ et al.; Fungi such as Fusarium spp., Curvularia spp., Alternaria spp . or Trichosporon beigelii, had been thought to represent contamination or harmless colonization when isolated from humans . More recently, the role of these and other newly recognized fungi as serious pathogens has been clearly established . Three diverse groups of fungi are responsible for these infections: the agents of phaeohyphomycosis and hyalohyphomycosis and certain yeasts . These infections, which have been encountered in both presumably healthy and immuno-compromised individuals, tend to be localized in the former, and disseminated and frequently fatal in the latter group of patients . A major concern is that these organisms are not uniformly susceptible to amphotericin B . Standardization of antifungal susceptibility testing may, therefore, be helpful in determining the antifungal drug of choice for each infection . It is also hoped that the advent of newer antifungals and biologic response modifiers will have a significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of these emerging infections. Lancet, 1989 Mar 25, 1(8639), 642 - 5 Mitochondrial DNA mutations as an important contributor to ageing and degenerative diseases; Linnane AW et al.; The human mitochondrial genome is very small and economically packed; the expression of the whole genome is essential for the maintenance of mitochondrial bioenergetic function . Mutation occurs at a much higher rate in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) than in chromosomal DNA . Transient heteroplasmy of mtDNA occurs after a mutational event; the random pattern of cytoplasmic segregation that occurs during subsequent growth gives rise to a mosaic of cells . The variable proportion of mutant mitochondrial genomes per cell results in cells with a range of bioenergetic capacities . It is proposed that the accumulation of mitochondrial mutations and the subsequent cytoplasmic segregation of these mutations during life is an important contributor both to the ageing process and to several human degenerative diseases . Replacement therapy and pharmacological support may be possible for the amelioration of such disorders by means of appropriate redox compounds . Moreover, new compounds with desired redox potentials can be rationally designed for clinical use. Mycopathologia, 1989 Mar, 105(3), 187 - 90 Pityriasis versicolor in the aged: a clinical investigation and epidemiological survey in 190 elderly hospitalized patients; Di Silverio A et al.; 190 subjects over 60 yrs of age, hospitalized for long stays were checked for scaling and hyperpigmented patches of P . versicolor . 20 patients (10.5%) showed no clinical lesions; 170 patients (89.5%) showed scaling and/or hyperpigmented patches of which 13 patients (6.8%) on direct microscopic exam showed hyphae and yeasts of M . furfur, 64 (33.6%) only globular forms of P . orbiculare and 113 cases (59.4%) showed no fungal elements . Wood's light examination showed that 38 subjects (20%) were 6 positive for M . furfur and 23 for P . orbiculare while in the other 9 no fungal elements were observed on microscopic exam . Whereas 48/132 patients negative to Wood's light were positive for yeasts on microscopic exam (false negative) . This study indicates that P . versicolor is not rare in the elderly and that Wood's light examination is not diagnostic . There was no relationship between P . versicolor and underlying illness. Clin Exp Dermatol, 1989 Mar, 14(2), 124 - 7 Clinical efficacy and tolerability of terbinafine (Lamisil)--a new topical and systemic fungicidal drug for treatment of dermatomycoses; Villars V et al.; Terbinafine (Lamisil) is the newest compound within a class of antimycotic drugs called allylamines . It is active against a broad range of dermatophytes and yeasts and exerts its fungicidal action by inhibiting squalene epoxidation during sterol synthesis in fungal membranes . Effective therapy (complete cure or mycological cure with minimal signs and symptoms) has been observed in 70-90% of 1200 patients treated topically with 1% cream for tinea corporis/cruris, tinea pedis, cutaneous candidiasis and pityriasis versicolor . Cure in patients treated systemically (125 mg b.i.d . orally) has been documented to be 75-90% in tinea corporis and chronic tinea pedis (plantar type), 60-70% in cutaneous candidiasis, and 90-100% in onychomycosis . Particularly noteworthy is the low rate of relapse of infection after cure of chronic dermatophyte infections, since frequent relapse is a recognized problem with presently available antifungal drugs . Terbinafine is ineffective when used systemically for pityriasis versicolor . Side-effects following oral administration of the recommended dose of 125 mg b.i.d . include gastrointestinal symptoms (3-4%), allergy (1%), and miscellaneous mild non-specific symptoms (1%) . No significant haematological, hepatic or renal effects have been observed . Based on the drug's fungicidal action and the early appearance of negative cultures in these studies, a short duration therapy is predicted to be effective. Infect Dis Clin North Am, 1989 Mar, 3(1), 65 - 76 Emerging opportunists; Rinaldi MG; The number and types of opportunistic fungal pathogens are increasing dramatically . It is likely that this trend will continue as the numbers of immunosuppressed patients escalate . Both the clinician and laboratorian must maintain a high index of suspicion for mycoses in these settings . Responsible fungal agents may be classified across the entire fungal kingdom and include both yeasts and molds . In addition to the need for improved methods of diagnosis and therapy, it is truly time for medical professionals to "think fungus"! J Med Vet Mycol, 1989, 27(4), 269 - 71 Non-specific adherence of Candida species to surface-modified glass; Nikawa H et al.; The nature of the physicochemical forces involved in the adherence of Candida species to a solid surface was investigated using modified glass slides . It was found that hydrophobic yeasts adhered to hydrophobic surfaces mainly by hydrophobic interactions, whereas in less hydrophobic yeasts electrostatic interactions seemed to play a more important role in adherence to the solid phase. Dermatol Monatsschr, 1989, 175(12), 751 - 6 {Treatment of fungus infections of the skin with tioconazole (Mykontral)}; Haustein UF et al.; 73 patients with fungal infections due to dermatophytes (49), yeasts (16) and Malassezia furfur (8) could be cured clinically in 71% and mycologically in 88% of cases by the application of Mycontral-Lotion or -cream twice daily for 33 days on average . In 28% improvement could be reached, in one patient the therapy failed . Treatment is simple, clean and well acceptable . Side-effects occurred as slight redness, transient burning and pruritus on the eroded skin in the initial phase in 8 patients (11%) . Mykontral contains 1% tioconazole as a modern imidazol compound . It has been characterized as an effective topical broad spectrum antimycotic agent . Its introduction and application in the GDR is to be recommended. J Med Vet Mycol, 1989, 27(5), 277 - 94 Does Candida have a role in oral epithelial neoplasia? Field EA, Field JK, Martin MV. Candida species are responsible for a wide variety of superficial infections of man {59} and the pathogenic role of these yeasts in many conditions has now been defined . There is, however, a great deal of controversy concerning the role of Candida species in the development of epithelial neoplasia . Vaginal and cutaneous candidosis are relatively common but there is little firm clinical or epidemiological evidence to link them to cervical neoplasia or skin carcinoma {59} . The converse is true however for oral candidosis where chronic Candida infection and neoplasia have been strongly linked . The aim of this review is to explore and evaluate the experimental and epidemiological evidence supporting an association between Candida species and oral neoplasia. Mycoses, 1989, 32 Suppl 1, 109 - 12 Efficacy of itraconazole in blastomycosis in a murine model and comparison with ketoconazole; Arathoon EG et al.; Mice were infected intranasally with B . dermatitidis yeasts, and after infection treated orally . Itraconazole 50-150 mg/kg/day was protective (prolonged survival) against lethal infection, although the infection was not sterilized . Itraconazole was approximately 3 times as potent as ketoconazole . These results suggest advantages for itraconazole therapy clinically. J Oral Pathol Med, 1989 Jan, 18(1), 28 - 31 Oral hairy leukoplakia is not a specific sign of HIV-infection but related to immunosuppression in general; Syrjanen S et al.; Oral hairy leukoplakia (HL) has been regarded as an early sign of HIV infection, and its clinical importance related to the poor outcome of the patients has been emphasized . Initially, HL was observed exclusively among male homosexuals, but subsequently demonstrated in all risk groups of HIV infection . The patient described in this article suggests that oral HL is not specific for HIV infection per se, but may be associated with immunosuppression also due to other causes . We describe an HIV-seronegative, heterosexual man suffering from an acute myeloblastic leukemia, who developed clinically and histologically typical HL while on cytostatics . Biopsy showed areas with characteristic ballooning cells, and hyphae of yeasts were demonstrated with PAS-stain . Using the in situ hybridization technique, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA with high copy numbers was disclosed in the superficial and intermediate cells, whereas human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA (types 6, 11, 16, 18) was not present. J Leukoc Biol, 1988 Nov, 44(5), 391 - 401 Establishment and characterization of long-term cultured cell lines of murine resident macrophages; Lombard Y et al.; Murine resident macrophages can proliferate in vitro when they are grown in coculture on a layer of mesothelial or endothelial type feeder cells . Resident macrophages were obtained from lung explants of C57Bl/6 lpr/lpr mice and from spleen explants or peritoneal washing of Balb/c mice; the cells were seeded without further washing . After 3-4 weeks of culture, the macrophages began to proliferate on a confluent layer of feeder cells . The macrophages then could be collected in the fluid phase and reseeded for permanent culture after generation of a new feeder layer . These cells were characterized as macrophages by the following criteria: 1) their morphology, ultrastructure, and adherence properties; 2) more than 90% of the macrophages phagocytized yeasts compared with less than 1% of the feeder cells; 3) the presence of functional Fc and mannose receptors, nonspecific cytoplasmic esterases, and membrane ectoenzymes such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) glycohydrolase and nucleotide pyrophosphatase; 4) by cytofluorographic phenotype analysis with monoclonal antibodies, characterizing a normal macrophage population (MAC1+, Fcrec+, H-2K+, THY1-, LYT2-, L3T4-) . 5) by functional studies proving that the expanded macrophages could function as accessory cells in the induction of lymphocyte proliferation in response to concanavalin A (Con A), that they generated reactive oxygen radicals and that they were cytotoxic for tumor cells . During coculture, growth or activating factors such as macrophage colony-stimulating factor or gamma-interferon were released in the medium . Long-term cultured macrophages had chromosomal abnormalities . Our study suggests that tissue macrophages can proliferate in vitro and hence that it is possible to establish long-term cultured cell lines of macrophages of defined and reproducible characteristics. Mol Cell Biochem, 1988 Oct, 83(2), 179 - 85 The influence of polyamine-nucleic acid complexes on Fe2+ autoxidation; Tadolini B; Polyamines are able to affect Fe2+ autoxidation in the presence of suitable low molecular weight phosphorus-containing compounds; the inhibitory effect exerted by polyamines is directly related to their ability to bind phosphorus-containing compounds . It is well known that polyamines, as polycations at physiological pH, bind strongly to nucleic acids . In this paper it is shown that polyamines, also in the presence of nucleic acids, inhibit Fe2+ autoxidation and thus depress the generation of free oxygen radicals . Most of the nucleic acids tested inhibited Fe2+ autoxidation although the concentration which causes half maximal effect differs . Polyamine effect on Fe2+ autoxidation varies greatly depending on the single or double stranded nature of the nucleic acid . In the present of single stranded nucleic acids, spermine and spermidine potentiate the inhibition of Fe2+ autoxidation by these nucleic acids . A relationship exists between the ability of spermine to interact with single stranded nucleic acids and to inhibit Fe2+ autoxidation in their presence . When double stranded nucleic acids are present, polyamines reverse the inhibition of Fe2+ autoxidation exerted by these nucleic acids . Molecular mechanisms are proposed to explain these experimental results . The hypothesis that polyamines may inhibit oxidative damage caused to nucleic acids by Fe2+ autoxidation, is also discussed. J Clin Microbiol, 1988 Sep, 26(9), 1874 - 7 Improved method for azole antifungal susceptibility testing; Gordon MA et al.; A reproducible method is described for the determination of the MICs of ketoconazole, miconazole, fluconazole, and itraconazole with sharp endpoints when employed with either yeasts or molds . A semisolid medium is used with controlled pH and standardized inoculum . The time of reading results is a critical factor in the conduct of this test . The medium is simple to prepare and has a relatively long refrigerator shelf life in a user-ready state, requiring only the addition of a freshly prepared inoculum after restoration to room temperature. Anal Biochem, 1988 Aug 1, 172(2), 289 - 95 Techniques for using antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides to study gene expression; Marcus-Sekura CJ; Molecular biology is providing powerful tools for cloning and sequencing genes . The more difficult task is that of ascribing functions to the specific DNA sequences that appear to code for proteins, the "open reading frames," or of regulating the expression of known genes in biological systems in order to determine their contributions to cellular functions . The classical genetic approach of making mutants is difficult in eukaryotic systems, with the exception of yeasts and viruses, and has proved of limited utility . A promising approach to this problem has been to introduce into either the in vitro assay or tissue culture system oligodeoxyribonucleotides with nucleotide sequences complementary to the protein coding or "sense" sequence, usually referred to as "antisense" oligonucleotides . The term MATAGEN (MAsking TApe for Gene ExpressioN) has also been used for these compounds, which appear to inhibit gene expression predominantly by hybridization arrest of translation . Interest in the use of antisense molecules for the study of gene expression and regulation has increased dramatically in the past few years . The demonstrated utility of the antisense oligomer in both in vitro and tissue culture assays, the increased availability of nucleotide sequence data as well as improvements in nucleic acid sequencing techniques, and the automation of synthetic procedures for their preparation have made studies using these molecules more practical . This review focuses on short oligodeoxyribonucleotides, which offer important stability and synthetic advantages over the use of antisense RNA transcripts, and is intended as an introduction to practical approaches in the use of antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotides in biological systems . For synthetic techniques, the reader is referred to the individual references cited. Infect Immun, 1988 Jul, 56(7), 1685 - 91 Role of L3T4+ T cells in host defense against Histoplasma capsulatum; Gomez AM et al.; Cell-mediated immunity is critical in host resistance against the pathogenic fungus Histoplasma capsulatum . To explore the role of L3T4+ T cells in protection of mice against H . capsulatum infection, we examined the effect of in vivo treatment with anti-L3T4 monoclonal antibody (MAb) GK1.5 on the course of murine disseminated histoplasmosis . Treatment with anti-L3T4 antibody caused a profound and selective depletion of L3T4+ T cells that was associated with a significant increase in the number of H . capsulatum CFU recovered from the spleens of mice infected for 1 week . In addition, none of the infected mice treated with MAb GK1.5 survived a sublethal challenge with H . capsulatum yeasts . Histopathological examination of spleens from mice infected for 1 week revealed the presence of granulomatous inflammation in mice depleted of L3T4+ T cells and in infected controls . However, silver stains demonstrated that spleens of infected mice given MAb GK1.5 contained a greater number of yeasts than did spleens from infected controls . MAb GK1.5 did not cause reactivation of infection when administered for 2 weeks beginning 4 weeks after inoculation of Histoplasma yeasts . MAb GK1.5 did not alter the functional properties of murine macrophages as measured by antigen presentation, production of interleukin-1 in response to lipopolysaccharide, and phagocytosis of H . capsulatum yeasts . These results suggest that the L3T4+ T-cell subset is an essential constituent of the cell-mediated immune defense against H . capsulatum infection. Pharmacol Res Commun, 1988 Jun, 20(6), 451 - 63 Antagonism of clonidine-induced hypothermia by alpha adrenoceptor antagonists in electrically stimulated mice; Junnarkar AY et al.; The involvement of receptor subtypes in clonidine-induced hypothermia in electrically stimulated mice was studied using various alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists . Yohimbine, the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist significantly blocked the action of low dose (50 micrograms/kg i.p.) of clonidine pretreated with Minimal Threshold Shock (12 mA, 0.2 Sec), while prazosin, selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist partially blocked the action, suggesting predominant involvement of alpha 2 and partial involvement of alpha 1-adrenoceptors . Under similar conditions when clonidine was used in higher dose (500 micrograms/kg i.p.), its action was blocked by prazosin, phenoxybenzamine and yohimbine suggesting involvement of both alpha 1 and alpha 2-adrenoceptors . In case of animals pretreated with Maximal Threshold Shock (36 mA, 0.2 Sec) the hypothermic action of clonidine in lower dose was blocked by all the three antagonists viz . prazosin, phenoxybenzamine and yohimbine, suggesting involvement of both alpha 1 and alpha 2-adrenoceptors, however, when clonidine was used in the higher dose, the action was significantly antagonised by prazosin and partially by yohimbine, suggesting predominant involvement of alpha 1 and partial involvement of alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Mycopathologia, 1988 Apr, 102(1), 3 - 8 Carbon assimilation tests: substrates assimilation profiles; Mary C et al.; Liquid medium assays for yeasts carbon assimilation tests are the more precise but longer methods . For rapid and automated yeasts identification purposes we analysed the assimilation of 34 carbon compounds by 149 reference strains . Assays were carried in liquid shaken medium (Autobac system) and readings were nephelemetric . Valuable results are obtained in 72 hours and their analysis allowed us to classify substrates for their ability to minimize the number of doubtful results. Chemioterapia, 1988 Apr, 7(2), 109 - 12 Seborrheic dermatitis in otherwise healthy patients and in patients with lymphadenopathy syndrome/AIDS-related complex: treatment with 1% bifonazole cream; Massone L et al.; Recent studies reported in the literature have repeatedly pointed out the utility of imidazole derivatives, one of which is bifonazole, in the therapy of seborrheic dermatitis (SD) . The cause of this pathological situation is still under discussion but the therapeutic success obtained with antimycotics speaks in favor of the pathogenetic importance of Malassezia ovale in this context . There is a high frequency of SD type complaints in patients with HIV infections in whom immune defenses against various pathogens, including yeasts, are deficient . We therefore verified the clinical efficacy of 1% bifonazole cream on 15 subjects with SD of the face, 9 of whom were affected with lymphadenopathy syndrome/AIDS-related complex (LAS/ARC) . The treatment was administered over a four-week period and gave good results in 12 patients . The best results, however, were observed in those suffering from LAS/ARC. Mol Cell Biol, 1988 Mar, 8(3), 1275 - 81 A gene encoding the major beta tubulin of the mitotic spindle in Physarum polycephalum plasmodia; Burland TG et al.; The multinucleate plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum is unusual among eucaryotic cells in that it uses tubulins only in mitotic-spindle microtubules; cytoskeletal, flagellar, and centriolar microtubules are absent in this cell type . We have identified a beta-tubulin cDNA clone, beta 105, which is shown to correspond to the transcript of the betC beta-tubulin locus and to encode beta 2 tubulin, the beta tubulin expressed specifically in the plasmodium and used exclusively in the mitotic spindle . Physarum amoebae utilize tubulins in the cytoskeleton, centrioles, and flagella, in addition to the mitotic spindle . Sequence analysis shows that beta 2 tubulin is only 83% identical to the two beta tubulins expressed in amoebae . This compares with 70 to 83% identity between Physarum beta 2 tubulin and the beta tubulins of yeasts, fungi, alga, trypanosome, fruit fly, chicken, and mouse . On the other hand, Physarum beta 2 tubulin is no more similar to, for example, Aspergillus beta tubulins than it is to those of Drosophila melanogaster or mammals . Several eucaryotes express at least one widely diverged beta tubulin as well as one or more beta tubulins that conform more closely to a consensus beta-tubulin sequence . We suggest that beta-tubulins diverge more when their expression pattern is restricted, especially when this restriction results in their use in fewer functions . This divergence among beta tubulins could have resulted through neutral drift . For example, exclusive use of Physarum beta 2 tubulin in the spindle may have allowed more amino acid substitutions than would be functionally tolerable in the beta tubulins that are utilized in multiple microtubular organelles . Alternatively, restricted use of beta tubulins may allow positive selection to operate more freely to refine beta-tubulin function. J Leukoc Biol, 1988 Feb, 43(2), 179 - 82 Polyanionic agents inhibit phagosome-lysosome fusion in cultured macrophages: a reply to the suggestion of Goren, Vatter, and Fiscus to the contrary; Hart PD et al.; The paper and review by Goren et al . (J . Leukocyte Biol . 41, 111, 1987) contain serious objections to the reports from several laboratories on the pattern of fusion of secondary lysosomes with phagosomes (yeasts being predominantly the target) in polyanion-treated macrophages; these reports had concluded that the polyanions were inhibitors of this fusion . The main objection by Goren et al . is to the alleged misuse of electron microscopic (EM) lysosome markers; many instances of phagosome-lysosome (P-L) fusion in the treated cells have therefore been missed . The central argument is that 1) the "hydrocolloid" properties of certain of these polyanions hinder the passage of the enmeshed marker from lysosome to phagosome after their fusion and 2) this hindrance is mistakenly interpreted as indicating that fusion has not taken place, thus giving rise to the belief that the polyanions can inhibit fusion . In reply, we explain that we score as P-L fusion any instance of marker (ferritin) being seen anywhere in a fused phagosome (phagolysosome) . For this crucial reason, immobilisation of marker by a hydrocolloid polyanion, e.g., in lysosomal residue of phagolysosomes or just within phagosome membranes (as in Goren's Figs . 5 and 6 {8}), would not seriously threaten the marker distinction between fusion and nonfusion (with consequent underestimation of the former) and therefore would not invalidate the reports of a high incidence of nonfusion in polyanion-treated macrophages . Such inhibition of P-L fusion is supported by using as lysosomal label the nonpermeant fluorescent probe lucifer yellow (accepted by Goren et al . as a reliable indicator of fusion) . Further support comes from the correlated inhibition of the saltatory movements of secondary lysosomes previously described; static lysosomes will have their contact with the phagosomes severely restricted . Another criticism is based on the failure of certain salient properties and functions of phagosomes to change significantly after polyanion treatment of the macrophages; these include intraphagosomal digestion, presence of lysosomal enzymes, and acidification . However, this indirect evidence can be accounted for alternatively by the operation of factors (primary lysosomes, endogenous acidification, etc.) not affected by the polyanionic block . We conclude that fusion inhibition by the polyanions is a real phenomenon, as previously reported, notwithstanding the hydrocolloid properties of some of them . Furthermore, an explanation based on hydrocolloid properties is questionable, since one or possibly two of the five main polyanionic agents appear not to be hydrocolloids. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 1988 Feb, 81(2), 475 - 83 Environmental mycological studies on the causative agent of summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis; Yoshida K et al.; Environmental mycological studies were carried out in 22 homes of patients with summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis and in 195 homes of control subjects . In 10 patients' homes, indoor sampling was performed by open-plate culture, house dust culture, and swab culture (group 1), but in the other 12 patients' homes, sampling was only by house dust culture (group 2) . We isolated 302 strains of yeasts from the 22 patients' homes and 962 strains of yeasts from the homes of control subjects . The incidence of yeasts, except genera Trichosporon, was not significantly different between homes of patients and control subjects when homes were assessed by three culture methods . T . cutaneum was isolated from seven of 10 patients' homes in group 1, and their colonizing places were revealed by the swab culture method . In group 2, the cells were isolated from four of 12 patients' homes . No T . cutaneum, however, was isolated from the control subjects' homes . Among the isolated yeasts from patients' homes, 23 strains were reactive to the patients' sera at 1:128 or higher in indirect fluorescent antibody titers; 10 yeasts were T . cutaneum, isolated from 10 homes of 14 patients, but the other 13 yeasts were each a different species isolated from 10 different homes . Furthermore, inhalation challenge with the culture-filtrate antigen prepared from T . cutaneum was performed on the nine patients o