Strong genetic structure revealed by multilocus patterns of variation in Giardia duodenalis isolates of patients from Galicia (NW-Iberian Peninsula).

We report a survey of genetic variation at three coding loci in Giardia duodenalis of assemblages A and B obtained from stool samples of patients from Santiago de Compostela (Galicia, NW-Iberian Peninsula). The mean pooled synonymous diversity for assemblage A was nearly five times lower than for assemblage B (0.77%±0.

HMDSO-plasma coated electrospun fibers of poly(cyclodextrin)s for antifungal dressings.

Electrospun mats containing cyclodextrin polymers (poly-αCD or poly-βCD) were developed to act as wound dressings showing tunable release rate of the antifungal agent fluconazole incorporated forming inclusion complexes. Poly-αCD and poly-βCD were prepared via cross-linking with epichlorohydrin (EPI) as water-soluble large molecular weight polymers. Then, polyCDs forming complexes with fluconazole were mixed with poly-(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) or poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) for electrospinning.

Lenghty reverse poly(butylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(butylene oxide) polymeric micelles and gels for sustained release of antifungal drugs.

In this work, we present a detailed study of the potential application of polymeric micelles and gels of four different reverse triblock poly(butylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(butylene oxide) copolymers (BOnEOmBOn, where n denotes the respective block lengths), specifically BO8EO90BO8, BO14EO378BO14, BO20EO411BO20 and BO21EO385BO21, as effective drug transport nanocarriers. In particular, we tested the use of this kind of polymeric nanostructures as reservoirs for the sustained delivery of the antifungals griseofulvin and fluconazole for oral and topical administration. Polymeric micelles and gels formed by these copolymers were shown to solubilize important amounts of these two drugs and to have a good stability in physiologically relevant conditions for oral or topical administration.

Poloxamer-hydroxyethyl cellulose-α-cyclodextrin supramolecular gels for sustained release of griseofulvin.

Supramolecular gels of poloxamer-hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)-α-cyclodextrin (αCD) were developed aiming to obtain synergisms regarding solubilization and sustained release of griseofulvin for topical application. The effects of αCD concentration (0-10%w/w) on the phase behavior of aqueous dispersions of Pluronic(®) P123 (14%w/w) mixed with HEC (2%w/w) were evaluated at 4, 20 and 37°C. The cooperative effects of the inclusion complex formation between poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) blocks and HEC with αCD prevented phase separation and led to supramolecular networks that solubilize the antifungal drug.

Aetiology and epidemiology of human cryptosporidiosis cases in Galicia (NW Spain), 2000-2008.

Cryptosporidium infects millions of people worldwide causing acute gastroenteritis, but despite its remarkable epidemiological and economic impact, information on the epidemiological trends of human cryptosporidiosis is still scarce in most countries. Here we investigate a panel of 486 cases collected in Galicia (NW Iberian Peninsula) between 2000 and 2008, which sheds new light on the epidemiology in this region of the South Atlantic European façade. Incidence rates in Galicia are one order of magnitude higher than those reported in other regions of Spain, suggesting that this parasite remains largely underdiagnosed in this country, and are also larger than those typical of other European countries with available data.

Materials with fungi-bioinspired surface for efficient binding and fungi-sensitive release of antifungal agents.

Materials with fungi-bioinspired surface have been designed to host ergosterol-binding polyene antibiotics and to release them via a competitive mechanism only when fungi are present in the medium. Silicone rubber (SR) surfaces were endowed with selective loading and fungi-triggered release of polyene antifungal agents by means of a two-step functionalization that involved the grafting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) via a γ-ray preirradiation method (9-21.3% wt grafting) and the subsequent immobilization of ergosterol (3.

High-throughput genotyping assay for the large-scale genetic characterization of Cryptosporidium parasites from human and bovine samples.

The epidemiological study of human cryptosporidiosis requires the characterization of species and subtypes involved in human disease in large sample collections. Molecular genotyping is costly and time-consuming, making the implementation of low-cost, highly efficient technologies increasingly necessary. Here, we designed a protocol based on MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for the high-throughput genotyping of a panel of 55 single nucleotide variants (SNVs) selected as markers for the identification of common gp60 subtypes of four Cryptosporidium species that infect humans.

Multilocus patterns of genetic variation across Cryptosporidium species suggest balancing selection at the gp60 locus.

Cryptosporidium is an apicomplexan protozoan that lives in most vertebrates, including humans. Its gp60 gene is functionally involved in its attachment to host cells, and its high level of genetic variation has made it the reference marker for sample typing in epidemiological studies. To understand the origin of such high diversity and to determine the extent to which this classification applies to the rest of the genome, we analysed the patterns of variation at gp60 and nine other nuclear loci in isolates of three Cryptosporidium species.

Phaeohyphomycosis caused by Cladophialophora bantiana.

Background: Cladophialophora bantiana is the most frequent cause of central nervous system phaeohyphomycosis.

Aims: We report a case of phaeohyphomycosis by C. bantiana in a patient with underlying lung disease on steroid therapy.

Susceptibility trends of Bacteroides fragilis group and characterisation of carbapenemase-producing strains by automated REP-PCR and MALDI TOF.

Susceptibility testing of clinical isolates of anaerobic bacteria is not considered, often, mandatory in routine clinical practice and the treatments are empirically established. Thus, periodic monitoring of the susceptibility patterns of anaerobic bacteria is advisable. The aim of this study was to update on resistance of Bacteroides fragilis group in our Institution with special attention to carbapenems reporting metallo-beta-lactamase producing strains for the first time in Spain, and to compare fingerprinting analysis results obtained by using automated rep-PCR (DiversiLab System) and MALDI-TOF MS.

Characteristics of the Shiga-toxin-producing enteroaggregative Escherichia coli O104:H4 German outbreak strain and of STEC strains isolated in Spain.

A Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strain belonging to serotype O104:H4, phylogenetic group B1 and sequence type ST678, with virulence features common to the enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) pathotype, was reported as the cause of the recent 2011 outbreak in Germany. The outbreak strain was determined to carry several virulence factors of extraintestinal pathogenic E.

MM3-ELISA detection of Fasciola hepatica coproantigens in preserved human stool samples.

In this study, we evaluate the MM3-COPRO method for detection of Fasciola coproantigens in human fecal samples, and the usefulness of a new preservative/diluent, CoproGuard, developed for preservation of Fasciola coproantigens. The MM3-COPRO assay was evaluated with 213 samples from healthy patients, 30 Fasciola positive fecal samples (according to the Kato-Katz method), and 83 samples from patients with other parasitic infections. All Fasciola positive specimens were detected with the MM3-COPRO assay (100% sensitivity) and there was no cross-reactivity with other common parasites present in the clinical specimens analyzed (100% specificity).

Palpebro-orbital myiasis in a patient with basal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: We report a patient with basal cell carcinoma presenting with severe myiasis in a large ulcer involving the upper and lower eyelid.

Methods: Myiasis is an infestation of vertebrate animals by larvae of certain fly species. About 70 larvae were removed manually.

[Influence of incubation time in the in vitro antifungal activity of terbinafine against Trichophyton rubrum.].

Antifungal susceptibility tests are influenced by a number of technical variables, including inoculum size, temperature, medium formulation and duration of incubation. In this study, we have compared the in vitro susceptibility of 20 strains de Trichophyton rubrum against clotrimazole and terbinafine, and studied the influence of incubation time on MICs of both drugs. The assay was performed by agar dilution, the medium used was Saboraud glucose agar without an antibiotic.

Molecular typing of Campylobacter jejuni isolates involved in a neonatal outbreak indicates nosocomial transmission.

Genotypic typing by restriction fragment length polymorphism and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that two neonates in a neonatal ward were infected with the same Campylobacter jejuni strain. Isolates from the mother and brother of the index patient were identical to each other but distinct from the neonatal type. Genotyping results therefore suggested that the neonatal C.

Lectin typing of five medically important Candida species.

This study reports the patterns of agglutination of 93 clinical Candida isolates by 14 commercial lectins. The isolates were of the species Candida albicans (55), C. tropicalis (12), C.

Casein agar: a useful medium for differentiating Candida dubliniensis from Candida albicans.

Production of chlamydospores on casein agar at 24 degrees C for 48 h provides a simple means for differentiating Candida dubliniensis from Candida albicans based on chlamydospore production. Of 109 C. dubliniensis isolates tested on this medium, 106 (97.

Onychomycosis due to Onychocola canadensis: report of the first two Spanish cases.

Onychocola canadensis is a non-dermatophytic mould that may cause distal and lateral subungual or white superficial onychomycosis. It was first reported in 1990. To date, it has been reported only from temperate countries, namely Canada (14 cases), New Zealand (3), France (9) and the United Kingdom (4).

Cecal ligation and puncture as a model of sepsis in the rat: influence of the puncture size on mortality, bacteremia, endotoxemia and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels.

Background: Cecal ligation and puncture is a widely used experimental model of sepsis.

Aim Of The Study: The present study was aimed to evaluate the influence of the size of the cecal puncture on mortality, bacteremia, endotoxemia and plasma TNF-alpha levels.

Materials And Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent cecal ligation and puncture, divided into the following groups, defined by the diameter of the cecal puncture: 0.

Lectin typing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

This study reports the patterns of agglutination of 77 clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by 32 commercially available lectins. Cell suspensions were not pre-treated. Each isolate was cultured on three media: Columbia blood agar, trypticase-soy agar and Chapman Stone agar.

Lectin typing of beta-haemolytic streptococci of groups A and B.

Patterns of agglutination of 124 clinical isolates of beta-haemolytic streptococci (30 group A and 94 group B isolates) by 21 commercial lectins are reported. Cell suspensions were untreated. Nine (30%) of the group A isolates, and 23 (24%) of the group B isolates, were agglutinated by at least one of the lectins.

Interaction of lectins with Cryptosporidium parvum.

Cell surface carbohydrates from four clinical isolates of Cryptosporidium parvum were analyzed by agglutination assays using a battery of 20 highly purified lectins with affinity for receptor molecules containing N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc), N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, galactose, mannose, glucose, fucose, and N-acetyl-neuraminic acid. Tomentine, a lectin from the green seaweed Codium tomentosum, and UEA-II lectin, from Ulex europeus, both of them GlcNAc-specific lectins, agglutinated the oocysts. Subsequent inhibition assay confirmed the presence of this sugar on the surface of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts.