Sequence diversity of the intergenic spacer region of the rRNA gene of Cryptococcus albidus isolated from the skin of patients with atopic dermatitis and healthy individuals.

The yeast species Cryptococcus albidus var. albidus was found to more often colonize the skin surface of patients with atopic dermatitis (77.0%, 47/61) than that of  healthy subjects (37.

Anti-Malassezia-Specific IgE Antibodies Production in Japanese Patients with Head and Neck Atopic Dermatitis: Relationship between the Level of Specific IgE Antibody and the Colonization Frequency of Cutaneous Malassezia Species and Clinical Severity.

Atopic dermatitis of the head and neck (HNAD) is recognized as a separate condition. Malassezia, the predominant skin microbiota fungus, is considered to exacerbate atopic dermatitis (AD), especially HNAD. In the present study, we investigated the relationships between the levels of specific IgE antibodies, colonization frequency of eight predominant Malassezia species, and clinical severity in 61 patients with HNAD (26 mild, 24 moderate, and 11 severe cases).

Characterization of the skin fungal microbiota in patients with atopic dermatitis and in healthy subjects.

Patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) are highly susceptible to viral, bacterial, and fungal skin infections because their skin is dry and this compromises the barrier function of the skin. Therefore, the skin microbiota of patients with AD is believed to be different from that of healthy individuals. In the present study, the skin fungal microbiota of nine patients with mild, moderate, or severe AD and ten healthy subjects were compared using an rRNA clone library.

Quantification of activated and total caspase-14 with newly developed ELISA systems in normal and atopic skin.

Background: Activation of caspase-14 occurs during terminal differentiation of keratinocytes and may play a role in filaggrin degradation. Therefore, down-regulation of caspase-14 may lead to impaired barrier function.

Objective: To compare the levels of active and total caspase-14 in healthy subjects in various age groups and in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), using two enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) systems.

IgA pemphigus reacting exclusively to desmoglein 3.

IgA pemphigus is a rare disease which is classified into two major types: subcorneal pustular dermatosis (SPD) and intraepidermal neutrophilic IgA dermatosis (IEN). The autoantigen of the SPD type was identified as desmocollin1 (Dsc1), while the antigen of the IEN type is still unknown. We report a case of IgA pemphigus possessing antibodies exclusively against desmoglein3 (Dsg3).

Molecular analysis of Malassezia microflora in the lesional skin of psoriasis patients.

Systemic and focal infections by microorganisms have been known to induce or exacerbate psoriasis. To investigate the role of Malassezia species in the development of psoriasis, we analyzed the Malassezia microflora in psoriasis patients using a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, and compared it with those in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients and healthy subjects. Fungal DNA was directly collected from the lesional and non-lesional skin of the trunk of 22 psoriasis patients by applying a transparent dressing.

Molecular analysis of Malassezia microflora in seborrheic dermatitis patients: comparison with other diseases and healthy subjects.

Malassezia species colonize the skin of normal and various pathological conditions including pityriasis versicolor (PV), seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD) and atopic dermatitis (AD). To elucidate the pathogenic role of Malassezia species in SD, Malassezia microflora of 31 Japanese SD patients was analyzed using a PCR-based, culture-independent method. Nested PCR assay using the primers in the rRNA gene indicated that the major Malassezia species in SD were M.

Time-kill assay of itraconazole against Malassezia species.

The in vitro pharmacodynamic activity of itraconazole against Malassezia was determined by time-kill methods. Itraconazole showed fungistatic activity at concentrations greater than 2x minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for each of the isolates of all nine Malassezia species associated with humans. A concentration exceeding 4x MIC decreased the growth to less than the inoculum amount (1 x 10(5) cells/ml).

Quantitative analysis of cutaneous malassezia in atopic dermatitis patients using real-time PCR.

We quantified the cutaneous Malassezia in patients with atopic dermatitis using a real-time PCR assay. Seven to 12 times more Malassezia colonized the head and neck compared to the trunk or limbs, and the species M. globosa and M.

[Molecular analysis of Malassezia species isolated from three cases of Akatsuki disease (pomade crust)].

Malassezia spp. which normally colonize on the skin surface, are known as being either the cause or an exacerbating factor in a variety of skin conditions, including pityriasis versicolor, folliculitis, seborrheic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis. We report here three cases of Akatsuki disease (pomade crust).

[Malassezia species in patients with seborrheic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis].

Malassezia species, organisms normally colonizing the skin surface, are thought to play a role as either the cause or an exacerbating factor in a number of skin conditions, including pityriasis versicolor, Malassezia folliculitis, seborrheic dermatitis (SD) and atopic dermatitis (AD). Using a non-cultural PCR method, we analyzed Malassezia spp. extracted from the skin surface of SD and AD patients.

Antifungal activities of tacrolimus and azole agents against the eleven currently accepted Malassezia species.

The lipophilic yeast Malassezia is an exacerbating factor in atopic dermatitis (AD) and colonizes the skin surface of patients with AD. With the goal of reducing the number of Malassezia cells, we investigated the antifungal activities of a therapeutic agent for AD, tacrolimus, and the azole agents itraconazole and ketoconazole against Malassezia species in vitro. We examined 125 strains of the 11 currently accepted Malassezia species by using the agar dilution method.

Genotype analysis of Malassezia restricta as the major cutaneous flora in patients with atopic dermatitis and healthy subjects.

Lipophilic yeasts of the genus Malassezia colonize the skin surface of humans and are an exacerbating factor in atopic dermatitis (AD). Two species, M. restricta and M.

A new yeast, Malassezia yamatoensis, isolated from a patient with seborrheic dermatitis, and its distribution in patients and healthy subjects.

Over the last few years, new Malassezia species have been found regularly in Japanese subjects. We isolated another new Malassezia species from a Japanese patient with seborrheic dermatitis (SD), and named it M. yamatoensis.