Podcasts about cryptococcus

On episode #74 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the weeks of 1/30/25 – 2/12/25. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Sara Dong Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Puscast! Links for this episode Viral Global Impact of mass vaccination campaigns on circulating type 2 vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks (JID) Co-infection of SARS‐CoV‐2 and influenza A/B among patients with COVID-19 (BMC Infectious Diseases) Oseltamivir reduces 30-Day mortality in older adults with Influenza (OFID) Bacterial Predicting benefit from adjuvant therapy with corticosteroids in community-acquired pneumonia (LANCET Respiratory Medicine) Rethinking antibiotic prophylaxis for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with cirrhosis (CID) Determining the optimal antibiotic duration for skin and soft tissue infections (Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases) The stealth and potentially fatal nature of Kingella kingae outbreaks in daycare facilities (OFID) Piperacillin/tazobactam vs. cefepime or carbapenems for the treatment of bloodstream infections due to bacteria producing chromosomal AmpC beta-lactamase (Infection) Is systemic dissemination of BCG following neonatal vaccination required for protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis? (JID) Risk of aortic aneurysm or dissection following use of fluoroquinolones: a retrospective multinational network cohort study (eClinical Medicine) Fungal The Last of US Season 2 (YouTube) Developing mRNA lipid nanoparticle vaccine effective for cryptococcosisin a murine model (Vaccines) The araneopathogenic genus Gibellula (Cordycipitaceae: Hypocreales) in the British Isles, including a new zombie species on orb-weaving cave spiders (Metainae: Tetragnathidae) (Fungal Systematics and Evolution) Sensitivity of Coccidioides serologic tests among culture-proven coccidioidomycosis patients with hematological malignancy compared to a matched immunocompetent cohort (Medical Mycology) Parasitic New WHO guidelines for treating rhodesiense human African trypanosomiasis: expanded indications for fexinidazole and pentamidine (LANCET: Infectious Diseases) Miscellaneous Remote practice of infectious diseases through telemedicine (OFID) Telemedicine offers solutions for the rural disparities in infectious disease (ID) care delivery (OFID) Music is by Ronald Jenkees Information on this podcast should not be considered as medical advice.

In this episode, we review the high-yield topic ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cryptococcus neoformans⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠from the Infectious Disease section at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Medbullets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Medbullets⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/medbullets Instagram: www.instagram.com/medbulletsofficial Twitter: www.twitter.com/medbullets Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/medbullets

Olá! Esse é um episódio do Eu Quero Saber Sobre os projetos do programa Aprendizagem para o Terceiro Milênio. Nesse episódio, Isabel Gomes, aluna do curso de Engenharia de Produção conversa com Igor Giraldi, estudante de biotecnologia pela UnB, sobre seu tema de PIBIC Avaliação do silenciamento epigenético do transgene URA5 em mutantes para o gene HDA1 de Cryptococcus neoformans, obtidos por CRISPR-Cas9 suicida e sobre como esse teste tem aplicações práticas na saúde das pessoas!

Welcome to SciSection! Joining us in today's interview is our special guest Dr. Jianping Xu! Dr. Xu is a professor in the Department of Biology at McMaster University and renowned for his research into the field of mycology

Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: Unveiling the Challenges and Potential of Research in Nigeria: Nurturing Talent in Resource-Limited Settings, published by emmannaemeka on June 7, 2023 on The Effective Altruism Forum. Summary This essay sheds light on the challenges faced by academics working in public institutions in Nigeria, aiming to provide insight into the limited impact of research in the Nigerian context. Aiming to answer the question, why are we not as impactful as expected? It emphasizes the experiences of researchers from resource-limited situations, with a focus on my personal journey as a Nigerian researcher. Background I graduated from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka with a Ph.D. in medical microbiology. Currently, I am a lecturer at Plateau State University, Bokkos, Nigeria. In order to finish my Ph.D. study, I spent three months conducting Ph.D. benchwork at Duke University in the United States. I was fortunate to get local funding for my doctorate from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, which enabled me to travel to Duke for my doctorate. Not everyone is that fortunate. People just very rarely receive sponsorship for post-graduate education in our Nigerian setting. Most people finance their postgraduate education on their own. You must pay both your school fees and your research expenses as a postgraduate student in Nigeria. I've begun supervising both undergraduate and graduate students. What I saw at Duke and what I have heard from developed universities is that university supervisors provide their students with research labs and consumables through grants They also offer assistance through post-doctoral training programs after receiving a PhD. The ordinary postgraduate student here is not like that. What ground-breaking outcomes or depth of study will self-funding enable? On the other hand, few students are fortunate enough to receive collaboration for their projects either directly or through the assistance of their supervisors. In my experience as a supervisor, the university system offers me zero financial assistance for my students' projects. What is it like to do research here? Although my experience might not be representative of all academics in Nigeria. It can be used to illustrate what it's like to conduct research in a Nigerian university and what it's like to hold a professorial position there. Very few scholars focus on a certain topic or element. For example. specialist in the development of bacterial cell walls. or something else. The majority of the time, you will find a lecturer's research articles dispersed throughout many areas. What causes this? As a medical microbiologist, I have published in the fields of mycology, virology, and global warming. At the beginning of my work, while pursuing my Masters degree, I isolated Candida africana with the intention of concentrating on it and thoroughly examining its biology and pathology. Because there are no labs in the nation that can do this kind of research, it was not possible. I so gave up on the research part. I then proceeded on to my doctoral work, where I examined the molecular characterization of the environmental Cryptococcus neoformans. This research was at Duke University. When I got home, I had a ton of questions, such as: What causes the genetic diversity of C. neoformans in Nigeria? What impact has rising temperatures had on this species' evolution of virulence? . Rarely will you find a lab where "ordinary" PCR can be performed. How are consumables purchased? Electricity is a problem. I came to the realization that I could neither pursue these inquiries in Nigeria nor the biology of this fungus. If I must continue studying this pathogen, I will be limited to studying its genotype and epidemiology (which requires cooperation with international labs). I started looking at how environmental infections are r...

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2023.04.09.536157v1?rss=1 Authors: Aktar, K., Davies, T., Leontiou, I., Clark, I., Spanos, C., Wallace, E., Tuck, L., Jeyaprakash, A. A., Hardwick, K. Abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic, human fungal pathogen which undergoes fascinating switches in cell cycle control and ploidy when it encounters stressful environments such as the human lung. Here we carry out a mechanistic analysis of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) which regulates the metaphase to anaphase transition, focusing on Mps1 kinase and the downstream checkpoint components Mad1 and Mad2. We demonstrate that Cryptococcus mad1- or mad2- strains are unable to respond to microtubule perturbations, continuing to re-bud and divide, and die rapidly as a consequence. Fluorescent tagging of Chromosome 3, using a lacO array and mNeonGreen-lacI fusion protein, demonstrates that mad mutants are unable to maintain sister-chromatid cohesion in the absence of microtubule polymers. Thus, the classic checkpoint functions of the SAC are conserved in Cryptococcus. In interphase, GFP-Mad1 is enriched at the nuclear periphery, and it is recruited to unattached kinetochores in mitosis. Purification of GFP-Mad1 followed by mass spectrometric analysis of associated proteins show that that it forms a complex with Mad2 and that it interacts with other checkpoint signalling components (Bub1) and effectors (Cdc20 and APC/C sub-units) in mitosis. We also demonstrate that overexpression of Mps1 kinase is sufficient to arrest Cryptococcus cells in mitosis, and show that this arrest is dependent on both Mad1 and Mad2. We find that a C-terminal fragment of Mad1 is an effective in vitro substrate for Mps1 kinase and map several Mad1 phosphorylation sites. Some sites are highly conserved within the C-terminal Mad1 structure and we demonstrate that mutation of threonine 667 (T667A) leads to loss of checkpoint signalling and abrogation of the GAL-MPS1 arrest. Thus Mps1-dependent phosphorylation of C-terminal Mad1 residues is a critical step in Cryptococcus spindle checkpoint signalling. Finally, we analyse the phenotype of mad and mps1 mutants during titan cell generation: quantitating viability of titan cells and their daughters generated during the ensuing reductive division. The mad1, mad2 and mps1 mutants show significantly reduced viability: many titans are dead and others produce slow growing colonies. We propose that these Cryptococcus neoformans checkpoint proteins have important roles in ensuring high fidelity chromosome segregation during stressful conditions, such that those heightened during its polyploid infection cycle. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

On episode #22 of the Infectious Disease Puscast, Daniel and Sara review the infectious disease literature for the previous two weeks, 2/2 – 2/15/23. Hosts: Daniel Griffin and Sara Dong Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of Puscast! Links for this episode Influence of rapid influenza diagnostic testing on clinician decision-making for patients with acute respiratory infection (CID) Outbreak of extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CDC) Epidemiology and clinical outcomes of non-HACEK gram-negative infective endocarditis (OFID) Azithromycin to prevent sepsis or death in women planning a vaginal birth (NEJM) Clinical significance of concomitant bacteruria in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (EJCM) Health disparities in hemodialysis associated Staph aureus bloodstream infections (CDC) Sequential oral antibiotic in uncomplicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (CMI) Genome-wide analysis of transposon mobility in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus deneoformans (PNAS) Prevalence of ocular candidiasis and Candida endophthalmitis in patients with candidemia (CID) Prevalence of Ocular Complications in candidemia (CID) Rapid and spontaneous post-partum clearance of Plasmodium falciparum (JID) Adoption and utilization of social media among adult and pediatric infectious diseases divisions and fellowship programs (OFID) Canine detection of chronic wasting disease in laboratory and field settings (Prion) Music is by Ronald Jenkees

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2023.02.06.527297v1?rss=1 Authors: Hu, Z., McKenzie, C.-A., Smith, C., Haas, J. G., Lathe, R. Abstract: Microbes in human brain and their potential contribution to neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) have long been debated. We recently developed a new method (the electronic tree of life, eToL) based on small subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) probes, further confirmed by large subunit rRNA analysis, to comprehensively address the spectrum of microorganisms in control and AD brain. We report a remarkable diversity of brain microbes in control brain. The most abundant are fungi, bacteria, and chloroplastida, and we report detailed identification of representative microbial species. The pattern is substantially conserved across different bilateran species from Drosophila to human. In terms of diversity, the human brain microbiome appears to be a subset (~20%) of the gut microbiome. Adenovirus type C was the major virus found in human brain; other viruses were not well represented. However, the spectrum of brain microbes differed between individuals as well as between brain regions examined from single individuals (amygdala, cingulate cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus); of these four regions, the highest microbial burden was in cingulate cortex. There was evidence of spreading of pathogens between brain regions in single individuals. Some microbes are over-represented in AD brain according to two measures: (i) absolute number of microbes normalized to endogenous human transcripts, and (ii) the number of brain specimens showing overabundance versus control. Species over-represented in AD brain according to both measures notably include bacteria (Streptococcus, Staphylococcus/Bacillus, Sphingomonas/Ralstonia) and fungi (Acrocalymma/Altenaria/Aureobasidium of the Aspergillus group; Komagataella of the Candida group, Cortinarius of the Schizophyllum group, and Tausonia of the Cryptococcus group), that are all related to known human pathogens. In addition, an uncharacterized chloroplastida (algae-related) species was more abundant in AD brain samples. Although these findings point to diverse microbial species, indicative of multiple causation, similar absolute levels of bacteria and fungi in AD brain samples could suggest synergy between pathogens. However, it is important to stress that not all AD samples were positive for these microbes, but this could be because the affected brain region(s) was not examined. These findings support the contention that infection, perhaps associated with declining immunity with age, may contribute to AD development. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

Beech bark disease has been killing American beech trees in eastern North America since the late 1890s. In northern New England, New York, and the Maritimes where the disease is most severe, groups of disease resistant trees occasionally occur. Genetic studies reveal that trees in groups are families, and distribution patterns suggest that they were “planted” by blue jays. Related Research: American Beech Resistance to Cryptococcus fagisuga (1983) Forest Insect & Disease Leaflet 75 (1983) Dispersal of Beech Nuts by Blue Jays in Fragmented Landscapes (1985) Spatial and Temporal Development of Beech Bark Disease in the Northeastern United States (2005) Beech Bark Disease: The Oldest "New" Threat to American Beech in the United States (2010) The Emergence of Beech Leaf Disease in Ohio: Probing Plant Microbiome in Search of the Cause (2020) Beech Leaf Disease Symptoms Caused by Newly Recognized Nematode Subspecies Litylenchus crenatae mccannii (Anguinata) Described From Fagus grandifolia in North America (2020) Scientists: Jennifer Koch, Research Biologist, Northern Research Station, Delaware, Ohio Laura Kenefic, Research Forester, Northern Research Station, Bradley, Maine Dave Houston, Principal Plant Pathologist (Retired), Northern Research Station, Hamden, Connecticut In this episode, we used the following recording from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: ML526793201 (Kendrick DeBoer, Alberta, Canada) Produced by the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station. Want more information? Visit us at www.nrs.fs.usda.gov/podcast/2/6/ Any questions? Connect with us on Twitter!

V tomto podcaste budeme hovoriť o zdravotných rizikách, ktoré so sebou prináša nočná práca, aké fintičky používa pri infekcii Cryptococcus neoformans a o štúdii, ktorá sa pozerala na mikrodávkovanie halucinogénov. Pseudocast 574 na YouTube Zdroje Daytime eating prevents mood vulnerability in night workRecent News about Night Shift Work and Cancer: What Does it Mean for Workers?Daytime eating prevents internal circadian misalignment and glucose intolerance in night workThis Deadly Fungus Shapeshifts to Get Deep Inside Your Brain TissueWe Finally Know How Deadly Fungal Meningitis Spreads in The Brain, And It's BrutalCryptococcus neoformansPlacebo-controlled study suggests that the benefits of psilocybin microdosing can be explained by expectancy effects Image by dominador from Pixabay

Welcome to PICU Doc On Call, A Podcast Dedicated to Current and Aspiring Intensivists. I'm Pradip Kamat coming to you from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta/Emory University School of Medicine. Today we are joined by two wonderful clinical pharmacists — Whitney Moore & Stephanie Yasechko. Whitney is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. She is on Twitter at @MoorephinRx. Stephanie is a Pediatric Lung Transplant Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. We are so excited to have you both on today. My name is Rahul Damania and I am a Pediatric Intensivist at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital; Welcome to PICU Doc On Call where we focus on all things MED-ED in the PICU. Our podcast focuses on interesting PICU cases & management in the acute care pediatric setting so let's get into our episode: Welcome to our Episode an 18 yo immunocompromised patient with headache & sore throat Here's the case presented by Rahul: An 18-year-old female (40 kg) with PMH significant for fibrolamellar carcinoma of the liver, presents to the ED with headache and sore throat. She is febrile to 38.3, tachycardic, tachypneic, and has a WBC of 27K on her CBC. She is markedly hypotensive with BP on the arrival of 99/65. Cultures were drawn, the patient was given x1 doses of vancomycin and meropenem, and she was transported to the PICU for further workup and management. Due to her progressive hemodynamic instability, increased inflammatory markers, and marked immunocompromised state, the team is considering broadening her anti-microbial coverage. To summarize key elements from this case, this patient has: Fibrolamellar carcinoma of the liver A presentation of headache, sore throat, and hemodynamic instability with concern for sepsis A current regimen of just antibacterials, which brings up the consideration of adding anti-fungal coverage in her clinically ill state. Our episode today will be covering anti-fungal agents in the PICU. We will review general mycology, understand different classes of antifungals, and highlight practical clinical pearls in the acute care setting. As mentioned, this patient has risk factors for an immunocompromised state due to her underlying liver condition. As we dive deeper into antifungals, Whitney, can you please give us an overview of common fungal pathogens in the PICU? Before we discuss the major drugs, it's important that we take some time to briefly review the most common fungi we encounter clinically since it's hard to choose the right agent when you don't know exactly what you are treating. Clinically, Candida is probably the most common fungal pathogen encountered, especially in warm, moist environments. It is important to determine what type of species is growing. The three major species known to cause infection are C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. krusei, but it is important to differentiate these species when identified since they have different resistance patterns. Cryptococcus is another type of fungus that is known to cause meningitis or fungemia, especially in immunocompromised or cirrhotic patients. Both Candida and Cryptococcus are classified as yeast on Gram stain. Treating cryptococcus will require the use of an agent that has good penetration to the CNS. Endemic fungi known as Coccidia, Histoplasma, and Blastomyces are known to cause disseminated infections in immunocompromised hosts; however, each fungus is associated with a different geographic region in the United States. With any type of infection, it is always very important to consider your patients' exposures and recent travel history. And finally, there are two major molds that have the potential to be pathogenic. The first is Aspergillus which is identified via hyphae (tall filaments) on Gram stain well known to cause invasive pulmonary infections in the immunocompromised, specifically those who are neutropenic and/or received a lung transplant.

This episode of TGen Talks takes the listener along I-17 from Phoenix to Flagstaff, where our host, Karie Dozer, sits down with David Engelthaler, Ph.D., professor and director of TGen's Pathogen and Microbiome Division, more commonly known as TGen North.   Whereas TGen uses genomics to solve complex problems such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease, the scientists at TGen North use these same tools and technology to focus on infectious disease … the microbes, the bacteria, the viruses, the fungi that cause some of the greatest problems around the world.    Engelthaler provides the listener an inside look at the research underway across the division, and the community work with different tribal nations and hospitals to understand what's most important to them and how TGen North can apply their expertise to support those needs.   Whether it's Cryptococcus, tuberculosis, superbugs in our hospitals, or other bad things like plague, West Nile, Valley fever, COVID, or the latest efforts around pathogen intelligence, TGen North's goal is and always has been to rapidly identify and help stop the spread of potentially dangerous outbreaks.   All this and more, on TGen Talks.

Cryptococcus species causes close to a quater of a million cases of severe disease and > 180 000 deaths...universally fatal if untreated. In this episode of MM, host Dr Vindana Chibabhai, chats to Prof Nelesh Govender about recent changes and expected changes in the diagnosis and management of Cryptococcal disease. 2022 WHO Cryptococcal Disease Management Guidelines https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550277 (here) https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1710922 (ACTA Trial ) https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2111904 (Ambition Trial) About Prof Nelesh Govender: I run a research group in medical mycology in South Africa, among a select few worldwide working in public health mycology. A major theme of my research is HIV-associated fungal diseases, many of which are life-threatening. My research activities span: 1) laboratory science (including characterisation of established/emerging fungal pathogens and diagnostic test development/evaluation), 2) population-based observational epidemiological studies, 3) cost-effectiveness modelling of public health interventions and treatments and 4) clinical trials. This research is aligned to my work as a centre head at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (www.nicd.ac.za) where I run South Africa's national mycology reference laboratory. Our group serves as a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for antimicrobial resistance. Our public health research is primarily funded through NICD but also partly through grants from the US National Institutes of Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CDC Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UK Medical Research Council, UK National Institute for Health Research and NHLS Research Trust. Twitter @neleshg Visit the Microbe Mail https://microbemail.captivate.fm/ (website) to sign up for updates E-mail: mail.microbe@gmail.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/https:/www.instagram.com/microbe_mail/ (Microbe_Mail)  Twitter: @microbemail Facebook: Microbe Mail Pinterest: @mailmicrobe

In this episode, we review the high-yield topic of Cryptococcus neoformans from the Infectious Disease section. Follow Medbullets on social media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/medbullets Instagram: www.instagram.com/medbulletsofficial Twitter: www.twitter.com/medbullets

This week the show takes a more serious tone as Les (@widowmaker1138) from the Bepsi Boys comes on to discuss fungal infections and the dangers that come along with them.Les is sharing a personal health story and as Chid and Sigh have no personal experience with any fungal infections, we would defer you to the experts (health professionals) regarding anything of this nature.  Discussed on the show are Cryptococcus - C. Neoformans Infection on the CDC website and Candidiasis - Candidiasis on the CDC Website We discuss some of the symptoms of fungal infections and his visit with doctors in addition to the treatment of these fungal infections with angi-fungal medications.  Les makes it clear he's not a doctor and he has done a lot of his own research into the subject in addition to speaking with his own physician. As you know Chid and Sigh also are not doctors. If you hear something during this episode that concerns you about yourself please make sure you speak with a doctor or health professional about these symptoms/concerns and their treatment. If you'd like to read about any of these, the CDC's website has information on this and many more topics. Resources for the show:https://www.cdc.govhttps://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/index.htmlFind Les on Twitter:https://twitter.com/widowmaker1138Support the show (https://cash.app/$roundingdown)

Merhaba! Daha önceden HIV enfeksiyonunun seyri ve profilaksi üzerine ilk yazıyı paylaşmıştık. Bu yazıda ise HIV enfeksiyonuna ait çeşitli komplikasyonlar ile acil servise başvuran hastaların yönetimi üzerinde duracağız.​1​ ​2​ ​3​ Unutulmamalıdır ki antiretroviral tedaviye uyum gösteren hastalar, saptanamayan viral yüke, iyileştirilmiş yaşam kalitesine ve normal yaşam beklentisine ulaşabilir. Tedavi uyumsuzluğu olan veya henüz tanı almamış hastalar fırsatçı enfeksiyonlara ve ateş, kilo kaybı, yorgunluk ve halsizlik gibi sistemik semptomlara daha yatkın olabilir. HIV ile yaşayan bireyler için en önemli başvuru nedenlerinden biri ateştir.​4​ Bu hastaların fırsatçı enfeksiyonlara yakalanma ihtimalini ise en çok CD4+ T lenfosit sayısı değiştirir. Genel olarak, CD4+ T lenfosit değerleri

Today on Mushroom Hour we have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Ekaterina Dadachova. Dr. Dadachova is a Professor of Pharmacy at the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition and the Fedoruk Centre for Nuclear Innovation Chair in Radiopharmacy. Before joining University of Saskatchewan, she was a Professor of Radiology, Microbiology and Immunology in the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, USA, where she was also Sylvia and Robert S. Olnick Faculty Scholar in Cancer Research. She received her PhD in Physical Chemistry from Moscow State University in Moscow, Russia, in 1992, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in radiopharmaceutical chemistry at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization in Sydney, Australia. Dadachova's laboratory has pioneered the treatment of infectious diseases including fungal and bacterial infections and HIV with radiolabeled antibodies (so called radioimmunotherapy). Her other research interests are radioimmunotherapy of melanoma, blood cancers and osteosarcoma as well as the development of melanin-based radioprotectors for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, soldiers on the battlefield and astronauts in space.   TOPICS COVERED:   Research Pathways of Melanin, Melanoma and Fungi Coming Together  Black Fungi in Soil Surrounding Chernobyl  Melanin in Fungi  Basics of Radiation and Types of Radioactive Particles  Fungi in Outer Space  How Fungi Use Melanin to Protect Themselves Against Ionizing Radiation  Fungi Surviving in Antarctica  Melanated Fungi Harvesting Radiation  Radiotropism  Applied Technologies for Radiation Protection from Melanized Fungi  The Power of Eating Melanized Mushrooms  Radioimmunotherapy  Radiopharmaceuticals  Future Research & Applications  EPISODE RESOURCES:    Dr. Ekaterina Dadachova Academic Website: https://pharmacy-nutrition.usask.ca/profiles/kate-dadachova.php#Bio  Dr. Ekaterina Dadachova Papers: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=A6Ud3q0AAAAJ&hl=en  Cryptococcus neoformans (fungus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptococcus_neoformans  Cryptococcus antarcticus (fungus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptococcus_antarcticus  Auricularia judae (fungis): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auricularia_auricula-judae

Cryptococcus gattii is a fungus that lives in the environment in primarily tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world but also in some temperate regions such as British Columbia and some parts of the United States. C. gattii cryptococcosis is a rare infection that people can get after breathing in the microscopic fungus. Scientists found that the disease also killed porpoises and dolphins in the Salish Sea. In a new study published in Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, researchers explore how human-caused changes on land can affect aquatic animals, specifically in the case of the fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus gattii. Joining me today to discuss this topic is research assistant at the SeaDoc Society, a program of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, and lead author, Sarah Teman.

Mada PK, Jamil RT, Alam MU. Cryptococcus. [Updated 2021 Aug 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431060/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/las-poderosas-celulas-nk/message

Cabello, R. R., Feregrino, R. R., & Feregrino, R. R. (2018). Microbiología y parasitología humana: Bases etiológicas de las enfermedades infecciosas y parasitarias. Editorial Médica Panamericana --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/las-poderosas-celulas-nk/message

The COVID-19 pandemic has been already in our lives since late 2019 and the variants surge is rapidly increasing. Is there anything we can learn from the experience? Fast forward to the fall of 2021, what are the recommendations for Hospitals and Laboratories around the world for the current pandemic and future spread of diseases? In this podcast episode, we will have a conversation with Dr. Arturo Casadevall an infectious disease specialist and Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University about learnings from this pandemic, vaccines, variants, and how antibody testing can play a key role. About our Speaker: Dr. Arturo Casadevall is a professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He holds a joint appointment in molecular microbiology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. His research focuses on how microbes cause disease and how the immune system defends itself. Dr. Casadevall serves as chair of the W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He received his M.S., Ph.D., and M.D. from New York University. His team is currently engaged in understanding how hosts defend against the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. Dr. Casadevall's work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the American Society for Microbiology Founders Distinguished Service Award, the National Institutes of Health Merit Award, and the Rhoda Benham Award from the Medical Mycology Society of America.  He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Hiten Madhani is an expert in yeast biology, including the neglected human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Hiten's lab has made major contributions to our understanding of gene splicing, gene silencing, and quorum sensing. These eclectic areas arise organically from his group's ability to follow the data and their own curiosity, coupled to his strategy of encouraging trainees to follow their passion.

Mold is estimated to cover twenty-five percent of earth’s biomass, with approximately 100,000 fungal species identified. Indoor mold exposure is a health issue. It can negatively affect your overall wellness. Mold is part of the environment that can travel, spread, and grow by releasing mold spores. Mold can impact your health by creating an allergy, toxicity, or infection. Allergies are most common as 70 allergens have been found in spores of mold fungi, causing allergy symptoms and respiratory issues. Mold toxicity can occur because of the production of toxic chemicals from a mold called mycotoxins. This specific type of mold can produce adverse health effects described as chronic effects from the long-term exposure. If you suspect this, then it’s best to get tested for mycotoxins with a functional medicine urine lab test. Mold infections can occur from fungi such as Candida, Histoplasmosis, Cryptococcus, Blastomyces, and Coccidiosis, and these infections can cause gastrointestinal issues, skin infections, and more.  Read the blog at: https://nancyguberti.com/mold-exposure/ Disclaimer: You should always speak with your physician before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or adopting any treatment for a health problem. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your physician. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking professional advice. Information and statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Don’t want to  miss the monthly live presentations then became a member & be empowered. Take Charge of your health by joining Total Wellness Monthly Membership.  #mold #moldexposure #anxiety 

With the world turning its attention more to treatment solutions and even potential COVID-19 cures, Stony Brook University has been leading antibody screening, enrolling patients in a convalescent plasma trial and conducting more than 180 dedicated research projects across all disciplines … all with the aim of winning the long-term Coronavirus battle. Stony Brook University Interim President Michael Bernstein hosts this episode of Beyond the Expected podcast and is joined by three Stony Brook guests to talk about how our researchers have stepped up and responded, about the research they're doing, and about the latest thinking on what antibodies can and can't tell us about this disease. Guests: Dr. Elliot Bennett-Guerrero is Medical Director for Perioperative Quality and Patient Safety for Stony Brook Medicine. He's also Professor and Vice Chairman for Clinical Research in the Department of Anesthesiology in Stony Brook University's Renaissance School of Medicine. Dr. Bennett-Guerrero has been involved in research projects running the gamut from the safety and effectiveness of blood transfusion, to surgical site infection, postoperative morbidity and cancer recurrence. Most recently, he launched a clinical trial of donated, post-convalescent plasma from up to 500 COVID-19 patients and is also conducting antibody testing with 500 healthcare workers. Dr. Bettina Fries is Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Medicine, and is nationally recognized as a physician-scientist in the field of microbiology. She is a Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology at the Renaissance School of Medicine. She is also an attending at the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center and a Fellow of the Infectious Disease Society as well as the American Academy of Microbiology. A primary focus of her research has been on the development of antibodies against multidrug-resistant bacteria and on Cryptococcus neoformans. During this pandemic, Dr. Fries has consulted on COVID-19 infected patients and chairs the clinical trial task force that reports to our Hospital Incident Command System. Dr. Richard Reeder is Vice President for Research and serves as Associate Vice President for Brookhaven National Laboratory Affairs, acting as Stony Brook's liaison to the nearby Department of Energy laboratory co-managed by Stony Brook University and Battelle Memorial Institute. He is also a member of the Brookhaven Science Associates Board of Directors and retains the position of Professor of Geochemistry in the Department of Geosciences, where he served as Chair for 2008-2013. Dr. Reeder's research interests have spanned several primarily environmental-based areas. Production Credits Guest Host: Michael Bernstein Executive Producer: Nicholas Scibetta Producer: Lauren Sheprow Art Director: Karen Leibowitz Assistant producer: Ellen Cooke Facebook Live and Social Media: Meryl Altuch, Emily Cappiello, Casey Borchick, Veronica Brown Production assistant: Joan Behan-Duncan YouTube Technician: Dennis Murray Vodcast Director: Jan Diskin-Zimmerman Engineer/Technical Director: Phil Altiere Production Manager/Editor: Tony Fabrizio Camera/Lighting Director: Jim Oderwald Camera: Brian DiLeo Original score: “Mutti Bug” provided by Professor Tom Manuel Special thanks to the School of Journalism for use of its podcast studio https://renaissance.stonybrookmedicine.edu/COVID_DonatePlasma

Today we'll talk about the weird fungal organism that haunts pigeons. High-yield, board-relevant information, and a boards-style practice question. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/bradleysmicroboardreview/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bradleysmicroboardreview/support

Mahmoud Ghannoum, PhD has spent his entire academic career studying medically important fungi encompassing different fungal pathogens including Candida, Aspergillus and Cryptococcus, the major causes of fungal infections. He is the author of the new book Total Gut Balance.

One reason is because the overwhelming bacterial members of the microbiome keep the fungi in check. Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum is a professor at Case Western University and the director of the Center for Medical Mycology, who studies fungal pathogens, such as Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus. Ghannoum talks about how changes in the bacterial microbiome cause the fungi to overgrow and cause disease, how bacteria and fungi can “play together” to cause problems, how diet, lifestyle, and probiotics can help keep the bad fungi from overgrowing, how scientific data is needed to analyze the effect of diet and probiotics on the microbiome, and how if he wasn’t a scientist, he’d like to be Anthony Bourdain. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Nirvana, a young yoga prodigy who gets a potentially fatal disease while trying out a difficult yoga pose. Get ASM's 2019 Fungal report now available at https://asm.org/fungal2019 Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mahmoud Ghannoum, Ph.D. (Case Western University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Mylea Echazarreta (UTSA) Anish Saikumar (UTSA) Richardo Sanchez (UTSA)

On this month’s podcast, we discuss the fungus Cryptococcus neoformans with Dr Liz Ballou from the University of Birmingham In January 2019, news broke that two patients at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow had tragically passed away. When tested, both patients showed signs of a fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. One of the patients’ deaths was unrelated to the infection, however it was a contributing factor to the death of the second patient. This month we talked to fungal geneticist Dr Ballou; she researches how human fungal pathogens, specifically C. neoformans, survive and cause disease in the host. We discussed C. neoformans research, the lifecycle of the fungus, and the disease it can cause.

The devastation of the immune system that occurs during AIDS renders patients highly susceptible to a number of infections that a functioning immune system can easily control.   One of the most common infections in AIDS patients is Cryptococcosis, caused by a fungus. Cryptococcus neoformans can infect immunocompromised individuals through the lungs and cause a potentially fatal meningitis.  Dr. Paul de Figueiredo is an associate professor at Texas A&M University. His research focuses on the interaction of host cells with microbial pathogens, including Cryptococcus neoformans. Dr. de Figueiredo talks about why AIDS patients are susceptible to infections by this fungus, how working with fruit flies can help in the fight against Cryptococcus, why the fungus is found in pigeon droppings, and his path from religious scholar to scientist. The microCase for listeners to solve is about Cal Naughton Jr, who comes down with a mysterious illness while on a Royal Beluga Caribbean cruise with his family. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Paul de Figueiredo, Ph.D. (Texas A&M University) Janakiram Seshu, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jesus Romo, Ph.D. (UTSA) Subscribe to microTalk via Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Android, Email or RSS and never miss an episode!

Dr. Andrew Alspaugh is a physician and Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. Dr. Alspaugh is a mycologist, which means he studies fungi. Fungi typically cause serious and sometimes fatal disease in immunocompromised people. It is difficult to treat and prevent fungal diseases in these patients, due to their poorly functioning immune systems. Dr. Alspaugh is doing research on Cryptococcus neoformans, a common fungal infection of HIV-infected individuals. Dr. Alspaugh discusses fungal infections and the development of treatments and cures, his involvement in training mycologists at Woods Hole in Massachusetts, and how physician-patient interaction influences the research in his laboratory. The MicroCase for listeners to solve is about Grumpy McGrumpface, the retired out-of-shape accountant who tries to get physically fit, only to come down with a life-threatening illness. Participants: Karl Klose, Ph.D. (UTSA) Andrew Alspaugh, M.D. (Duke University) Floyd Wormley, Ph.D. (UTSA) Jose Lopez-Ribot, Ph.D. (UTSA)

The TWiM hosts reveal why phosphorus is essential for fungal brain disease, and how bacteria kill local competitors to favor the evolution of public goods cooperation. Hosts:  Vincent Racaniello, Michele Swanson, Michael Schmidt, and Elio Schaechter. Links for this episode Phosphate needed for Cryptococcus brain disease (mSphere) Type VI killing drives phase separation (Nat Rep) Type VI secretion review (Phil Trans Roy Soc) Microbial cooperation and conflict (TedX) Image credit Letters read on TWiM 147 Become a patron of TWiM. This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free with your first purchase – WITH FREE SHIPPING – by going to blueapron.com/twim Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twim@microbe.tv 

The arrival in the US of plasmid-mediated resistance to colistin antibiotics, a last line of defense against many gram-negative bacilli, and a quorum sensing system in a eukaryote are topics of this episode hosted by Vincent, Michael, and Michele. Image: Etest used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of an antibiotic for a particular bacterium. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Michael Schmidt, and Michele Swanson.  Subscribe to TWiM (free) on iTunes, Stitcher, RSS, or by email. You can also listen on your mobile device with the Microbeworld app. Links for this episode E. coli with mcr-1 on a plasmid in the US (AAC) Emergence of plasmid mediated colistin resistance in China (The Lancet) Major breach in last line of defense (The Lancet) Resistance plasmid families in Enterobacteriaceae (AAC) EUCAST MIC breakpoints (ClinCalc) Role of ASM in microbial resistance one, two (bLogphase) Quorum sensing in fungi (Cell Host Microbe) Image credit Letters read on TWiM 129 This episode is brought to you by CuriosityStream, a subscription streaming service that offers over 1,400 documentaries and non­fiction series from the world's best filmmakers. Get unlimited access starting at just $2.99 a month, and for our audience, the first two months are completely free if you sign up at curiositystream.com/m​icrobe ​and use the promo code MICROBE​. Send your microbiology questions and comments (email or mp3 file) to twim@microbe.tv 

Living with HIV everyone has a compromised immune system and are susceptible to illnessess very easily. Call in and listen as Shalonda Henderson talks about becoming blind from cryptococcal meningitis due to having HIV. 347-855-8118 3:30pm PST, 4:30pm MST, 6:30pm EST or listen online at www.blogtalkusa.com. What is Cryptococcus? Cryptococcus is a fungus that is found in the soil throughout the world. Because Cryptococcus is common in the environment, most people probably breathe in small amounts of microscopic, airborne spores every day. Sometimes these spores cause symptoms of a respiratory infection, but other times there are no symptoms at all. In healthy people, the fungus usually does not cause serious illness because the immune system can fight off the infection. However, in people with weakened immune systems, such as people with HIV/AIDS, the fungus can stay hidden in the body and later reactivate, spreading to other parts of the body and causing serious disease. Cryptococcal meningitis An infection with the fungus Cryptococcus is known as cryptococcosis, and it is a serious opportunistic infection among people with advanced HIV/AIDS. 

Vincent, Michael, Elio and Michele review a new fluorogenic diagnostic test for tuberculosis bacteria, and the role of a metalloprotease in helping a fungus invade the central nervous system.   

Psychrophile Hefen sind ubiquitär in der Umwelt verbreitet und befinden sich auch auf gekühlten Lebensmitteln. Somit werden sie vom Menschen oral aufgenommen. Unter ihnen befinden sich Gattungen, die Verderbspotential besitzen oder opportunistisch pathogene Spezies beinhalten. Außerdem ist bekannt, dass die orale Aufnahme von Hefen bei manchen Menschen zur Entstehung diverser gesundheitlicher Syndrome führen kann. Zu ihnen zählen primär Störungen des Magendarmtraktes, das chronische Müdigkeitssyndrom, Allergien und Migräne. Über das Vorkommen von Hefen auf vakuumverpacktem, gekühltem Rindfleisch gibt es bisher wenige Untersuchungen. Daten bezüglich gekühltem, vakuumverpacktem Lammfleisch aus dem globalen Handel sind bisher nicht verfügbar. Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, eine Übersicht über die Hefemikrobiota von vakuumverpacktem Rind- und Lammfleisch zu liefern. Dabei wurden verschiedene Kontinente und Länder miteinander verglichen, um eventuelle qualitative und /oder quantitative Unterschiede aufzuzeigen. Insgesamt wurden 74 Hefe-Isolate aus 26 Rind- und zehn Lammfleischproben von insgesamt 93 untersuchten Fleischproben gewonnen. Die gewonnenen Isolate wurden den Gattungen Bulleromyces, Candida, Cryptococcus, Kazachstania, Rhodotorula, Sporobolomyces und Wickerhamomyces zugeordnet, wobei C. zeylanoides, C. sake und K. psychrophila die dominierenden Hefespezies waren. In dieser Arbeit konnten die Isolate B. albus und Sp. roseus erstmalig aus vakuumverpacktem Fleisch isoliert werden. Bei acht Hefe-Isolaten handelt es sich vermutlich um neue Hefespezies. Die Mehrheit der Fleischproben, aus denen die Hefe-Isolate stammen, zeigte einen sensorisch einwandtfreien Zustand sowie Pack Blowing Scores von maximal zwei. Von den 26 Rindfleisch- und zehn Lammfleischproben, aus denen die Hefe-Isolate stammen, zeigten sechs Fleischproben erste Verderbserscheinungen. Diese Proben hatten einen unangenehmen, sauren oder muffigen Geruch. Ein Zusammenhang zwischen den geruchlichen Abweichungen der sechs Fleischproben und einem möglichen Verderbspotential der aus diesen Proben isolierten Hefespezies (B. albus, C. glaebosa, C. sake, C. zeylanoides, K. psychrophila und „Fungal sp.“) kann nicht ausgeschlossen werden. Mit weiteren wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten sollte das biochemische und physikalische Profil sowie die Toxinproduktion der in dieser Arbeit gewonnenen Hefespezies untersucht werden. Dadurch wäre eine Einschätzung des Verderbs- und möglichen Pathogenitätspotentials dieser lebensmittelrelevanten Hefen möglich.

Hefen sind ubiquitär in der Umwelt zu finden und kommen in vielen unterschiedlichen Habitaten vor. Einige psychrotolerante Spezies zeichnen sich durch ihre hohe Beständigkeit gegenüber Kälte aus. Hinsichtlich ihres Vorkommens bei gekühltem, vakuumverpacktem Fleisch finden sich wenige Untersuchungen. Auch über ihre Bedeutung als Verderbserreger in diesen Produkten ist sehr wenig bekannt. In vorliegender Arbeit wurden 25 Rind-, 9 Wild-, 3 Lamm- und 2 Straußenfleischpro-ben in Vakuumverpackung unterschiedlicher Herkunft daher auf das Vorkommen von Hefen und die Zusammensetzung der Hefepopulation untersucht. Es wurden insgesamt 18 Isolatgruppen isoliert. Darunter waren die Gattungen Candida, Cryptococcus, Cystofilobasidium, Filobasidium, Debaryomyces, Mrakia, Pichia und Rhodotorula. Zudem wurden zwei Hefen, Candida argentea und Mrakia blollopsis, isoliert und identifiziert, über deren Vorkommen auf Fleisch bislang nicht berichtet wurde. Eine in drei Proben nachgewiesene Spezies konnte mittels molekularbiologischer Verfahren der Gattung Kazachstania zugeordnet werden. Hierbei handelt es sich um eine neue Art, Kazachstania psychrophila sp. nov., welche aufgrund der hohen Nachweishäufigkeit auf vakuumverpacktem Fleisch eine Rolle spielt. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde auch das Verderbspotential unterschiedlicher Hefeisolate untersucht. Es wurden Rindfleischproben mit Candida spp., Mrakia spp. und Kazachstania spp. beimpft und über einen Zeitraum von 12 Wochen sensorisch und mikrobiologisch untersucht. Dabei zeigte sich bei dieser Versuchsanordnung kein Verderbspotential von Mrakia spp. Bei der Beimpfung mit Candida spp. zeigten sich leichte sensorische Veränderungen, welche bei dieser Lagerzeit als mäßige Verderbserscheinungen bewertet wurden. Kazachstania spp. hingegen konnten im Beimpfungsversuch deutliche geruchliche und farbliche Veränderungen der Fleischproben hervorrufen, welche gegen Ende der Lagerzeit eindeutig als Verderb bezeichnet werden konnten. In Bezug auf die Minimierung einer Kontamination von Vakuumpackungen mit Hefen und auf die Verhinderung eines Verderbsprozesses ergab sich in den Untersuchungen zur Wirksamkeit verschiedener Reinigungs- und Desinfektionsmittel, dass alle getesteten, handelsüblichen Präparate eine gute Wirkung gegenüber den getesteten Hefen hatten. Glatte Schneidebretter sind gegenüber den benutzten und eingeritzten leichter zu reinigen. Somit ist die Bekämpfung der Hefen in einem Schlacht- und Zerlegebetrieb im Rahmen der üblichen, ordnungsgemäßen Hygiene- und Reinigungskonzepte zu bewältigen. Der häufige Nachweis von psychrotoleranten Hefen auf vakuumverpacktem Fleisch sowie das Verderbspotential einiger Spezies nimmt gerade durch die Weiterentwicklung und Verbesserung der Schlacht- und Zerlegetechnik mit dem Ziel der Gewinnung keimarmer Schlachtkörper und Fleischteilstücke an Bedeutung zu. Bei der Vakuumierung von Fleisch, welches einen niedrigen Keimgehalt besitzt, kann eine Kontamination mit psychrotoleranten Hefen leicht zu Verderbserscheinungen führen, da die Hefen durch die fehlende Konkurrenzmikrobiota in ihrem Wachstum nicht gehemmt werden. In weiterführenden Arbeiten wären Untersuchungen über die Kontaminationswege und Eintragsquellen der psychrotoleranten Hefen notwendig, um eine effektive Vermeidung und Bekämpfung zu gewährleisten. Außerdem sollte das Verderbspotential weiterer relevanter Hefespezies untersucht werden und die Verderbsproblematik anhand von Verdachtsproben näher untersucht werden.

Background: The receptor for activated C-kinase 1 (RACK1) is a conserved protein belonging to the WD40 repeat family of proteins. It folds into a beta propeller with seven blades which allow interactions with many proteins. Thus it can serve as a scaffolding protein and have roles in several cellular processes. Results: We identified the product of the Dictyostelium discoideum gpbB gene as the Dictyostelium RACK1 homolog. The protein is mainly cytosolic but can also associate with cellular membranes. DdRACK1 binds to phosphoinositides (PIPs) in protein-lipid overlay and liposome-binding assays. The basis of this activity resides in a basic region located in the extended loop between blades 6 and 7 as revealed by mutational analysis. Similar to RACK1 proteins from other organisms DdRACK1 interacts with G protein subunits alpha, beta and gamma as shown by yeast two-hybrid, pull-down, and immunoprecipitation assays. Unlike the Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cryptococcus neoformans RACK1 proteins it does not appear to take over G beta function in D. discoideum as developmental and other defects were not rescued in G beta null mutants overexpressing GFP-DdRACK1. Overexpression of GFP-tagged DdRACK1 and a mutant version (DdRACK1mut) which carried a charge-reversal mutation in the basic region in wild type cells led to changes during growth and development. Conclusion: DdRACK1 interacts with heterotrimeric G proteins and can through these interactions impact on processes specifically regulated by these proteins.

In the second of our podcasts from the SGM Autumn Conference 2013, I interview Robin May, Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Birmingham. Robin was speaking at the conference and has recently had a paper published detailing his work on Cryptococcus gattii a rare, pathogenic fungi of healthy people that is quite promiscuous when it comes to passing on its genes.

On episode #14 of the podcast This Week in Microbiology, Stanley, Margaret, Michael and Elio review how the fungus Cryptococcus escapes from macrophages, and electrical conductivity in nanowires formed by the bacterium Geobacter.