Mycotic keratitis caused by Phaeotrichoconis crotalariae. New report

A case of mycotic keratitis caused by Phaeotrichoconis crotalariae (IMI 275955) is described for the first time. Experimental corneal lesions in albino rabbits and the histopathology are also presented.

Outbreak of Weil's disease in a food fad commune in India

Images

Clinical and experimental keratitis caused by the Colletotrichum state of Glomerella cingulata and Acrophialophora fusispora

Two cases of mycotic keratitis caused by the Colletotrichum state of Glomerella cingulata and Acrophialophora fusispora are reported for the first time. Both the isolates produced experimental corneal lesions in rabbit eyes but A. fusispora was more pathogenic. The experimental infection was more severe, with both the fungi, in rabbits pretreated with cortisone as compared with untreated animals. In vitro A. fusispora was most sensitive to miconazole and tolciclate followed by clotrimazole, amphotericin B and lactones while clotrimazole exerted maximum inhibitory effect on Colletotrichum followed by miconazole, lactones, amphotericin B and arnebins. Arnebins and tolciclate were inactive respectively against A. fusispora and Colletotrichum. Of the 3 drugs tested in vivo, against A. fusispora keratitis in rabbit, amphotericin B showed better results than tolciclate and miconazole.

Inhibition of fungal NADP+-isocitrate dehydrogenase by citric acid

The variations observed during earlier studies in the activity of NADP+-isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC. 1.1.1.42) in a strain of Aspergillus niger were found to be related to the extent of washing of mycelium. As a result the mycelium washed four times with phosphate buffer (0.05 M, pH 7.5), the enzyme activity present in 4 and 8 days old fungal mycelia increased five- and two-fold, respectively. In vivo studies showed a complete loss of enzyme activity in mycelia resuspended in HCl-KCl buffer (0.02 M, pH 2.2) containing citric acid (13 mM or more). The in vitro studies revealed 50% loss of enzyme activity in presence of 3.6 to 5.2 mM citric acid. However, in case of Aspergillus niger ATCC 1015, which produced less citric acid than the above strain, a much higher citric acid concentration (13 to 26 mM) was required to cause 50% loss of enzyme activity. These findings suggest a correlation between citric acid inhibition of NADP+-isocitrate dehydrogenase and the ability of A. niger to accumulate citric acid in the medium.

Clinical and experimental keratitis due to Curvularia lunata (Wakker) Boedijn var. aeria (Batista, Lima and Vasconcelos) Ellis

A case of mycotic keratitis due to Curvularia lunata var. aeria is reported for the first time from India. Direct microscopic examination of the corneal scrapings in KOH (50 g1(-1)), stained with lactophenol cotton blue, revealed brown septate hyphae and the cultures were found positive for fungus. It was identified as C. lunata (Wakker) Boedijn var. aeria (Batista, Lima and Vasconcelos) Ellis (IMI 253204) and its growth was better at 28 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. In vitro, the fungus was most sensitive to amphotericin B followed by miconazole nitrate, clotrimazole and triphenyltin isoselenocyanate 4-picoline which had the same activity. Lactones were least active and tolciclate and arnebins and inactive. The fungus produced experimental keratomycosis in the rabbit cornea and the infection severity as well as histopathological changes were more pronounced in rabbits that received penicillin, streptomycin and cortisone.

Dihydroflavanonols from Cedrus deodara, A (13)C NMR study

High resolution (13)C NMR study of taxifolin, cedeodarin, cedrin and their methyl ethers allowed unambiguous placement of the Me in 5,7-dihydroxyflavanonol nucleus, besides providing other valuable information on the substitution pattern in the molecule.

Orbital paecilomycosis due to Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom) Samson

The first case of orbital paecilomycosis is described. Fungal hyphae were found in a KOH preparation of the granulomatous tissue, removed from the orbit, and also in histological sections. Culture of the tissue was positive for fungus which was resistant to cycloheximide (0.5 g/l). It was identified as Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom) Samson (IMI 213487) and shown to be pathogenic for the rabbit cornea.

The specific radioactivity of glycolic acid in relation to the specific activity of carbon dioxide evolved in light in photosynthesizing sunflower leaves

Attached leaves of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) were exposed to (14)CO2 during steady-state photosynthesis for 2 to 30 min in 345 μl/l CO2 and 21% O2 at 29° C and a light intensity of 1300 μE m(-2)s(-1). Glycolic acid was extracted with water and diethyl ether, and was determined in the aqueous residue by high-pressure liquid column chromatography. The relative specific radioactivity of the glycolic acid synthesized during photosynthesis reached about 100% after 30 min of photosynthesis and was almost equal to that of the CO2 evolved during photorespiration, their ratio at all times being nearly one. These results provide strong in-vivo evidence that the glycolic acid is the substrate for CO2 evolved by sunflower leaves in light.

Mycotic keratitis due to Rhizoctonia sp

A case of mycotic keratitis due to Rhizoctonia sp. is reported for the first time. Fungal hyphae were detected in corneal scrapings and cultures were found positive for Rhizoctonia sp. on two occasions. Species could not be identified and it has been disposed in Herb. IMI as Rhizoctonia sp. (IMI 200029). The isolate grew faster at 37 degrees C than at 28 degrees C and its pathogenicity was established in rabbit's eye.

The pentose phosphate pathway in relation to fat synthesis in the developing castor oil seed

Slices of 25- to 28-day-old developing castor bean endosperm were incubated with various (14)C- and (3)H-labeled substrates to determine the amount of glucose dissimilated in the pentose phosphate pathway and to determine the use of the reduced nucleotides so produced in fatty acid synthesis. Ten to 12% of the metabolized glucose traversed the pentose phosphate pathway, and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) production would be sufficient to supply 51 to 68% of the reducing equivalents required for fat synthesis. However, using (3)H-NADPH produced from 3-(3)H-glucose as a tracer, it was found that only 40% of the NADPH produced in the pentose phosphate pathway was used in fat synthesis. Thus the actual contribution of the reducing equivalents generated from the pentose phosphate pathway to fat synthesis was 20 to 27% of that required. Because of the methods and assumptions, this value represents a minimal estimate of NADPH used in fat synthesis, and the actual contribution may be somewhat higher. However, tritium from (3)H-NADH generated from 1-(3)H-ethanol was incorporated into fatty acids, and it is contended that NADH may supply a large proportion of the reducing equivalents necessary for fat synthesis in this tissue.