Microbiological and immunological characteristics of a lethal pulmonary Aspergillus niger infection in a non-neutropenic patient

Analysis of the Surface of Historic Fabric from the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum after Treatment with Ethanol Mist Used to Eliminate Microorganisms Harmful to Human Health

AIM

the aim of the work was to present the changes occurring on the model and historical cotton surface of cotton resulting from disinfection with 90% ethanol mist.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Samples of historical materials consisted of fabric elements from suitcases stored in A-BSM. A mist of 90% ethanol was applied for 15 s at a distance of 16 cm from the surface. The spectra of cotton samples before and after ethanol application were recorded using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR). Analyses of the surface layers were performed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

RESULTS

the decontamination performed did not show any significant differences in the chemical composition and surface structure of cotton before and after the use of 90% ethanol mist.

CONCLUSIONS

Ethanol mist, which eliminates microorganisms from the historical surface, does not cause significant changes to the surface of historical objects.

Successfully treated bronchopulmonary oxalosis caused by Aspergillus tubingensis in a non-neutropenic patient: A case report and review of the literature

Pulmonary oxalosis can be fatal, and Aspergillus tubingensis is commonly resistant to azoles in Japan. We report a case of bronchopulmonary oxalosis caused by A. tubingensis in a non-neutropenic patient who was successfully treated with voriconazole monotherapy. The susceptibility of the isolates to voriconazole and the effective elimination of contagious necrotic tissue by expectoration seemed to be two major factors contributing to the patient's survival. According to the literature review, pulmonary oxalosis is associated with a high mortality rate over a short term. An exploration of detailed information about the genomic characteristics and drug susceptibility of Aspergillus isolates is important for the development of treatment strategies for this life-threatening disease.

A rare case of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis presenting as organizing pneumonia due to Aspergillus niger in an immunocompetent host

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis associated with organizing pneumonia is increasingly described and mainly affects the immunocompromised individual. Most of Aspergillus invasive infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients are attributed to Aspergillus fumigatus. Herein we describe a clinical case of pulmonary Aspergillus niger infection presenting as an organizing pneumonia in an immunocompetent patient. A wedge resection and two successive cures of azoles (voriconazole 6 weeks then itraconazole 6 weeks) were necessary for the patient to be totally recovered. The association of OP and IPA is rare. The involvement of A. niger makes it even rarer, this is the reason why we decided to report on this case.

Role of Carbon Monoxide in Host-Gut Microbiome Communication

Nature is full of examples of symbiotic relationships. The critical symbiotic relation between host and mutualistic bacteria is attracting increasing attention to the degree that the gut microbiome is proposed by some as a new organ system. The microbiome exerts its systemic effect through a diverse range of metabolites, which include gaseous molecules such as H₂, CO₂, NH₃, CH₄, NO, H₂S, and CO. In turn, the human host can influence the microbiome through these gaseous molecules as well in a reciprocal manner. Among these gaseous molecules, NO, H₂S, and CO occupy a special place because of their widely known physiological functions in the host and their overlap and similarity in both targets and functions. The roles that NO and H₂S play have been extensively examined by others. Herein, the roles of CO in host-gut microbiome communication are examined through a discussion of (1) host production and function of CO, (2) available CO donors as research tools, (3) CO production from diet and bacterial sources, (4) effect of CO on bacteria including CO sensing, and (5) gut microbiome production of CO. There is a large amount of literature suggesting the "messenger" role of CO in host-gut microbiome communication. However, much more work is needed to begin achieving a systematic understanding of this issue.

Potential value of serum Aspergillus IgG antibody detection in the diagnosis of invasive and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in non-agranulocytic patients

BACKGROUND

At present, serum Aspergillus IgG and IgM antibody detection is mainly used in the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), but its value in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in non-agranulocytic patients is still unclear. IgM can be used as a marker of acute infection to help diagnose acute infection-related diseases. IgG is a marker of long-term infection and is used to assist in the diagnosis of pre-existing or chronic infection-related diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the value of serum Aspergillus IgG and IgM antibody detection in the diagnosis of IPA and CPA in non-agranulocytic patients.

METHODS

Fifty-eight cases of pulmonary aspergillosis (37 IPA and 21 CPA cases), 15 cases of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and 50 cases in the healthy control group were collected. The serum (1,3)-β-D-glucan test (G test) was performed with a chromogenic method, and the galactomannan test (GM test) and Aspergillus IgG and IgM antibody detection were performed by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in all patients. The sensitivity and specificity, cut-off value and area under the curve (AUC) of Aspergillus IgG and IgM antibodies were further obtained by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

The positive rate of the G test, Aspergillus IgG antibody detection and the GM test also showed notable differences among the IPA, CPA, community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and healthy groups (P = 0.006, P <  0.001 and P = 0.217, respectively). Only the positive rate of the GM test showed a significant difference between the IPA and CPA groups (P = 0.04). ROC curves indicated that Aspergillus IgG antibody detection had a higher specificity in the IPA group than in the CPA group (0.952). The detection of Aspergillus IgG antibody can preferably distinguish IPA from community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and healthy controls (sensitivity = 0.923, specificity = 0.459, cut-off value = 134.46, AUC = 0.727). It can also distinguish CPA from community-acquired bacterial pneumonia and healthy controls (sensitivity = 0.952, specificity = 0.692, cut-off value = 75.46, AUC = 0.873).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum Aspergillus IgG antibody detection may have certain clinical value in the diagnosis of IPA and CPA in non-agranulocytic patients.