Differentiation of the metabolic profile of actinobacteria isolated from the soil of the caatinga biome by paper spray mass spectrometry

Paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) is an ambient ionization technique that allows for rapid and direct mass spectrometry analysis for a wide range of chemical compounds due to its portability, little to no sample preparation, and cost-effective materials. As applications with this technique continue to expand, the identification and discrimination of bacteria at the strain level remain a promising avenue for researchers. Although studies in the past demonstrated the applicability of PS-MS to discriminate bacteria at the strain level, no one has reported the strain-level differentiation of actinobacteria without using solvent for PS-MS. Hence, this study demonstrates that optimization of PS-MS permits the investigation and differentiation of the metabolic profiles of actinobacteria without the need for solvents, diminishing the potential for sample contamination and consequently increasing the versatility of this technique. In doing so, strains of actinobacteria (CAAT P5-21, CAAT P5-16, CAAT 8-25, CAAT P8-92, and CAAT P11-13) were grown and transferred to produce a crude growth medium. The supernatant was used for the PS-MS analyses using a Thermo Scientific LTQ mass spectrometer. Multivariate statistical analysis, including principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchal cluster analysis (HCA), was employed to chemically distinguish the strains of bacteria. As a result, each strain of actinobacteria could be visually differentiated based on their metabolic profile. These findings demonstrate the practicability of using a liquid medium as an alternative to many other organic solvents when analyzing bacteria, making PS-MS a crucial addition to a microbiologist's research toolkit.

Fungal succession on the decomposition of three plant species from a Brazilian mangrove

Leaf decomposition is the primary process in release of nutrients in the dynamic mangrove habitat, supporting the ecosystem food webs. On most environments, fungi are an essential part of this process. However, due to the peculiarities of mangrove forests, this group is currently neglected. Thus, this study tests the hypothesis that fungal communities display a specific succession pattern in different mangrove species and this due to differences in their ecological role. A molecular approach was employed to investigate the dynamics of the fungal community during the decomposition of three common plant species (Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa, and Avicennia schaueriana) from a mangrove habitat located at the southeast of Brazil. Plant material was the primary driver of fungi communities, but time also was marginally significant for the process, and evident changes in the fungal community during the decomposition process were observed. The five most abundant classes common to all the three plant species were Saccharomycetes, Sordariomycetes, Tremellomycetes, Eurotiomycetes, and Dothideomycetes, all belonging to the Phylum Ascomycota. Microbotryomycetes class were shared only by A. schaueriana and L. racemosa, while Agaricomycetes class were shared by L. racemosa and R. mangle. The class Glomeromycetes were shared by A. schaueriana and R. mangle. The analysis of the core microbiome showed that Saccharomycetes was the most abundant class. In the variable community, Sordariomycetes was the most abundant one, mainly in the Laguncularia racemosa plant. The results presented in this work shows a specialization of the fungal community regarding plant material during litter decomposition which might be related to the different chemical composition and rate of degradation.

Role of bioactive metabolites from Acremonium camptosporum associated with the marine sponge Aplysina fulva

Acremonium camptosporum, a fungus associated with the marine sponge Aplysina fulva, was collected from the isolated mid-Atlantic Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, Brazil, and was found to produce secondary metabolites that displayed antibacterial activities. Mass spectra data obtained by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analyses of these extracts were compared to several databases and revealed the presence of several different cytotoxic acremonidins and acremoxanthones. The close association between the sponge and the fungi with its compounds could be of strategic importance in defending both from the high predation pressure and spatial competition in the warm-water scarps of the islands.

The unexplored bacterial lifestyle on leaf surface

Social interactions impact microbial communities and these relationships are mediated by small molecules. The chemical ecology of bacteria on the phylloplane environment is still little explored. The harsh environmental conditions found on leaf surface require high metabolic performances of the bacteria in order to survive. That is interesting both for scientific fields of prospecting natural molecules and for the ecological studies. Important queries about the bacterial lifestyle on leaf surface remain not fully comprehended. Does the hostility of the environment increase the populations' cellular altruism by the production of molecules, which can benefit the whole community? Or does the reverse occur and the production of molecules related to competition between species is increased? Does the phylogenetic distance between the bacterial populations influence the chemical profile during social interactions? Do phylogenetically related bacteria tend to cooperate more than the distant ones? The phylloplane contains high levels of yet uncultivated microorganisms, and understanding the molecular basis of the social networks on this habitat is crucial to gain new insights on the ecology of the mysterious community members due to interspecies molecular dependence. Here, we review and discuss what is known about bacterial social interactions and their chemical lifestyle on leaf surface.

Intraspecific variation on epiphytic bacterial community from Laguncularia racemosa phylloplane

Mangroves are dynamic and unique ecosystems that provide important ecological services to coastal areas. The phylloplane is one of the greatest microbial habitats, and most of its microorganisms are uncultivated under common laboratory conditions. Bacterial community structure of Laguncularia racemosa phylloplane, a well-adapted mangrove species with salt exudation at foliar levels, was accessed through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Sampling was performed in three different sites across a transect from upland to the seashore in a preserved mangrove forest located in the city of Cananéia, São Paulo State, Brazil. Higher bacterial diversity was observed in intermediary locations between the upland and the seashore, showing that significant intraspecific spatial variation in bacterial communities exists between a single host species with the selection of specific population between an environmental transect.

Land Use and Seasonal Effects on the Soil Microbiome of a Brazilian Dry Forest

Drylands occupy approximately 41% of the Earth's terrestrial surface. Climate change and land use practices are expected to affect biogeochemical cycling by the soil microbiome in these ecosystems. Understanding how soil microbial community might respond to these drivers is extremely important to mitigate the processes of land degradation and desertification. The Caatinga, an exclusively Brazilian biome composed of an extensive seasonal tropical dry forest, is exposed to variable spatiotemporal rainfall patterns as well as strong human-driven pressures. Herein, an integrated analysis of shotgun metagenomics approach coupled to meteorological data was employed to unravel the impact of seasonality and land use change on soil microbiome from preserved and agriculture-affected experimental fields in Caatinga drylands. Multivariate analysis suggested that microbial communities of preserved soils under seasonal changes were shaped primarily by water deficit, with a strong increase of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria members in the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. In contrast, nutrient availability notably played a critical role in driving the microbial community in agriculture-affected soils. The strong enrichment of bacterial genera belonging to the poorly-known phylum Acidobacteria ('Candidatus Solibacter' and 'Candidatus Koribacter') in soils from dry season affected by ferti-irrigation practices presupposes a contrasting copiotrophic lifestyle and ecological role in mitigating the impact of chemical fertilization. Functional analyses identify overrepresented genes related to osmotic stress response (synthesis of osmoprotectant compounds, accumulation of potassium ions) and preferential carbon and nitrogen utilization when comparing the microbiome of preserved soils under seasonal changes, reflecting differences in the genetic potential for nutrient cycling and C acquisition in the environment. However, the prevalence of nitrosative stress and denitrification functions in irrigation/fertilization-affected soils of the dry season clearly suggest that nutrient input and disruption of natural water regime may impact biogeochemical cycles linked to the microbial processes, with potential impacts on the ecosystem functionality. These findings help to better understand how natural seasonality and agricultural management differentially affect soil microbial ecology from dry forests, providing support for the development of more sustainable land management in dryland ecosystems.

Bacterial Succession Decreases Network Complexity During Plant Material Decomposition in Mangroves

In this study, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was used to assess bacterial diversity and dynamics throughout different stages of leaves decomposition of three plant species (Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa, and Avicennia schaueriana) in three distinct mangroves of São Paulo state, Brazil. The experiments were conducted in microcosms. Phylogenetic diversity (Faiths' PD) index showed differences between samples and suggested that some treatments like R. mangle increased their bacterial diversity through time. Principal coordinate analysis revealed that community's profile varied based on mangroves, followed by plant species and time. A clear succession patterns was observed in this study, i.e., some microorganisms with low abundance in the initial phases gradually became dominant (e.g., Alphaproteobacteria), whereas microbes that were initially predominant became low (e.g., Gammaproteobacteria). Co-occurrence analyses were performed for all times of plant degradation aiming to better understand the relationships between bacterial populations. The c-score index was done to test the randomness of the community assemblage during the stages of decomposition. For all degradation time points, the values of the observed c-score were higher than the values of the simulated c-score. This result indicated that during plant decomposition, the bacterial communities presented less co-occurrence than expected by chance and that these communities were not randomly assembled but instead they are driven by species interactions. Network analyses results showed that in the conditions presented in this experiment, the initial stages of leaf decomposition formed more connected and complex networks than the later stages. These results suggest that resource competition was a determinant in these specific mangroves during plant degradation, mainly in the initial periods.

Co-occurrence patterns of litter decomposing communities in mangroves indicate a robust community resistant to disturbances

Background

Mangroves are important coastal ecosystems known for high photosynthetic productivity and the ability to support marine food chains through supply of dissolved carbon or particular organic matter. Most of the carbon found in mangroves is produced by its vegetation and is decomposed in root associated sediment. This process involves a tight interaction between microbial populations, litter chemical composition, and environmental parameters. Here, we study the complex interactions found during litter decomposition in mangroves by applying network analysis to metagenomic data.

Methods

Leaves of three species of mangrove trees typically found in the southeast of Brazil (Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa, and Avicennia schaueriana) were collected in separate litter bags and left on three different mangroves for 60 days. These leaves were subsequently used for metagenome sequencing using Ion Torrent technology. Sequences were annotated in MG-RAST and used for network construction using MENAp.

Results

The most common phyla were Proteobacteria (classes Gamma and Alphaproteobacteria) followed by Firmicutes (Clostridia and Bacilli). The most abundant protein clusters were associated with the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, and proteins. Non-metric multidimensional scaling of the metagenomic data indicated that substrate (i.e., tree species) did not significantly select for a specific community. Both networks exhibited scale-free characteristics and small world structure due to the low mean shortest path length and high average clustering coefficient. These networks also had a low number of hub nodes most of which were module hubs.

Discussion

This study demonstrates that under different environmental pressures (i.e., plant species or mangrove location) the microbial community associated with the decaying material forms a robust and stable network.

Antibacterial Compounds from Marine Bacteria, 2010-2015

This review summarizes the reports on antibacterial compounds that have been obtained from marine-derived bacteria during the period 2010-2015. Over 50 active compounds were isolated during this period, most of which (69%) were obtained from Actinobacteria. Several compounds were already known, such as etamycin A (11) and nosiheptide (65), and new experiments with them showed some previously undetected antibacterial activities, highlighting the fact that known natural products may be an important source of new antibacterial leads. New broad-spectrum antibacterial compounds were reported with activity against antibiotic resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Anthracimycin (33), kocurin (66), gageotetrins A-C (72-74), and gageomacrolactins 1-3 (86-88) are examples of compounds that display promising properties and could be leads to new antibiotics. A number of microbes produced mixtures of metabolites sharing similar chemical scaffolds, and structure-activity relationships are discussed.

Analysis of bacterial composition in marine sponges reveals the influence of host phylogeny and environment

Bacterial communities associated with sponges are influenced by environmental factors; however, some degree of genetic influence of the host on the microbiome is also expected. In this work, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing revealed diverse bacterial phylotypes based on the phylogenies of three tropical sponges (Aplysina fulva, Aiolochroia crassa and Chondrosia collectrix). Despite their sympatric occurrence, the studied sponges presented different bacterial compositions that differed from those observed in seawater. However, lower dissimilarities in bacterial communities were observed within sponges from the same phylogenetic group. The relationships between operational taxonomic units (OTUs) recovered from the sponges and database sequences revealed associations among sequences from unrelated sponge species and sequences retrieved from diverse environmental samples. In addition, one Proteobacteria OTU retrieved from A. fulva was identical to sequences previously reported from A. fulva specimens collected along the Brazilian coast. Based on these results, we conclude that bacterial communities associated with marine sponges are shaped by host identity, while environmental conditions seem to be less important in shaping symbiont communities. This is the first study to assess bacterial communities associated with marine sponges in the remote St. Peter and St. Paul Archipelago using amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.

Dereplication of Streptomyces sp. AMC 23 polyether ionophore antibiotics by accurate-mass electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Actinomycetes, especially those belonging to the genus Streptomyces, are economically important from a biotechnological standpoint: they produce antibiotics, anticancer compounds and a variety of bioactive substances that are potentially applicable in the agrochemical and pharmaceutical industries. This paper combined accurate-mass electrospray tandem mass spectrometry in the full scan and product ion scan modes with compounds library data to identify the major compounds in the crude extract produced by Streptomyces sp. AMC 23; it also investigated how sodiated nonactin ([M + Na](+)) fragmented. Most product ions resulted from elimination of 184 mass units due to consecutive McLafferty-type rearrangements. The data allowed identification of four macrotetrolides homologous to nonactin (monactin, isodinactin, isotrinactin/trinactin and tetranactin) as well as three related linear dimer compounds (nonactyl nonactoate, nonactyl homononactoate and homononactyl homononactoate). The major product ions of the sodiated molecules of these compounds also originated from elimination of 184 and 198 mass units. UPLC-MS/MS in the neutral loss scan mode helped to identify these compounds on the basis of the elimination of 184 and 198 mass units. This method aided monitoring of the relative production of these compounds for 32 days and revealed that the biosynthetic process began with increased production of linear dimers as compared with macrotetrolides. These data could facilitate dereplication and identification of these compounds in other microbial crude extracts.

Isolation and enzyme bioprospection of endophytic bacteria associated with plants of Brazilian mangrove ecosystem

The mangrove ecosystem is a coastal tropical biome located in the transition zone between land and sea that is characterized by periodic flooding, which confers unique and specific environmental conditions on this biome. In these ecosystems, the vegetation is dominated by a particular group of plant species that provide a unique environment harboring diverse groups of microorganisms, including the endophytic microorganisms that are the focus of this study. Because of their intimate association with plants, endophytic microorganisms could be explored for biotechnologically significant products, such as enzymes, proteins, antibiotics and others. Here, we isolated endophytic microorganisms from two mangrove species, Rhizophora mangle and Avicennia nitida, that are found in streams in two mangrove systems in Bertioga and Cananéia, Brazil. Bacillus was the most frequently isolated genus, comprising 42% of the species isolated from Cananéia and 28% of the species from Bertioga. However, other common endophytic genera such as Pantoea, Curtobacterium and Enterobacter were also found. After identifying the isolates, the bacterial communities were evaluated for enzyme production. Protease activity was observed in 75% of the isolates, while endoglucanase activity occurred in 62% of the isolates. Bacillus showed the highest activity rates for amylase and esterase and endoglucanase. To our knowledge, this is the first reported diversity analysis performed on endophytic bacteria obtained from the branches of mangrove trees and the first overview of the specific enzymes produced by different bacterial genera. This work contributes to our knowledge of the microorganisms and enzymes present in mangrove ecosystems.

Isolation and characterization of cellulolytic bacteria from the Stain house Lake, Antarctica

The main aim was to evaluate the occurrence of cellulolytic bacteria from the Stain house Lake, located at Admiralty Bay, Antarctica. Thick cotton string served as a cellulose bait for the isolation of bacteria. A total of 52 bacterial isolates were recovered and tested for their cellulase activity, and two of them, isolates CMAA 1184 and CMAA 1185, showed significant cellulolytic activity on carboxymethylcellulose agar plates. Phylogenetic analysis placed the isolates into the Bacillus 16S ribosomal RNA gene subclade. Both isolates produced a cold-active cellulase which may play a crucial role in this extreme environment.

Production of 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-4-methylphthalide in a culture of Penicillium crustosum

The chemical reactions carried out by microorganisms have been used as a tool in modern chemistry. This paper reports the production of mycophenolic acid and a new phthalide by the endophytic fungus Penicillium crustosum obtained from coffee seeds. The fungus was cultivated in a liquid medium for a period of seven days and after that the culture medium was divided into four treatments: A, B, C and D, to which different organic substances were added. Treatment A was maintained as the control to evaluate the occurrence of biotransformation. Organic acids were added to the culture media of treatments B (ferulic and quinic acids) and C [cinnamic and 3,4-(methylenedioxy) cinnamic acids], and caffeine was added in the treatment D. All these organic compounds were dissolved in DMSO, and the fermentation was maintained for more 13 days, totalizing 20 days. Mycophenolic acid was isolated from the culture with no added acids (treatment A). Mycophenolic acid and a new phthalide, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-4-methylphthalide were isolated from treatments B and C, and mycophenolic acid and caffeine (added to the culture medium) were isolated from treatment D. The structures were determined by NMR techniques and confirmed by MS and MS/MS techniques.

Production, extraction and characterization of exopolysaccharides produced by the native Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides R2 strain

The genus Leuconostoc belongs to a group of lactic acid bacteria usually isolated from fermented vegetables, which includes species involved in the production of exopolysaccharides (EPS). These biopolymers possess considerable commercial potential. Because of the wide variety of industrial applications of EPS, this study aimed to produce and characterize the native exopolysaccharide strain Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides R2, which was isolated from cabbage collected in a semi-arid region of Bahia. We employed the following conditions for the production of EPS: 10.7% sucrose, pH 8.2, without agitation and incubation at 28ºC for 30 hours. The fermentation broth was treated with ethanol and generated two types of polysaccharide substances (EPS I and EPS II). The identification of EPS I and EPS II was conducted using FT-IR, (1)H, (13)C and DEPT-135 NMR spectra. The two substances were identified as linear dextran α polysaccharides (1 → 6) which indicated different characteristics with respect to thermal analysis and density of free packaging, viscosity and time of solubilization. Both dextrans are of low density, possess high thermal stability and exhibited the behavior characteristic of pseudoplastic polymers.

The bacterial diversity in a Brazilian non-disturbed mangrove sediment

The bacterial diversity present in sediments of a well-preserved mangrove in Ilha do Cardoso, located in the extreme south of São Paulo State coastline, Brazil, was assessed using culture-independent molecular approaches (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and analysis of 166 sequences from a clone library). The data revealed a bacterial community dominated by Alphaproteobacteria (40.36% of clones), Gammaproteobacteria (19.28% of clones) and Acidobacteria (27.71% of clones), while minor components of the assemblage were affiliated to Betaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes. The clustering and redundancy analysis (RDA) based on DGGE were used to determine factors that modulate the diversity of bacterial communities in mangroves, such as depth, seasonal fluctuations, and locations over a transect area from the sea to the land. Profiles of specific DGGE gels showed that both dominant ('universal' Bacteria and Alphaproteobacteria) and low-density bacterial communities (Betaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria) are responsive to shifts in environmental factors. The location within the mangrove was determinant for all fractions of the community studied, whereas season was significant for Bacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Betaproteobacteria and sample depth determined the diversity of Alphaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria.

Paenibacillus riograndensis sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing species isolated from the rhizosphere of Triticum aestivum

A bacterial strain designated SBR5T was isolated from the rhizosphere of Triticum aestivum. A phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence placed the isolate within the genus Paenibacillus, being most closely related to Paenibacillus graminis RSA19T (98.1 % similarity). The isolate was a Gram-reaction-variable, motile, facultatively anaerobic bacterium, with spores in a terminal position in cells. Starch was utilized and dihydroxyacetone and catalase were produced. Strain SBR5T displayed plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria characteristics: the ability to fix nitrogen and to produce siderophores and indole-3-acetic acid. The DNA G+C content was 55.1 mol%. Chemotaxonomic analysis of the isolated strain revealed that MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone, while the major fatty acid was anteiso-C15 : 0. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain SBR5T and P. graminis RSA19T, Paenibacillus odorifer TOD45T and Paenibacillus borealis KK19T were 43, 35 and 28 %, respectively. These DNA relatedness data and the results of phylogenetic and phenotypic analyses showed that strain SBR5T should be considered as the nitrogen-fixing type strain of a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus riograndensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SBR5T (=CCGB 1313T =CECT 7330T).

Rhizobacterial volatile emissions regulate auxin homeostasis and cell expansion in Arabidopsis

Certain plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), in the absence of physical contact with a plant stimulate growth via volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, through largely unknown mechanisms. To probe how PGPR VOCs trigger growth in plants, RNA transcript levels of Arabidopsis seedlings exposed to Bacillus subtilus (strain GB03) were examined using oligonucleotide microarrays. In screening over 26,000 protein-coded transcripts, a group of approximately 600 differentially expressed genes related to cell wall modifications, primary and secondary metabolism, stress responses, hormone regulation and other expressed proteins were identified. Transcriptional and histochemical data indicate that VOCs from the PGPR strain GB03 trigger growth promotion in Arabidopsis by regulating auxin homeostasis. Specifically, gene expression for auxin synthesis was up regulated in aerial regions of GB03-exposed plants; auxin accumulation decreased in leaves and increased in roots with GB03 exposure as revealed in a transgenic DR5::GUS Arabidopsis line, suggesting activation of basipetal auxin transport. Application of the auxin transport inhibitor 1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) restricted auxin accumulation to sites of synthesis thereby preventing GB03-mediated decreases in shoot auxin levels as well as thwarting GB03-mediated growth promotion. In addition, microarray data revealed coordinated regulation of cell wall loosening enzymes that implicated cell expansion with GB03 exposure, which was confirmed by comparative cytological measurements. The discovery that bacterial VOCs, devoid of auxin or other known plant hormones regulate auxin homeostasis and cell expansion provides a new paradigm as to how rhizobacteria promote plant growth.

[Chromoblastomycosis in Rio Grande do Sul: a report of 12 cases]

Twelve cases of chromoblastomycosis diagnosed in Rio Grande do sul during 1988-1995 are reported. The clinical aspects are analyzed and compared with the literature. Fonsecaea pedrosoi was the only microorganism isolated.

A focus of favus due to Trichophyton schoenleinii in Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

This paper reports the ocurrence of a focus of favus due to Trichophyton schoenleinii affecting seven members of a family, 29 years after the last register of the disease in Rio Grande do Sul

Multicentric granular cell tumor of the colon: report of a patient with 52 tumors

Granular cell myoblastoma is an uncommon benign tumor that can be located anywhere in the body. Multiple tumors of the gastrointestinal tract are quite rare, having been reported infrequently in the English literature. The histologic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic findings in our case, as well as in others reported, suggest that its histogenesis may be related to Schwann cells. One case of multifocal granular cell tumor presenting 52 tumors from the cecum to the sigmoid is described, and the previously reported cases with similar presentation are reviewed. We suggest that in such cases, a long period of observation with repeated colonoscopy may be more appropriate than an aggressive approach.

Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus. Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical findings in four cases

Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus is an uncommon neoplasm. The authors report the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical findings in four cases. Dysphagia was the most frequent symptom at presentation. Only one patient was treated by surgery; the other did not receive any treatment. Histologically, three were oat-cell type tumors with areas of intermediate cell type. Combined cell type was not present. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated positivity for neuron-specific enolase and for chromogranin in all four cases. One case was a double primary carcinoma, a squamous cell carcinoma and a small cell carcinoma.

Pancreatic metastasis from renal cell carcinoma

We report a case of renal cell carcinoma that metastasized to the pancreas 7 years after the initial excision. The primary and the metastatic tumors were histologically similar. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding was the leading symptom in the present case and the cause of the patient's death.

Carcinoma cuniculatum originating from intertriginous lesions

Three cases of long-standing carcinoma cuniculatum originating from intertriginous lesions, which resembled athlete's foot in their initial stages, were reported. The authors suggest cutaneous malignancy to be considered in the differential diagnosis of intertriginous lesions unresponsive to usual therapeutic measures.

[Aortic-esophageal fistula caused by inflammatory pseudotumor of the esophagus]

A 56-year-old, otherwise healthy man died in operative room from a massive esophageal hemorrhage, one week after a single episode of postprandial odynophagia. Surgical specimen of the esophagus and the aorta showed a fistulous tract extending from an esophageal tumoral mass to the aorta. Histological examination disclosed the microscopic finding of the so-called inflammatory pseudotumor of the esophagus (IPT). To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of such unusual complication of IPT, resulting in fatal gastrointestinal bleeding.

[Hepatic cell adenoma and peliosis hepatis in women using oral contraceptives]

A case of hepatic cell adenoma associated with peliosis hepatis is reported. Both these conditions developed in a 41 year-old woman after the patient was under oral contraceptive therapy for 13 years. The relation between the use of oral contraceptives and these hepatic conditions are briefly discussed.

Epithelioma cuniculatum, a verrucous carcinoma of the foot. Report of 2 cases

Epithelioma cuniculatum, a rare form of squamous cell carcinoma affecting the sole of the foot, was observed in 2 male patients aged 62 and 69 years, respectively. In each case the lesion consisted of a fungating mass with sinuses draining foul-smelling fluid with keratin debris.