PubMed Health⌕ Search

PubMed · 6989877

Lymphocyte function in relapsed pulmonary blastomycosis.

Abstract

Lymphocyte function was studied in two patients with multiple relapses of pulmonary blastomycosis following antifungal therapy. Neither patient was anergic to routine delayed hypersensitivity skin testing with common antigens. Both had normal in vitro lymphocyte transformation responses to standard mitogens and common microbial antigens. The ability of lymphocytes from the two patients to respond to antigens of the infecting organism was evaluated using a yeast phase Blastomyces dermatitidis extract in tests of in vitro lymphocyte function. Both patients demonstrated positive responses to this extract in standard assays of two in vitro parameters of lymphocyte function, lymphocyte transformation, and lymphokine production. Therefore if an immunologic defect is responsible for the repeated relapses of treated pulmonary blastomycosis in these two patients, it apparently is not one of deficient lymphocyte responsiveness against the infecting organism, as has been found using similar techniques in patients with disseminated deep infections caused by other fungal organisms.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

P G Sohnle, B Varkey, H D Rose. 1980. Lymphocyte function in relapsed pulmonary blastomycosis.. https://doi.org/10.1016/0091-6749(80)90216-x

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related citations

Radial mass density, charge, and epitope distribution in the Cryptococcus neoformans capsule.

Exposure of Cryptococcus neoformans cells to gamma radiation results in a gradual release of capsular polysaccharide, in a dose-dependent manner. This method allows the systematic exploration of different capsular regions. Using this methodology, capsule density was determined to change according to the radial distribution of glucuronoxylomannan and total polysaccharide, becoming denser at the inner regions of the capsule. Scanning electron microscopy of cells following gamma radiation treatment confirmed this finding. The zeta potential of the capsule also increased as the capsule size decreased. However, neither charge nor density differences were correlated with any change in sugar composition (xylose, mannose, and glucuronic acid) in the different capsular regions, since the proportions of these sugars remained constant throughout the capsule. Analysis of the capsular antigenic properties by monoclonal antibody binding and Scatchard analysis revealed fluctuations in the binding affinity within the capsule but not in the number of antibody binding sites, suggesting that the spatial organization of high- and low-affinity epitopes within the capsule changed according to radial position. Finally, evidence is presented that the structure of the capsule changes with capsule age, since the capsule of older cells became more resistant to gamma radiation-induced ablation. In summary, the capsule of C. neoformans is heterogeneous in its spatial distribution and changes with age. Furthermore, our results suggest several mechanisms by which the capsule may protect the fungal cell against exogenous environmental factors.

Antigens, Fungal↗

Genome size and ploidy of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis reveals a haploid DNA content: flow cytometry and GP43 sequence analysis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate genome size and ploidy of the dimorphic pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. The cell cycle analysis of 10 P. brasiliensis isolates by flow cytometry (FCM) revealed a genome size ranging from 26.3+/-0.1Mb (26.9+/-0.1fg) to 35.5+/-0.2Mb (36.3+/-0.2fg) per uninucleated yeast cell. The DNA content of conidia from P. brasiliensis ATCC 60855-30.2+/-0.8Mb (30.9+/-0.8fg) -showed no significant differences with the yeast form, possibly excluding the occurrence of ploidy shift during morphogenesis. The ploidy of several P. brasiliensis isolates was assessed by comparing genome sizing by FCM with the previously described average haploid size obtained from electrophoretic karyotyping. The analysis of intra-individual variability of a highly polymorphic P. brasiliensis gene, GP43, indicated that only one allele seems to be present. Overall, the results showed that all analysed isolates presented a haploid, or at least aneuploid, DNA content and no association was detected between genome size/ploidy and the clinical-epidemiological features of the studied isolates. This work provides new knowledge on P. brasiliensis genetics/genomics, important for future research in basic cellular/molecular mechanisms and for the development/design of molecular techniques in this fungus.

Antigens, Fungal↗