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  1. Fulltext Saprophytic yeasts: effective biocontrol agents against Aspergillus flavus
    Afsah-Hejri, L.
    International Food Research Journal, 2013;20(6):3403-3409.
    MyJurnal
    Aflatoxins are carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic fungal toxins predominantly produced by Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) and Aspergillus parasiticus (A. parasiticus). Members of the Aspergillus family are wound-invading pathogens that can infect pistachio trees and nuts. The pistachio nut is a favorite tree nut worldwide, and more than half of the world’s pistachio production is from Iran. Pistachio nuts can easily be infected with Aspergillus spp. due to early splitting or due to animal, insect or physical damage. Any established infection of Aspergillus under high relative humidity and temperature results in the production and rapid accumulation of aflatoxins in pistachio nuts. It is impractical to remove aflatoxins from pistachio nuts after they are produced. Some microorganisms (such as saprophytic yeasts) have been reported to have an antagonistic effect against Aspergillus spp. This study aimed to isolate saprophytic yeasts from pistachio fruits and leaves and investigate their biocontrol activities against a toxigenic strain of Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus). Saprophytic yeasts were identified based on their morphological properties and biochemical tests. In total, 24 yeast isolates were obtained from pistachio fruits and leaves, and their antagonistic effect on A. flavus (PTCC 5006) was investigated. Five saprophytic yeast isolates, displaying the highest biocontrol activities against A. flavus (PTCC 5006), were identified as Pseudozyma fusiformata, Cryptococcus albidus, Rhodotorula fragaria, Cryptococcus hungaricus and Rhodotorula hinula. The biocontrol activities of these yeast isolates were evaluated by their inhibitory effects on sporulation, colony expansion, biomass production and prevention of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) production. Pseudozyma fusiformata was the most effective yeast isolate in terms of spore reduction (84.6%) and inhibition of AFB1 production (89.1%). Cryptococcus albidus produced the maximum reduction in fungal dry weight (77.9%). Based on these results, isolated saprophytic yeasts from pistachio fruits and leaves can be used as effective biocontrol agents against the growth of Aspergillus and aflatoxin production.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus
  2. A pseudo-cryptococcal artefact derived from leucocytes in wet India ink mounts of centrifuged cerebrospinal fluid
    Thiruchelvan N, Wuu KY, Arseculeratne SN, Ashraful-Haq J
    J Clin Pathol, 1998 Mar;51(3):246-8.
    PMID: 9659271
    Wet India ink mounts of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are useful in the laboratory diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis. Pseudo-cryptococcal artefacts in such mounts have been attributed to leucocytes in CSF but their mode of formation has not been explained. This report describes the reproduction of such an artefact in cryptococcus free CSF-leucocyte mixtures that had been subjected to high speed centrifugation. The viscosity of DNA that could provide a morphological pseudo-capsule, and the yellow-green fluorescence of the pseudo-capsular material on staining with acridine-orange, suggest that lymphocytic nuclear DNA, which possibly leaked out after damage to the lymphocyte membrane by centrifugation, was responsible for this artefact.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus/isolation & purification*
  3. Fulltext Epidemiology of fungal infections at an infectious disease reference centre in Malaysia
    Tzar, M.N., Suhaila, B., Shamsul, A.S., Azizah, M.
    International Medical Journal Malaysia, 2013;12(1):39-42.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Epidemiology of fungal infections in an infectious disease reference centre is different from other institutions. This study aimed to look at the scenario of fungal infections at an infectious disease reference centre in Malaysia. Methods: All positive fungal cultures from an infectious disease reference centre were identified by routine mycology laboratory methods. Patient demographic, laboratory and clinical data were collected and analyzed. Duplicate data were excluded. Results: Middle-aged Malay males were the most common group. However, increased proportions of Chinese, Myanmar and Indonesians reduced the Malay predominance in HIV-positive group. In all patients, Candida species represented 64.1% isolates, followed by Cryptococcus neoformans (14.7%) and Penicillium marneffei (14.7%). Among HIVpositive individuals, C. neoformans (37.9%) was the most common species, followed by P. marneffei (35.6%) and all Candida species (17.2%). In contrast to other non-infectious disease reference centres, common causes of fungaemia included P. marneffei (43.5%), Candida species (25.8%), C. neoformans (24.2%) and H. capsulatum (6.5%). Conclusion: The prevalence of fungal infection at an infectious disease reference centre is different from other non-infectious disease reference centres. This may have an impact on current antifungal practice especially empiric antifungal therapy, patient morbidity and mortality.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus neoformans
  4. Fulltext Torula meningitis in Malaya
    ROSS RR, DEAN D
    Br Med J, 1957 Sep 14;2(5045):627.
    PMID: 13460339
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus*
  5. In vitro susceptibilities of Malaysian clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii and Cryptococcus gattii to five antifungal drugs
    Tay ST, Tanty Haryanty T, Ng KP, Rohani MY, Hamimah H
    Mycoses, 2006 Jul;49(4):324-30.
    PMID: 16784448
    The in vitro susceptibilities of Malaysian clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii and C . gattii to five antifungal drugs (amphotericin B, flucytosine, fluconazole, itraconazole and ketoconazole) were determined using the Etest method. None of the Malaysian isolates was resistant to amphotericin B and ketoconazole. Isolates resistant to flucytosine, fluconazole and itraconazole were observed in this study. Minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) of > or = 32 microg ml(-1) against flucytosine, > or = 64 microg ml(-1) against fluconazole and > or = 1 microg ml(-1) against itraconazole were noted in four (8.3%), two (4.2%) and one (2.1%) isolates respectively. There was no significant difference in the MICs for both Cryptococcus species (P > 0.05), indicating that C. gattii was as susceptible as var. grubii to all the antifungal drugs tested. No significant difference in the MICs for both Cryptococcus species collected from 1980 to 1990 and 2002 to 2004 were observed (P > 0.05).
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus/drug effects*; Cryptococcus neoformans/drug effects*
  6. Epidemiology of cryptococcosis in Malaysia
    Tay ST, Rohani MY, Hoo TS, Hamimah H
    Mycoses, 2010 Nov;53(6):509-14.
    PMID: 19627508 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2009.01750.x
    This study describes the isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii from patients with chronic meningitis who were admitted to 16 Malaysian hospitals, from 2003 to 2004. Of the 96 cryptococcal cases reported over the 2-year period, 74 (77.1%) patients were male and 45 (46.9%) patients were between 30 and 39 years old. Cryptococcosis was uncommon in children. A total of 57 (59.4%) and 23 (24.0%) patients were Malay and Chinese respectively. Human immunodeficiency virus infection was the major underlying disease reported in 36 (37.5%) patients. C. neoformans var. grubii (serotype A and molecular type VNI) was the predominant Cryptococcus species isolated from 88.5% of cryptococcal cases in this country. Cryptococcal cases due to C. neoformans var. grubii were reported from all the five regions in Malaysia, with the most number of cases reported from the central and northern regions. Cryptococcus gattii (all were serotype B and molecular types VGI/II) was isolated from all regions except the southern region. Compared with a study conducted prior to the AIDS era, our findings show substantial changes in the demographical characteristics of patients.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus neoformans/isolation & purification*; Cryptococcus gattii/isolation & purification*
  7. Fulltext Large Solitary Pulmonary Cryptococcoma Mimicking Lung Carcinoma in an Immunocompetent Patient
    Anandpara KM, Aswani Y, Hira P
    Malays J Med Sci, 2018 Feb;25(1):114-118.
    PMID: 29599641 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2018.25.1.13
    Cryptococcosis is a life-threatening mycosis typically seen in immunocompromised patients. Pulmonary cryptococcosis generally presents as multiple or solitary nodular opacities. Cryptococcal infection presenting as a destructing cavernoma (cryptococcoma) without diffuse infiltration of the lung is an extremely rare presentation, even in immunocompromised patients. This report presents a healthy, HIV negative, immunocompetent patient who presented with a large solitary lung mass provisionally diagnosed as a lung malignancy on radiological imaging that proved to be a large cryptococcoma after biopsy. The patient was treated with liposomal Amphotericin B and fluconazole, and the lesion showed regression on serial imaging. This case report thus highlights an unconventional presentation of pulmonary cryptococcosis in an immunocompetent individual.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus
  8. Fulltext Cryptococcal Meningitis in an immunocompetent Swiftlet Rancher – first reported case
    Tan, Sin Nee, Lim, Thiam Seong Christopher
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(1):82-84.
    MyJurnal
    Cryptococcal meningitis is a central nervous system infection cause by Cryptococcus neoformans. Although Cryptococcus is found in bird droppings, it has never been reported for those ranchers involved in the niche swiftlet ranching industry despite having close proximity with the bird droppings. We present here a case of a 41-year-old healthy swiftlet rancher who presents with a history of prolonged fever, headache and altered behaviour of a month duration. Cerebral spinal fluid analysis revealed the presence of Cryptococcus. He was treated with intravenous amphotericin B and flucytosine and discharged well with fluconazole consolidation therapy for 8 weeks, followed by maintenance therapy for 1 year. We believe this is the first reported case of Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) occurring in an immunocompetent swiftlet rancher. This case should highlight the needs to wear a proper personal protective equipment inside a swiftlet ranch due to the constant exposure to the potential cryptococcal-rich environment. A high index of suspicion, careful history taking and physical examination focusing on neurologic assessment is key to early diagnosis and timely management of CM.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus neoformans
  9. Fulltext Triclosan Demonstrates Synergic Effect with Amphotericin B and Fluconazole and Induces Apoptosis-Like Cell Death in Cryptococcus neoformans
    Movahed E, Tan GM, Munusamy K, Yeow TC, Tay ST, Wong WF, et al.
    Front Microbiol, 2016;7:360.
    PMID: 27047474 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00360
    Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungus that causes fatal meningoencephalitis especially in AIDS patients. There is an increasing need for discovery of new anti-cryptococcal drugs due to emergence of resistance cases in recent years. In this study, we aim to elucidate the antifungal effect of triclosan against C. neoformans.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus neoformans
  10. Fulltext Lung-infiltrating T helper 17 cells as the major source of interleukin-17A production during pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection
    Movahed E, Cheok YY, Tan GMY, Lee CYQ, Cheong HC, Velayuthan RD, et al.
    BMC Immunol, 2018 Nov 08;19(1):32.
    PMID: 30409128 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-018-0269-5
    BACKGROUND: IL-17A has emerged as a key player in the pathologies of inflammation, autoimmune disease, and immunity to microbes since its discovery two decades ago. In this study, we aim to elucidate the activity of IL-17A in the protection against Cryptococcus neoformans, an opportunistic fungus that causes fatal meningoencephalitis among AIDS patients. For this purpose, we examined if C. neoformans infection triggers IL-17A secretion in vivo using wildtype C57BL/6 mice. In addition, an enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) reporter and a knockout (KO) mouse models were used to track the source of IL-17A secretion and explore the protective function of IL-17A, respectively.

    RESULTS: Our findings showed that in vivo model of C. neoformans infection demonstrated induction of abundant IL-17A secretion. By examining the lung bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), mediastinal lymph node (mLN) and spleen of the IL-17A-EGFP reporter mice, we showed that intranasal inoculation with C. neoformans promoted leukocytes lung infiltration. A large proportion (~ 50%) of the infiltrated CD4+ helper T cell population secreted EGFP, indicating vigorous TH17 activity in the C. neoformans-infected lung. The infection study in IL-17A-KO mice, on the other hand, revealed that absence of IL-17A marginally boosted fungal burden in the lung and accelerated the mouse death.

    CONCLUSION: Therefore, our data suggest that IL-17A is released predominantly from TH17 cells in vivo, which plays a supporting role in the protective immunity against C. neoformans infection.

    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus neoformans
  11. Cryptococcocis: a rare fungal infection of the tongue
    Mohamad I, Abdullah B, Salim R, Rajet KA, Naik VR
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2010 Sep;41(5):1188-91.
    PMID: 21073040
    Fungal infection in the oral cavity is not uncommon. The site involved is usually species related. Cryptococcus rarely infects the oral cavity. We report an elderly patient who presented with a central lesion on the dorsum of the tongue. Biopsy revealed a fungal infection. Special stains confirmed cryptococcus. Being a rare location for cryptococcal infection, clinical suspicion should be correlated with histopathological examination. Once confirmed, the patient should be treated with an antifungal medication.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus/isolation & purification*
  12. A linking bridge between histopathological analysis and molecular assay in microbiology
    Okubo Y
    Malays J Pathol, 2017 08;39(2):207-208.
    PMID: 28866707
    No abstract available.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus gattii/genetics; Cryptococcus gattii/pathogenicity*
  13. Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis
    MUIR CS, RANSOME GA
    Med J Malaya, 1959 Dec;14:125-34.
    PMID: 14425049
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus neoformans*
  14. Cryptococcus humicolus meningitis: first case report in Malaysia
    Ramli SR, Leong MC, Khaithir TM, Aziz MN, Loons LC, Rafia MH
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2012 Sep;43(5):1212-7.
    PMID: 23431829
    We report a case of Cryptococcus humicolus meningitis complicated by communicating hydrocephalus in an apparently immunocompetent 49-year-old psychiatric patient from a nursing home. He presented with a history of poor oral intake, weight loss, headache, vomiting, blurred vision, frequent falls and unsteady gait for the previous three months. He had a history of chronic cough, productive of whitish sputum for the previous month but no hemoptysis. Cerebrospinal fluid culture was positive for Cryptococcus humicolus. He was treated with intravenous amphotericin B and oral fluconazole and had clinical and microbiological improvement after three weeks of treatment. Unfortunately, the patient acquired nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection and died due to overwhelming sepsis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus*
  15. The isolation, characterization and antifungal susceptibilities of Cryptococcus neoformans from bird excreta in Klang Valley, Malaysia
    Tay ST, Chai HC, Na SL, Hamimah H, Rohani MY, Soo-Hoo TS
    Mycopathologia, 2005 Jun;159(4):509-13.
    PMID: 15983736
    The occurrence of Cryptococcus neoformans in bird excreta in Klang valley, Malaysia was determined in this study. Of 544 samples of bird excreta collected from a local zoo, pet shops and public areas, 20 strains of C. neoformans were isolated. All C. neoformans strains were serotype A and thus identified as C. neoformans variety grubii. All did not produce color changes on canavanine-glycine-bromothymol blue agar. All were of alpha-mating types, as determined by a pheromone-specific PCR assay. The antifungal susceptibility testing using agar diffusion method Neo-sensitabs showed that all were susceptible to amphotericin B, fluconazole and itraconazole.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus neoformans/drug effects*; Cryptococcus neoformans/isolation & purification*
  16. Exploring the potential of halotolerant bacteria for biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
    Al Farraj DA, Hadibarata T, Yuniarto A, Alkufeidy RM, Alshammari MK, Syafiuddin A
    Bioprocess Biosyst Eng, 2020 Dec;43(12):2305-2314.
    PMID: 32812060 DOI: 10.1007/s00449-020-02415-4
    The present study aimed to determine the degradation and transformation of three-ring PAHs phenanthrene and anthracene by Cryptococcus sp. MR22 and Halomonas sp. BR04 under halophilic conditions. The growth progress of Cryptococcus sp. MR22 and Halomonas sp. BR04 on anthracene and phenanthrene was monitored by colony-forming unit (CFU) technique. The growth of the bacteria was maintained at a maximum concentration of 200 mg/L of all tested hydrocarbon, indicating that Cryptococcus sp. MR22 and Halomonas sp. BR04 significantly perform in the removal of the PAH-contaminated medium at low concentrations. The fit model to represent the biodegradation kinetics of both PAHs was first-order rate equation The extract prepared from cells supplemented with three different substrates exhibited some enzymes such as hydroxylase, dioxygenase, laccase and peroxidase. The results suggest that both strains had an impressive ability in the degradation of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon but also could tolerate in the extreme salinity condition.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus
  17. Natural occurrence and growth reaction on canavanine-glycine-bromothymol blue agar of non-neoformans Cryptococcus spp. in Malaysia
    Tay ST, Na SL, Tajuddin TH
    Mycoses, 2008 Nov;51(6):515-9.
    PMID: 18498307 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2008.01516.x
    Cryptococcus albidus and C. laurentii were the predominant non-neoformans cryptococci isolated during an environmental sampling study for C. gattii at Klang Valley, Malaysia. Cryptococcus gattii was not isolated from any of the environmental samples. Cryptococcus albidus and C. laurentii were isolated mainly from vegetative samples of Eucalyptus trees and bird droppings. Upon testing on canavanine-glycine-bromothymol blue (CGB) agar, all the C. albidus isolates remained unchanged. Interestingly, a total of 29 (76.3%) C. laurentii isolates formed blue colours on the CGB agar. Sequence analysis of ITS1-5.8rDNA-ITS2 gene sequences (468 bp) of four CGB-blue C. laurentii isolates demonstrated the closest match (99%) with that of C. laurentii CBS 7140. This study demonstrated the diverse environmental niche of C. albidus and C. laurentii in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus/growth & development*; Cryptococcus/isolation & purification*
  18. Enzymatic characterisation of clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus gattii and other environmental Cryptococcus spp
    Chan MY, Tay ST
    Mycoses, 2010 Jan;53(1):26-31.
    PMID: 19389064 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2008.01654.x
    This study compared the enzymatic activity of clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus gattii, environmental isolates of C. neoformans and non-neoformans Cryptococcus. Most of the cryptococcal isolates investigated in this study exhibited proteinase and phospholipase activities. Laccase activity was detected from all the C. neoformans and C. gattii isolates, but not from the non-neoformans Cryptococcus isolates. There was no significant difference in the proteinase, phospholipase and laccase activities of C. neoformans and C. gattii. However, significant difference in the enzymatic activities of beta-glucuronidase, alpha-glucosidase, beta-glucosidase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase between C. neoformans and C. gattii isolates was observed in this study. Environmental isolates of C. neoformans exhibited similar enzymatic profiles as the clinical isolates of C. neoformans, except for lower proteinase and laccase activities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus/enzymology*; Cryptococcus/isolation & purification*; Cryptococcus neoformans/enzymology; Cryptococcus neoformans/isolation & purification; Cryptococcus gattii/enzymology; Cryptococcus gattii/isolation & purification
  19. Detection of IgM and IgG antibodies to Cryptococcus neoformans proteins in blood donors and HIV patients with active cryptococcosis
    Chai HC, Tay ST
    Mycoses, 2009 Mar;52(2):166-70.
    PMID: 18643920 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2008.01549.x
    The serological responses to Cryptococcus neoformans proteins of blood donors and HIV patients with active cryptococcosis from a tropical region were investigated in this study. Exposure to C. neoformans, an organism ubiquitous in the environment, contributes to the antibody responses observed in the blood donors. IgG responses to cryptococcal proteins were stronger than IgM responses in most sera tested in this study. A 53-kDa cryptococcal protein fragment was identified as the most immunoreactive protein on the IgM immunoblots of both blood donors and patients. Overall, there was no obvious difference in IgG responses of patients when compared with blood donors. Some immunogenic protein fragments (27.5, 76, 78 and 91.5 kDa) were detected at least two times more frequently on IgM immunoblots of patients compared with those of blood donors. It is yet to be investigated whether the proteins identified in this study may have any potential to be used as biomarker for cryptococcosis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus neoformans/immunology*
  20. Determination of molecular types and genetic heterogeneity of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii in Malaysia
    Tay ST, Lim HC, Tajuddin TH, Rohani MY, Hamimah H, Thong KL
    Med Mycol, 2006 Nov;44(7):617-22.
    PMID: 17071555
    The molecular types and genetic heterogeneity of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii clinical isolates in Malaysia were determined in this study. Of 44 C. neoformans collected between 1980 and 2003, 42 (95.5%) were molecular type VNI, 2 (4.5%) were molecular type VNII. Of 17 C.gattii isolates, 13 (76.5%) were molecular type VGI, and 4 (23.5%) were molecular type VGII. A difference was noted when comparing the molecular types of cryptococcal isolates in the earlier and recent cases of cryptococcosis. While both molecular types VNI and VGI were equally predominant in the earlier cases of cryptococcosis, VNI was the most predominant molecular type isolated from the recent cases. VNII was a new molecular type, isolated from 5.1% of the recent cases. All the bird dropping isolates were molecular type VNI. The genetic heterogeneity of the two predominant molecular types, i.e., VNI, VGI clinical isolates and bird dropping isolates of C. neoformans were further determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fingerprinting method, using (GTG)5 as single primer. Two clusters of cryptococcal isolates were distinguished at 68.5% of similarity, with cluster I consisting of VNI isolates and cluster II consisting of VGI isolates. Each cluster was further subdivided into three subtypes at >/=80% of similarity. Fourteen bird dropping isolates were grouped into a subtype within VN1, sharing 82.7% of similarity with the clinical isolates. A higher degree of similarities, ranging from 93.4-97.6% was noted between 3 bird dropping isolates with the clinical isolates in another subtype. This study demonstrated the existence of various molecular types of C. neoformans isolates in Malaysia and the genetic heterogeneity within the predominant molecular types. The study also provides evidence for genetic relatedness of clinical isolates with bird dropping isolates in the environment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cryptococcus neoformans/genetics; Cryptococcus neoformans/isolation & purification*
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