Mit klonspezifischer Polymerasekettenreaktion (PCR) ist ein spezifischer Nachweis kleiner DNA-Mengen möglich. Von 47 MF-Patienten wurden aus Hautproben 50 TCR-gamma- und 7 TCR-beta-Sequenzen sequenziert, von 15 bzw. 5 Patienten gelang die Entwicklung eines N-spezifischen Primers. Um einen Zusammenhang zwischen Frequenz der zirkulierenden klonalen Zellen und klinischem Verlauf zu untersuchen, wurden für 4 Patienten im LightCycler die im Blut zirkulierenden klonalen Rearrangements quantifiziert. Ein Vergleich dieser Daten mit dem klinischen Verlauf ergab bei zwei Patienten eine Tendenz zu einem reziproken Verhältnis, bei einem Patienten im Tumorstadium wurde eine gleichsinnige Entwicklung beider Parameter gesehen. Der Nachweis klonaler Rearrangements in Haut- und Blutproben von SPP-Patienten wäre ein Hinweis auf den Lymphomcharakter dieser Erkrankung. Bei 9 von 14 SPP-Patienten wurde in Blutproben mit Hilfe der für VgammaI-Jgamma1/2 spezifischen Konsensusprimer ein monoklonales Rearrangement gefunden. Für 6 Patienten konnte ein klonspezifischer Primer entwickelt werden. Ein Nachweis der klonalen Sequenz aus dem Blut in der Haut war trotz einer geschachtelten PCR nicht möglich. / By clone specific polymerase chain reaction (pcr) small amounts of DNA can be detected. We discovered 50 tcr gamma and 7 tcr beta sequences from skin probes of 47 patients with mycosis fungoides. From 15 respectively 5 patients n-specific primers were designed. In order to examine if there is a relation between frequency of circulating clonal cells and clinical course, for 4 patients circulating clonal cells were quantified by real time pcr in LightCycler. In two patients we saw a reciproce proportion, in one patient with tumourstage disease rising numbers of circulating clonal cells were seen during worsening of clinical course. Detection of clonal rearrangments in skin and blood probes of patients with small plaque parapsoriasis could be a hint for classifying SPP as a lymphoma. In 6/14 patients we designed a clone-specific primer for circulating clonal rearangments. Despite performing a nested pcr circulating clonal rearrangments could not be detected in skin lesions of these patients.

Introdução: A micose fungóide foliculotrópica (MFF) é subtipo de linfoma cutâneo de células T que atinge especialmente o folículo piloso e parece ter prognóstico mais reservado. Informações clínicas sobre a população acometida por linfomas cutâneos no Brasil são escassas. O fenômeno de imunoprivilégio (IP) diz respeito à habilidade de alguns órgãos em permanecer protegidos contra reações inflamatórias. Tem sido sugerido que o folículo piloso normal represente um local de IP. Nesse estudo aventou-se a possibilidade de haver uma quebra no equilíbrio desse fenômeno na MFF, com alteração na expressão de moléculas do complexo maior de histocompatibilidade (MHC) e na expressão de MHC não-clássicos (HLA-G), com algum papel no mecanismo do foliculotropismo. Os objetivos foram: descrever o perfil clínico-epidemiológico de paciente com MFF, descrever a histologia e imunofenótipo dos casos de MFF e investigar os mecanismos envolvidos na predileção dos linfócitos atípicos pelo folículo piloso. Metodologia: Os prontuários de pacientes com diagnóstico de MFF provenientes do ambulatório de Linfomas Cutâneos da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) foram revisados (n=33). O material histológico de biópsias de pele dos pacientes com MFF provenientes dos ambulatórios de Linfomas Cutâneos da FMUSP e da Northwestern University foi analisado por meio de escala semi-quantitativa (n=43). Na coloração de hematoxilina-eosina foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: infiltrado neoplásico epidérmico, infiltrado neoplásico dérmico, presença de acantose/espongiose, de mucinose folicular, de fibroplasia do tecido conjuntivo, de eosinófilos, de plasmócitos, o tamanho celular e o grau de dano folicular. Analisou-se a positividade do infiltrado neoplásico para os seguintes marcadores celulares: CD1a, CD56, TIA-1 e CD117. As expressões do complexo de histocompatibilidade HLA-G e do MHCII no infiltrado celular e no epitélio folicular foram investigadas no grupo de pacientes com MFF e comparadas com o grupo de pacientes com micose fungóide clássica (MFC) e pele normal. A expressão do complexo de histocompatibilidade MHCII também foi investigada na epiderme. Resultados: A mediana das idades ao diagnóstico foi de 46 anos com 61% dos pacientes classificados como portadores de estágio avançado. A proporção entre homens e mulheres foi de 1,54 e a mediana de duração de doença antes do diagnóstico foi de três anos. Ao final de três anos de acompanhamento, 67% dos casos estavam vivos com a doença. O prurido foi relatado em 82% dos casos. Histologicamente, encontrou-se associação entre a presença de eosinófilos e de plasmócitos com fibroplasia do tecido conjuntivo. Observou-se diminuição da expressão do HLA-G no epitélio folicular nos grupos MFF e MFC em relação à pele normal. Observou-se aumento da expressão do MHCII no epitélio folicular na MFF em comparação à pele normal e na epiderme na MFC quando comparada à MFF. Conclusões: Dados clínicos da população estudada assemelharam-se aos dados da literatura como estágio avançado ao diagnóstico e prognóstico reservado. Cerca de metade dos casos de MFF foi positiva para o marcador citotóxico TIA-1. Demonstrou-se haver um provável colapso do imunoprivilégio folicular nos linfomas cutâneos com expressão diminuída de moléculas HLA-G em comparação à pele normal. O aumento da expressão do MHCII poderia relaciona-se com o foliculotropismo na MFF e com o epidermotropismo na MFC / Introduction: Folliculotropic mycosis fungoides (FMF) is a subtype of cutaneous T cells lymphoma affecting mainly the hair follicle and seems to have a less favorable prognosis. Clinical information on the population affected by cutaneous lymphomas in Brazil is scarce. The immune privilege (IP) phenomenon involves the ability of some body sites remaining protected from inflammatory reactions. It has been suggested that normal hair follicle represents an IP location. We hypothesized that a collapse of this phenomenon would occur in FMF, with changes in the expression of classical major histocompatibility molecules (MHC) and in the expression of nonclassical MHC molecules (HLA-G) with a role in folliculotropism mechanism. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with MFF, describe the histology and immunophenotype of cases of MFF and investigate the expression of MHC molecules. Methods: The medical records of patients from the outpatient Cutaneous Lymphoma Clinic of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School (FMUSP) diagnosed with MFF were reviewed (n = 33). The histological material from skin biopsies of patients with MFF from the Cutaneous Lymphomas Clinic of FMUSP and Northwestern University was stained and evaluated by semi-quantitative scale. In hematoxylin-eosin staining the following parameters were evaluated: epidermal neoplastic infiltrate, dermal neoplastic infiltrate, acanthosis/spongiosis, follicular mucinosis, connective tissue fibroplasia, presence of eosinophils and plasma cells, cell size and degree of follicular damage. We analyzed the positivity of the neoplastic infiltrate for the following cellular markers: CD1a, CD56, TIA-1, and CD117. Finally, the expression of histocompatibility complex HLA-G and MHC II in the neoplastic infiltrate and the follicular epithelium was investigated in MFF group and compared to patients with classical mycosis fungoides (CMF) and to normal skin. MHCII expression in the epidermis was also investigated. Results: The median age at diagnosis was 46 years, with 61% classified as advanced stage disease. The ratio between men and women was 1.54, the median disease duration before diagnosis was three years. After a median time of follow-up of three years, 67% of the cases were alive with disease. Pruritus was reported in 82% of the cases. Histologically, an association between the presence of eosinophils and plasma cells with fibroplasia of collagen was found. There was a decrease of HLA-G expression in the follicular epithelium in MFF and CMF groups compared to normal skin. There was an increase of MHCII expression in the follicular epithelium in FMF group compared to normal skin. There was an increased MHCII expression in the epidermis in CMF compared to FMF. Conclusions: Clinical data from the studied population were similar to the previous literature in relation to advanced stage at diagnosis and prognosis. There was a relationship between the presence of eosinophils and plasma cells in neoplastic infiltrate and the connective tissue fibrosis. Near half of the cases of FMF was positive for the cytotoxic marker TIA-1. A possible hair follicle immune privilege collapse was suggested by a decreased expression of HLA-G molecules in FMF and CMF compared to normal skin. Increased MHCII expression appears to be involved in the folliculotropism of FMF and epidermotropism of CMF

Psoriasiform diseases are a group of cutaneous disorders that are characterized by impaired keratinocyte maturation leading to epidermal hyperplasia and thickening of skin. This group of disorders includes psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis (SD) and mycosis fungoides (MF). Psoriasis has been recently shown to be mediated by the pro-inflammatory T helper cell subset, namely Th17 cells, whereas the pathogenesis of SD and MF are still poorly understood. SD is characterized by inflamed skin that primarily manifests on areas populated with sebaceous glands. Interestingly, SD is very common amongst immunosuppressed patients such as those with HIV-AIDS, suggesting the importance of an immune response in the development of SD. Because SD shares common clinical and histopathological features with psoriasis, a disease in which Th17 axis cytokines is known to be involved, and given that Th17 cells and their related cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, it is possible that Th17 axis cytokines play a role in the pathogenesis of SD. We explored the involvement of Th17 axis cytokines in a D2C mouse model of psoriasiform disease that shows a high degree homology to the clinicopathological characteristics of human seborrheic dermatitis. IL-6 and IL-23, which are important for the differentiation of Th17 cells, and IL-17 and IL-22, which are the Th17 effector molecules, were measured at both protein and mRNA levels in sera and lesional skin from D2C mice. An immunohistochemical analysis was also performed to detect the presence of IL-17 in D2C lesional skin relative to normal skin from DBA/2 controls. Our data demonstrated significantly elevated levels of IL-6, IL-17 and IL-22 in sera from diseased D2C mice compared to controls and/or convalescent mice. There were no significant differences in IL-23 protein levels in sera from D2C mice compared to those from wild type mice or convalescent D2C mice. RT-PCR revealed a significant increase in IL-23 and IL-17 gene expression in D2C lesional skin relative to normal skin. Gene expression levels of IL-22, but not IL-6, were statistically significant elevated in D2C skin lesions compared to controls, by real time PCR. Our IHC study of IL-17 expression showed an abundance of positively stained mononuclear cells in D2C lesional skin relative to DBA/2 normal skin. Altogether, our data demonstrate that Th17 axis cytokines are elevated locally at mRNA levels for IL-23, IL-17, and IL-22 and systematically at protein levels for IL-6, IL-17, and IL-22. This data lay the foundation for further studies investigating a role for Th17 axis cytokines in the cutaneous inflammatory disease seen in our mouse model of SD and, ultimately, in the development of human SD. Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common type of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL). The etiology of MF is unknown, but there is substantial evidence suggesting a potential role for a yet unidentified infectious agent in the pathogenesis of MF. Many studies have claimed that there is an association between MF and the Human T cell Lymphotorpic Virus Type 1 (HTLV-I); however, the involvement of this virus in the etiology of MF is a controversial topic. In our study, we used nested PCR to explore the association between HTLV-I infection and MF by screening genomic DNA from 114 skin biopsies for the presence of HTLV-I provirus. We also utilized a ViroChip and high-throughput sequencing (HTS), as a case study, to attempt to detect novel virus-specific oligonucleotides that may be associated with CTCL. Our data showed no evidence for HTLV-I proviral integration in the 114 MF samples that were screened using nested-PCR. The ViroChip and HTS results also did not reveal any signature sequence for known or unknown infectious agent in the CTCL case study. Collectively, this data argue against the involvement of HTLV-I provirus in the pathogenesis of MF.

Introdução: A micose fungóide foliculotrópica (MFF) é subtipo de linfoma cutâneo de células T que atinge especialmente o folículo piloso e parece ter prognóstico mais reservado. Informações clínicas sobre a população acometida por linfomas cutâneos no Brasil são escassas. O fenômeno de imunoprivilégio (IP) diz respeito à habilidade de alguns órgãos em permanecer protegidos contra reações inflamatórias. Tem sido sugerido que o folículo piloso normal represente um local de IP. Nesse estudo aventou-se a possibilidade de haver uma quebra no equilíbrio desse fenômeno na MFF, com alteração na expressão de moléculas do complexo maior de histocompatibilidade (MHC) e na expressão de MHC não-clássicos (HLA-G), com algum papel no mecanismo do foliculotropismo. Os objetivos foram: descrever o perfil clínico-epidemiológico de paciente com MFF, descrever a histologia e imunofenótipo dos casos de MFF e investigar os mecanismos envolvidos na predileção dos linfócitos atípicos pelo folículo piloso. Metodologia: Os prontuários de pacientes com diagnóstico de MFF provenientes do ambulatório de Linfomas Cutâneos da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) foram revisados (n=33). O material histológico de biópsias de pele dos pacientes com MFF provenientes dos ambulatórios de Linfomas Cutâneos da FMUSP e da Northwestern University foi analisado por meio de escala semi-quantitativa (n=43). Na coloração de hematoxilina-eosina foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: infiltrado neoplásico epidérmico, infiltrado neoplásico dérmico, presença de acantose/espongiose, de mucinose folicular, de fibroplasia do tecido conjuntivo, de eosinófilos, de plasmócitos, o tamanho celular e o grau de dano folicular. Analisou-se a positividade do infiltrado neoplásico para os seguintes marcadores celulares: CD1a, CD56, TIA-1 e CD117. As expressões do complexo de histocompatibilidade HLA-G e do MHCII no infiltrado celular e no epitélio folicular foram investigadas no grupo de pacientes com MFF e comparadas com o grupo de pacientes com micose fungóide clássica (MFC) e pele normal. A expressão do complexo de histocompatibilidade MHCII também foi investigada na epiderme. Resultados: A mediana das idades ao diagnóstico foi de 46 anos com 61% dos pacientes classificados como portadores de estágio avançado. A proporção entre homens e mulheres foi de 1,54 e a mediana de duração de doença antes do diagnóstico foi de três anos. Ao final de três anos de acompanhamento, 67% dos casos estavam vivos com a doença. O prurido foi relatado em 82% dos casos. Histologicamente, encontrou-se associação entre a presença de eosinófilos e de plasmócitos com fibroplasia do tecido conjuntivo. Observou-se diminuição da expressão do HLA-G no epitélio folicular nos grupos MFF e MFC em relação à pele normal. Observou-se aumento da expressão do MHCII no epitélio folicular na MFF em comparação à pele normal e na epiderme na MFC quando comparada à MFF. Conclusões: Dados clínicos da população estudada assemelharam-se aos dados da literatura como estágio avançado ao diagnóstico e prognóstico reservado. Cerca de metade dos casos de MFF foi positiva para o marcador citotóxico TIA-1. Demonstrou-se haver um provável colapso do imunoprivilégio folicular nos linfomas cutâneos com expressão diminuída de moléculas HLA-G em comparação à pele normal. O aumento da expressão do MHCII poderia relaciona-se com o foliculotropismo na MFF e com o epidermotropismo na MFC / Introduction: Folliculotropic mycosis fungoides (FMF) is a subtype of cutaneous T cells lymphoma affecting mainly the hair follicle and seems to have a less favorable prognosis. Clinical information on the population affected by cutaneous lymphomas in Brazil is scarce. The immune privilege (IP) phenomenon involves the ability of some body sites remaining protected from inflammatory reactions. It has been suggested that normal hair follicle represents an IP location. We hypothesized that a collapse of this phenomenon would occur in FMF, with changes in the expression of classical major histocompatibility molecules (MHC) and in the expression of nonclassical MHC molecules (HLA-G) with a role in folliculotropism mechanism. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with MFF, describe the histology and immunophenotype of cases of MFF and investigate the expression of MHC molecules. Methods: The medical records of patients from the outpatient Cutaneous Lymphoma Clinic of the University of Sao Paulo Medical School (FMUSP) diagnosed with MFF were reviewed (n = 33). The histological material from skin biopsies of patients with MFF from the Cutaneous Lymphomas Clinic of FMUSP and Northwestern University was stained and evaluated by semi-quantitative scale. In hematoxylin-eosin staining the following parameters were evaluated: epidermal neoplastic infiltrate, dermal neoplastic infiltrate, acanthosis/spongiosis, follicular mucinosis, connective tissue fibroplasia, presence of eosinophils and plasma cells, cell size and degree of follicular damage. We analyzed the positivity of the neoplastic infiltrate for the following cellular markers: CD1a, CD56, TIA-1, and CD117. Finally, the expression of histocompatibility complex HLA-G and MHC II in the neoplastic infiltrate and the follicular epithelium was investigated in MFF group and compared to patients with classical mycosis fungoides (CMF) and to normal skin. MHCII expression in the epidermis was also investigated. Results: The median age at diagnosis was 46 years, with 61% classified as advanced stage disease. The ratio between men and women was 1.54, the median disease duration before diagnosis was three years. After a median time of follow-up of three years, 67% of the cases were alive with disease. Pruritus was reported in 82% of the cases. Histologically, an association between the presence of eosinophils and plasma cells with fibroplasia of collagen was found. There was a decrease of HLA-G expression in the follicular epithelium in MFF and CMF groups compared to normal skin. There was an increase of MHCII expression in the follicular epithelium in FMF group compared to normal skin. There was an increased MHCII expression in the epidermis in CMF compared to FMF. Conclusions: Clinical data from the studied population were similar to the previous literature in relation to advanced stage at diagnosis and prognosis. There was a relationship between the presence of eosinophils and plasma cells in neoplastic infiltrate and the connective tissue fibrosis. Near half of the cases of FMF was positive for the cytotoxic marker TIA-1. A possible hair follicle immune privilege collapse was suggested by a decreased expression of HLA-G molecules in FMF and CMF compared to normal skin. Increased MHCII expression appears to be involved in the folliculotropism of FMF and epidermotropism of CMF

Submitted by JÚLIO HEBER SILVA (julioheber@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-08-25T19:01:06Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Bianca da Silva Ferreira - 2015.pdf: 2625786 bytes, checksum: 45be05c519a2f523993b3511a48bb47a (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-09-15T12:52:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Bianca da Silva Ferreira - 2015.pdf: 2625786 bytes, checksum: 45be05c519a2f523993b3511a48bb47a (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-15T12:52:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Bianca da Silva Ferreira - 2015.pdf: 2625786 bytes, checksum: 45be05c519a2f523993b3511a48bb47a (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-05-21 / The histoplasmosis is an important endemic mycosis caused by Histoplasma capsulatum. It’s is an AIDS-defining illness. It causes in patients with AIDS, especially when LT-CD4 + <100 cells./mm³ the disseminated form and has high letality rates. Although In the metropolitan area of Goiânia a high rate of disseminated histoplasmosis is observed in patients with AIDS, the real incidence and risk factors are unknown. Objectives: Describe the clinical-epidemiological characteristics and the spatial distribution of cases of histoplasmosis in patients with AIDS in the city of Goiânia and Aparecida de Goiânia. Methods: A descriptive ecological study conducted in patients from Tropical Diseases Hospital Dr. Anuar Auad, from January 2003 to July 2014. A standardized survey was applied to medical records of patients with AIDS and disseminated histoplasmosis with laboratory confirmation from Goiânia and Aparecida de Goiânia. A statistical analysis and description of the epidemiological clinical data was performed with georeferencing, production of maps and spatial analysis. Results: The disseminated histoplasmosis in AIDS patients has a high incidence in the metropolitan area of Goiânia and Aparecida de Goiânia, with a total of 166 cases. Most of the patients were young men with low income and low education level. Histoplasmosis was AIDS-defining illnesses in 68 patients, and the average LTCD4+ was 70 cels./mm³ to histoplasmosis diagnosis. The main symptoms were: respiratory, gastrointestinal and cutaneous. The spatial location of the cases were predominantly aleatory in both cities studied, however two important regions were detected: one in the east and another in western of Goiania, both close to water sources. Conclusions: Histoplasmosis is an urban disease with very high incidence in Goiânia and Aparecida de Goiânia. All cases presented a serious clinical features and high mortality rates. The treatment is applied in an irregular manner and does not follow the guidelines recommendations. The cases found are related to areas of environmental degradation and uncontrolled urbanization. They were also related to green areas and waterways. / Introdução: A histoplasmose é causada pelo fungo Histoplasma capsulatum, é uma importante micose endêmica, e é uma doença definidora de AIDS. Causa no paciente com AIDS, principalmente quando há LT-CD4+ <100 céls./mm³ a forma disseminada e tem elevada taxa de letalidade. Na região metropolitana de Goiânia é observado elevada taxa de histoplasmose disseminada em pacientes com AIDS, entretanto a real incidência e fatores de risco não são conhecidos. Objetivos: Descrever as características clínico-epidemiológicas e a distribuição espacial dos casos de histoplasmose em pacientes com AIDS, no município de Goiânia e Aparecida de Goiânia. Métodos: Estudo ecológico descritivo, realizado em pacientes do Hospital de Doenças tropicais Dr Anuar Auad, no período de janeiro de 2003 a julho de 2014. Através de questionário padronizado aplicado a prontuários de pacientes com AIDS e Histoplasmose disseminada confirmados laboratorialmente, residentes nos municípios de Goiânia e Aparecida de Goiânia. Foi realizado descrição e análise estatística dos dados clínico epidemiológicos, com georreferenciamento dos casos, produção de mapas e análise espacial. Resultados: A Histoplasmose disseminada em pacientes com AIDS tem uma prevalência elevada na região metropolitana de Goiânia e Aparecida de Goiânia, com total de 166 casos. A maioria dos pacientes eram homens jovens, com baixa renda e nível de escolaridade. Histoplasmose foi doença definidora de AIDS em 68 pacientes, e a média de LT-CD4+ foi de 70 céls./mm³ ao diagnóstico de histoplasmose. Os principais sintomas apresentados foram respiratórios, gastroinstestinais e cutâneos. A localização espacial dos casos ocorreu predominantemente de forma aleatória nos dois municípios estudados, entretanto houve identificação de dois importantes focos próximo a mananciais de água, um na região leste outro na região oeste de Goiânia Conclusões: A histoplasmose é uma doença urbana, com prevalência muito elevada em Goiânia e Aparecida de Goiânia, os casos apresentam grave quadro clínico laboratorial e de letalidade elevada. O tratamento é feito de maneira irregular e não segue as recomendações dos guidelines. Os casos encontrados estão relacionados a áreas de degradação ambiental e urbanização desordenada, e áreas próximas a cursos d’água e áreas verdes.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:37:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_franklin_de_moraes_vaz_da_silva.pdf: 964493 bytes, checksum: 4984372f2eaf08c502de40b75e4a01fb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-28 / Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis with worldwide distribution, caused by the fungal species Sporothrix schenckii complex, its endemic in areas with temperatures between 25-28ºC. Cause a chronic infection in humans, with significant economic and social impact, causing direct and indirect losses in population. To study the knowledge of the population in endemic areas, a cross-sectional, population-based between December, 2013 and February, 2014 was conducted in the city of Pelotas - RS, using a structured questionnaire divided into three sections. In the first section, global data such as age , sex, occupation, education, the second section data on the relationship between respondents with pets, and the third section on knowledge and perceptions were collected interviewed about definitions and concepts about mycosis, zoonosis and knowledge of sporotrichosis. 618 interviews, being composed of 40.94% (253/618) men and 59.06% (365/618) of women were conducted. 73.62% (455/618) are owners of pets. Of these, 50.32% (229/455) kept their animals out of home with 21.53% (49/229) of these are cats. In the population that does not have pets, the cat was the species with greater contact between 19.02% (31/163) respondents. Students achieved the best performance on questions about knowledge of ringworm and zoonosis. On knowledge of sporotrichosis least half of the students 44.17% (273/618) and 26.51% (164/618) of health professionals were aware, all other categories were below 5% accuracy. Although the city of Pelotas - RS, is considered an endemic area for sporotrichosis, we found a low level of knowledge about sporotrichosis by population, for this, greater awareness and information about the disease is necessary. / A esporotricose é uma micose subcutânea zoonótica de distribuição mundial, causada por espécies fúngicas do complexo Sporothrix schenckii, endêmica em áreas com temperatura entre 25 a 28ºC. Causa infecção crônica em humanos, com grande impacto econômico e social, provocando perdas diretas e indiretas na população. Para estudar o conhecimento da população em área endêmica, foi realizado um estudo transversal, de base populacional entre dezembro de 2013 e fevereiro de 2014, na cidade de Pelotas RS, utilizando questionário estruturado dividido em três seções. Na primeira seção foram coletados dados globais como idade, sexo, ocupação, escolaridade, a segunda seção foram coletados dados referentes à relação entre os entrevistados com animais domésticos, e a terceira seção referente ao conhecimento e percepção dos entrevistados sobre definições e conceitos sobre micose, zoonose e conhecimento sobre esporotricose. Foram realizadas 618 entrevistas, sendo compostas por 40,94% (253/618) de homens e 59,06% (365/618) de mulheres. 73,62% (455/618) são proprietários de animais de estimação. Destes, 50,32% (229/455) mantinham seus animais em regime semidomiciliado, sendo destes 21,53% (49/229) de gatos. Na população que não possui animais de estimação, o gato foi a espécie com maior contato 19,02% (31/163) entre os entrevistados. Os estudantes obtiveram o melhor desempenho nas questões sobre conhecimento de micose e zoonose. Sobre o conhecimento da esporotricose menos da metade dos estudantes 44,17% (273/618) e dos profissionais da saúde 26,51% (164/618) tinham conhecimento, todas as demais categorias ficaram abaixo dos 5% de acertos. Embora, a cidade de Pelotas RS, seja considerada uma região endêmica para esporotricose, encontramos um baixo índice de conhecimento sobre esporotricose pela população, sendo necessária uma maior divulgação e informação sobre a doença.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:37:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_ana_albano.pdf: 675901 bytes, checksum: 731cd5d7d9c76798f77ba8cd9a5b2e7a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-07-23 / The study of the infectious diseases in wild animals, in special the illnesses caused by fungi, have a few stories related with the incidence and distribution of the diverse ethiologic agents in captive populations and especially in the free ranging animals. The identification of the fungical species that are part of microbiota in healthful animals is primordial condition for the recognition of causers of pathological processes. The objective of this work was the isolation and the identification of fungi that is present in healthy wild animals or not, received in Screening Centers, and the respective study of mycosis caused by the fungi in wild animals in the states of the Rio Grande do Sul and Mato Grosso do Sul. The material collections had been carried through sterilized swabs for the external acoustic meatus and of the technique of "square of the carpet for the tegument of the wild animals in evaluation. The samples had been collected from 83 animals and the sorts of isolated fungi in this study had been Aspergillus sp., Candida spp., Penicillium sp., Geotrichum sp., Malassezia sp., Trichophyton sp., Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Fusarium sp. e Scopulariopsis sp. In 33 animals that had presented injuries it had fungical isolation in 97%. Amongst the birds, 100% of the collected animals had presented clinical signals, with isolation of the Candida sp. e Aspergillus sp. in 81% (n=13) and 19% (n=3) of the animals, respectively. In the group of the mammals, the total of animals that had presented clinical signals was of 23,07% (n=15), and all the genus of isolated fungi in this study were present, the exception of Fusarium sp. In the group of the reptiles, represented for two units of the specie Chelonia mydas, it had growth of Candida lipolytica in an individual and Fusarium sp. in another one, and they both presented clinical signals. The results obtained in the samplings had allowed to conclude that fungi are present in wild animals, therefore, it s necessary the continuity of the studies on microbiota and fungical illnesses in wild animals in rehabilitation: and its respective ethyological agents, in way that new findings can make possible the prevention and the treatment of mycoses, improving the carried attendance through of more directed and specify form in the services of primary attention to wild animals in Brazil. / O estudo das doenças infecciosas em animais silvestres, em especial as causadas por fungos, são pouco relatadas relacionando sua incidência e a distribuição dos diversos agentes etiológicos nas populações cativas e, em especial nas de vida livre. A identificação das espécies fúngicas que fazem parte da microbiota em animais saudáveis é condição primordial para o reconhecimento daquelas causadoras de processos patológicos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi isolar e identificar fungos presentes em animais silvestres sadios ou não, recebidos em Centros de Triagem, e o respectivo estudo das micoses causadas pelos mesmos em animais silvestres nos estados do Rio Grande do Sul e Mato Grosso do Sul. As coletas de material foram realizadas através de swabs estéreis para o meato acústico externo e da técnica do "quadrado do carpete para o tegumento dos animais silvestres em avaliação. As amostras foram coletadas de 83 animais silvestres e os gêneros de fungos isolados neste estudo foram: Aspergillus sp., Candida spp., Penicillium sp., Geotrichum sp., Malassezia sp., Trichophyton sp., Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Fusarium sp. e Scopulariopsis sp. Nos 33 animais que apresentaram lesões houve isolamento fúngico em 97%. Dentre as aves, 100% dos animais coletados apresentaram sinais clínicos, com isolamento dos gêneros Candida sp. e Aspergillus sp. em 81% (n=13) e 19% (n=3) dos animais, respectivamente. Já no grupo dos mamíferos o total de animais que apresentaram sinais clínicos foi de 23,07% (n=15), sendo que todos os gêneros de fungos isolados neste estudo estavam presentes, a exceção de Fusarium sp. No grupo dos répteis, representado por dois exemplares da espécie Chelonia mydas (tartaruga-verde), houve crescimento de Candida lipolytica em um indivíduo e Fusarium sp. em outro, sendo que ambos apresentavam sinais clínicos. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram a presença de fungos em animais silvestres, sendo, portanto, necessária a continuidade dos estudos sobre a microbiota e as doenças fúngicas em animais silvestres em reabilitação e seus respectivos agentes etiológicos, de modo que novos achados possam possibilitar a prevenção e o tratamento das micoses, qualificando o atendimento realizado de forma mais direcionada e específica nos serviços de atenção primária a animais silvestres no Brasil.

Magister Scientiae (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology) / Land-based abalone aquaculture in South Africa started in the early 1990s and is based on the local species Haliotis midae. This industry expanded with great success over the last decade. In 2006 abalone exhibiting typical clinical signs of tubercle mycosis was discovered for the first time in South African abalone culture facilities,posing a significant threat to the industry. Halioticida noduliformans, a fungus belonging to the Peronosporomycetes (formerly Oomycetes), has been identified as the causative agent of abalone tubercle mycosis (ATM). While diagnoses of this disease are currently done by gross observation and histopathology, these methods fail to be sensitive enough to identify the causative agent accurately and reliably.Molecular confirmation could provide for quicker more accurate diagnostic information. The aim of this study was to develop a DNA based molecular diagnostic test. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used to rapidly detect, characterise and identify a variety of organisms. Nucleotide sequences of the smalland large-subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II (cox2) genes of H. noduliformans were compared with closely related Peronosporomycete gene sequences to identify potential PCR primer sites. H. noduliformans specific real-time quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) primer sets were designed and optimised for each of the selected genes. Results indicate that, although all tested primers sets could amplify fungal DNA, only the LSU and cox2 primer sets - v -demonstrated no cross-amplification with the closely related Peronosporomycete and non-fungal DNA tested in the present study. The H. noduliformans specific LSU primer set was chosen for further analysis and used for all subsequent real-time PCR assays. The lowest detection limit for the LSU primer set was evaluated by running Q-PCR on serial dilutions of known quantities of extracted H. noduliformans DNA.Serial dilutions were made in PCR grade water as well as in an abalone tissue matrix.The sensitivity of the Q-PCR reaction was determined to be 266 pg of H.noduliformans DNA per 25 μL reaction volume. However, inclusion of a nested PCR step, utilising universal fungal outer primers, followed by Q-PCR with the H.noduliformans LSU specific primers improved sensitivity to 0.266 pg of H.noduliformans DNA per 25 μL reaction volume. This equates to approximately 2.4spores per 25 μL reaction volume. DNA extraction protocols were optimised to ensure efficient and repeatable extraction of high quality fungal DNA from pure fungus and tissue samples spiked with known quantities of fungal DNA. PCR amplification efficiency and potential inhibition were examined for each extraction method. Results suggest that real-time PCR has great potential in monitoring and quantifying H. noduliformans on abalone culture facilities in South Africa.

INTRODUÇÃO: A variante hipocromiante da micose fungoide - MF - (MFh) apresenta características peculiares, como a predileção por indivíduos jovens e melanodérmicos e curso clínico crônico. Estudos especulam a patogênese da hipocromia comparando-a à do vitiligo. No Brasil, faltam dados que permitam conhecer sua importância na saúde pública. O presente trabalho visou avaliar a epidemiologia, a histopatologia e a imunofenotipagem de uma amostra de pacientes com diagnóstico de MFh e propor hipóteses dos mecanismos patogênicos da hipocromia, além de comparar pacientes portadores de lesões hipocrômicas exclusivas com aqueles portadores de outras formas de MF com lesões hipocrômicas concomitantes. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados pacientes do Ambulatório de Linfomas Cutâneos do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo e classificados em três grupos: A (21 portadores apenas de lesões hipocrômicas); B (15 portadores de outras formas de MF com lesões hipocrômicas concomitantes) e C (8 pacientes com diagnóstico de MF clássica, estes apenas para avaliações histológica e imuno-histoquímica). Foram obtidos dados clinicoepidemiológicos e realizadas análises histológica e imuno-histoquímica de biópsias das lesões e de pele normal, como controle. Para o estudo imuno-histoquímico foram utilizados os marcadores para imunofenotipagem da neoplasia, Melan-A, tirosinase, SCF, CD117 e MITF. RESULTADOS: Do total de pacientes acompanhados naquele ambulatório, os pacientes com MF portadores de lesões hipocrômicas corresponderam a 16%. As medianas das idades de início da doença e dos tempos de história foram de, no grupo A 25 anos e 8 anos; no grupo B, 29 anos e 13 anos, respectivamente; houve predomínio de indivíduos melanodérmicos , acometimento do sexo feminino e a maioria dos pacientes encontrava-se em estágios iniciais da doença em ambos os grupos. A avaliação histológica revelou achados semelhantes, como epidermotropismo de linfócitos atípicos e infiltrado dérmico linfomonocitário nas lesões hipocrômicas e não-hipocrômicas. O imunofenótipo CD8+ do infiltrado neoplásico epidérmico foi mais frequente no grupo A, ao passo que os grupos B e C apresentaram mais casos com imunofenótipo CD4+. A avaliação da função melanocítica das lesões hipocrômicas do grupo A revelou diminuição significativa da imunomarcação dos melanócitos por todos marcadores em comparação à pele normal e às lesões do grupo C. Em relação ao grupo B, não houve diferenças para as lesões hipocrômicas, não-hipocrômicas e pele normal, quando avaliadas dentro do próprio grupo (exceto para Melan A). A expressão de SCF pelos queratinócitos foi irregular sobretudo nas lesões hipocrômicas. DISCUSSÃO: Os pacientes com lesões hipocrômicas apresentaram características semelhantes (idade precoce, predomínio do sexo feminino, doença indolente). Mostrou-se que indivíduos melanodérmicos tem maior chance de apresentar lesões hipocrômicas. Além da redução de melanócitos e do receptor melanocítico CD117 em relação à pele normal já demonstradas previamente, mostrou-se, como no vitiligo, a redução da expressão do MITF, fator vital para a função e sobrevida do melanócito. Além disso, também se explicitou desbalanço da produção de citocinas melanogênicas pelos queratinócitos. CONCLUSÃO: A presença de lesões hipocrômicas pode ser considerada um marcador de bom prognóstico na MF. Diferentes mecanismos, como ação celular citotóxica e a alteração do microambiente da unidade epidérmica, colaboram para hipocromia das lesões da MFh / INTRODUCTION: The hypopigmented variant of mycosis fungoides - MF - (MFh) presents specific characteristics, such as a predilection for young and melanodermic individuals, and chronic clinical course. Studies speculate the pathogenesis of the hypopigmentation comparing it to vitiligo\'s. In Brazil, the lack of data prevents the knowledge of its importance in public health. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology, the histopathology and the immunophenotyping of a sample of patients diagnosed with MFh and to propose hypotheses of the pathogenic mechanisms of hypopigmentation, in addition to comparing exclusive hypopigmented lesion-bearer patients with those bearing other types of MF with concomitant hypopigmented lesions. METHODS: Patients were selected from the Cutaneous Lymphoma Clinic, from Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo and classified in three groups: A (21 hypopigmented only lesion- bearers); B (15 bearers of other types of MF with concomitant hypopigmented lesion) and C (8 patients diagnosed with classical MF, being those only for histology and immunohistochemistry evaluations). Clinical- epidemiological data were obtained and histology and immunohistochemistry analyses of lesion biopsies and normal skin, as a control, were made. For the immunohistochemistry study, the markers for immunophenotyping the neoplasm, Melan-A, tyrosinase, SCF, CD117 and MITF were used. RESULTS: Of the total number of patients treated at that clinic, the MF patients bearing hypopigmented lesions were 16%. The medians of the age of disease onset and the medical history time were 25 years and 8 years in group A; 29 years and 13 years in group B, respectively; there were a predominance of melanodermic individuals, involvement of the female sex, and the majority of the patients were in early stages of the disease in both groups. The histological evaluation revealed similar findings, such as epidermotropism of atypical lymphocytes and lympho-monocytic dermal infiltrate in hypopigmented and non-hypopigmented lesions. The CD8+ immunophenotype of the epidermal neoplastic infiltrate was more frequent in group A, while groups B and C showed more cases of CD4+ immunophenotype. The evaluation of the melanocytic function of the hypopigmented lesions in group A revealed a significant decrease of immunostaining of the melanocytes by all markers when compared to normal skin and group C lesions. Regarding group B, there were no differences to hypopigmented and non-hypopigmented lesions and normal skin, when evaluated within the group itself (except for Melan A). The SCF expression by the keratinocytes was irregular especially in hypopigmented lesions. DISCUSSION: Patients with hypopigmented lesions showed similar characteristics (early age, female sex predominance, indolent disease). It has been showed that melanodermic subjects are more likely to have hypopigmented lesions. In addition to the previously-showed reduction of melanocytes and CD117 melanocytic receptor related to normal skin, it has been showed, as in vitiligo, the reduction of MITF expression, a vital factor for the function and survival of the melanocyte. Besides that, it has been also made explicit a production imbalance of melanogenic cytokines by the keratinocytes. CONCLUSION: The presence of hypopigmented lesions can be considered a marker of good prognosis in MF. Different mechanisms, such as cytotoxic cellular action and the change of the microenvironment of the epidermal unit, collaborate for the hypopigmentation of the lesions of MFh

O gênero Trichosporon é composto por leveduras artrosporadas do Filo Basidiomycota e é conhecido agente de infecção fúngica invasiva (IFI) em pacientes imunodeprimidos ou com outros fatores de risco. Em pacientes onco-hematológicos é a principal levedura responsável por IFI depois do gênero Candida. Entre as espécies responsáveis por infecções no homem encontram-se: T. asahii, T. inkin, T. mucoides, T. dermatis, T. jirovecii, T. ovoides, T. cutaneum, T. montevideense, T. domesticum, T. asteroides, T. coremiiforme, T. faecale, T. dohaense, T. lactis, T. japonicum. A tecnologia de identificação de fungos por espectrometria de massa (SM) MALDI-TOF ainda carece de padronização para identificação de fungos do gênero Trichosporon, mas a literatura mostra resultados encorajadores. O objetivo deste estudo é padronizar a técnica de espectrometria de massa MALDI-TOF para a identificação das espécies do gênero Trichosporon de importância médica. O estudo foi realizado em cooperação entre a Divisão de Laboratório Central do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (DLC, HC-FMUSP), Instituto de Medicina Tropical da USP (IMT-USP), Instituto Adolfo Lutz (IAL) e Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie do Hospital Saint Antoine de Paris, vinculado ao grupo de pesquisa INSERM/UPMC UMR S945 \"Immunité et Infection\" Faculté de Medecine et Université Pierre et Marie Curie de Paris. Noventa e três cepas/isolados foram analisado(a)s, sendo dezenove cepas de referência adquiridas junto à coleção holandesa Centraalbureau Schimmelcultures (CBS), 19 isolados do HC-FMUSP e IAL, e 55 isolados de diferentes hospitais franceses. A identificação molecular foi realizada através do sequenciamento da região IGS1 do rDNA e foi considerada como método de referência. O protocolo de extração de proteínas foi estabelecido através da comparação do desempenho de três metodologias (Bruker®, Cassagne et al., Sendid et al.). Os espectros de massa foram obtidos no laboratório de bacteriologia do Hospital Saint Antoine de Paris através do aparelho Microflex LT®. A interpretação dos resultados qualitativos e quantitativos (logscore) foi realizada através do Software Biotyper 3.0®. O desempenho de identificação do banco de espectros de referência Biotyper 3.0® foi comparado a outros cinco bancos criados a partir de espectros de referência (ERs) derivados de 18 cepas de referência CBS, sete isolados clínicos e 11 ERs do banco Biotyper 3.0. O protocolo de extração de proteínas descrito por Sendid et al. foi escolhido como protocolo de referência pois os espectros produzidos tiveram logscore superiores àqueles obtidos através do método do fabricante. O banco de ERs Biotyper 3.0® apresentou 32,3% de identificações corretas das espécies, sendo que o banco de ERs in house (número 5, constituído cepas CBS e isolados clínicos) apresentou 98,5% de identificações de espécies. Espectros de referência do banco de dados Biotyper 3.0® foram submetidos à identificação com a utilização dos ERs criados a partir de cepas CBS e isolados clínicos e foram evidenciados com erros de identificação: T. mucoides (2), T. ovoides (1) e T. cutaneum (2). Após padronização do protocolo de extração e criação de banco de ERs com cepas CBS e isolados clínicos caracterizados pelo sequenciamento da região IGS, a SM por MALDI-TOF apresentou-se como potente uma ferramenta para a identificação de fungos do gênero Trichosporon. O banco de ERs Biotyper 3.0® apresentou um fraco desempenho, relacionado a ERs que foram criados a partir de cepas mal identificadas / Trichosporon spp. are arthrospored yeasts from the Filum Basidiomycota that are known to produce invasive fungal infection (IFI) in patients with immunosupression or other risk factors. After Candida, Trichosporon is the second genus of yeasts responsible for IFI in patients with onco-hematological diseases. The most important species related to human infection are: T. asahii, T. inkin, T. mucoides, T. dermatis, T. jirovecii, T. ovoides, T. cutaneum, T. montevideense, T. domesticum, T. asteroides, T. coremiiforme, T. faecale, T. dohaense, T. lactis, T. japonicum. The technology of mass spectrometry (MS) for identification of Trichosporon species has not yet been standardized. However, preliminary promising results can be found in the literature. The objective of this study is to analyse and validate MS MALDI-TOF for the identification of Trichosporon species of medical relevance. This was a multicentric study with collaboration from the Central Laboratory Section from Clinics Hospital of the Medical School from the University of São Paulo (DLC-HCFMUSP), Tropical Medicine Institute from the University of São Paulo (IMT-USP), Instituto Adolfo Lutz (IAL) and Laboratoire de Parasitologie-Mycologie from the Hospital Saint Antoine of Paris and INSERM/UPMC UMR S945 \"Immunité et Infection\", Faculté de Medecine et Université Pierre et Marie Curie of Paris. Ninety three strains/isolates belonging to sixteen Trichosporon species were analysed. Nineteen were purchased from Centraalbureau Schimmelcultures (CBS) yeast collection, 19 belonged to HC-FMUSP and IAL collections, 55 belonged to different French collections. The reference identification method was the IGS1 rDNA sequencing. A protein extraction protocol was first established after comparing the performance of three different methodologies (Bruker(TM), Cassagne et al., Sendid et al.). The mass spectra were obtained through a Microflex LT(TM) mass spectrometer located at the bacteriology laboratory from Saint Antoine Hospital, Paris. Mass spectra, qualitative and quantitative results were produced through the software Biotyper 3.0(TM). The performance of the original main spectrum (MSP) library was compared to other 5 in house libraries built with the combination of MSPs derived from CBS strains (18), clinical strains (7) or (Bruker Daltonics/BD, Germany/USA) (11). The extraction protocol described by Sendid et al. showed better performance when compared to the manufacturer\'s one and was chosen for the subsequent extractions. Among the 6 different reference spectra databases tested, a specific one composed of 18 reference strains plus 7 clinical isolates (database 5) allowed the correct identification of 66 amongst 67 clinical isolates (98,5%). Biotyper 3.0 library produced only 32,3% of correct identifications. Biotyper\'s MSPs were submitted to cross-identification with MSPs derived from CBS strains and clinical isolates and misidentified original MSPs were identified: T. mucoides (2), T. ovoides (1) e T. cutaneum (2). While until now less widely applied to basidiomycetous fungi, MALDI-TOF appears to be a valuable tool for identifying clinical Trichosporon isolates at the species level. The MSP library Biotyper 3.0 showed a poorer performance which was due to misidentified strains utilized as reference for the MSPs