A biofi lm is a complex community of surface-associated cells enclosed in a polymer matrix. They attach to solid surfaces and their formation can be affected by growth conditions and co-infection with other pathogens. The presence of biofi lm may protect the microorganisms from host defenses, as well as signifi cantly reduce their susceptibility to antifungal agents. Pathogenic microbes can form biofi lms on the inert surfaces of implanted devices such as catheters, prosthetic cardiac valves and intrauterine devices (IUDs). The present study was carried out to analyze the presence of biofi lm on the surface of intrauterine devices in patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, and to determine the susceptibility profi le of the isolated yeasts to amphotericin B and fl ucona-zole. Candida albicans was recovered from the IUDs and it was found to be susceptible to the antifungal agents when tested under planktonic growing conditions. These fi nd-ings indicate the presence of the biofi lm on the surface of the IUD as an important risk factor for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. Keywords Candida albicans , biofi lm , intrauterine device biofi lms [ 7 ]. The intrauterine devices (IUDs) are the most commonly employed method of preventing fertilization [ 2 ,8, 9, 10 ]. The present paper describes two cases of patients with signs and symptoms of recurrent vulvovaginal can-didiasis (RVVC) who used IUDs as a contraceptive method. After their removal, the IDU was analyzed for the presence of biofi lm on their surfaces, and the susceptibility pattern of the yeasts recovered from the devices was investigated. Materials and methods Patients Two patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of RVVC, defi ned by at least four symptomatic episodes in 1 year [ 11 ], were enrolled in the present study after obtaining Institutional Review Board approval. Microbiological studies were conducted at the

Ticks are among the most prevalent blood-feeding arthropods, and they act as vectors and reservoirs for numerous pathogens. Sialotranscriptomic characterizations of tick responses to blood feeding and pathogen infections can offer new insights into the molecular interplay occurring at the tick-host-pathogen interface. In the present study, we aimed to identify and characterize Rhipicephalus bursa salivary gland (SG) genes that were differentially expressed in response to blood feeding and Babesia ovis infection. Our experimental approach consisted of RNA sequencing of SG from three different tick samples, fed-infected, fed-uninfected, and unfed-uninfected, for characterization and inter-comparison. Overall, 7,272 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were constructed from unfed-uninfected, 13,819 ESTs from fed-uninfected, and 15,292 ESTs from fed-infected ticks. Two catalogs of transcripts that were differentially expressed in response to blood feeding and B. ovis infection were produced. Four genes coding for a putative vitellogenin-3, lachesin, a glycine rich protein, and a secreted cement protein were selected for RNA interference functional studies. A reduction of 92, 65, and 51% was observed in vitellogenin-3, secreted cement, and lachesin mRNA levels in SG, respectively. The vitellogenin-3 knockdown led to increased tick mortality, with 77% of ticks dying post-infestation. The reduction of the secreted cement protein-mRNA levels resulted in 46% of ticks being incapable of correctly attaching to the host and significantly lower female weights post-feeding in comparison to the control group. The lachesin knockdown resulted in a 70% reduction of the levels associated with B. ovis infection in R. bursa SG and 70% mortality. These results improved our understanding of the role of tick SG genes in Babesia infection/proliferation and tick feeding. Moreover, lachesin, vitellogenin-3, and secreted cement proteins were validated as candidate protective antigens for the development of novel tick and tick-borne disease control measures.

Gastric inflammatory myofibroblastic proliferation (IMP) is an extremely rare entity in children, which to our knowledge has only been mentioned in case reports. We describe the ninth pediatric case and review the literature concerning the etiology, clinical and laboratory features, pathology, treatment, and outcome. There has been a predominance in preschool females. Abdominal pain, upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and an abdominal mass, either isolated or associated, have been the main clinical features. Iron-deficiency anemia has been a constant finding. Lesions are elevated and involve the full thickness of the gastric wall, usually with ulceration of the luminal surface; extragastric extension suggesting malignancy is frequent. Diagnosis is made by histology after surgical excision. There was no mortality directly related to gastric IMP, and only one case recurred after surgical excision. The pathogenesis is controversial, but the finding of Helicobacter pylori in our case may indicate an inflammatory origin. Awareness of this benign lesion and its mimicry of malignancy is important so that inappropriately aggressive therapy can be avoided.