Apophysomyces elegans was considered a rare but medically important zygomycete. We analyzed the clinical records of eight patients from a single center in whom zygomycosis due to A. elegans was diagnosed over a span of 25 months. We also attempted a DNA-based method for rapid identification of the fungi and looked for interstrain polymorphism using microsattelite primers. Three patients had cutaneous and subcutaneous infections, three had isolated renal involvement, one had rhino-orbital tissue infection, and the final patient had a disseminated infection involving the spleen and kidney. Underlying illnesses were found in two patients, one with diabetes mellitus and the other with chronic alcoholism. A history of traumatic implantation was available for three patients. All except two of the patients responded to surgical and/or medical therapy; the diagnosis for the two exceptions was made at the terminal stage of infection. Restriction enzyme (MboI, MspI, HinfI) digestion of the PCR-amplified internal transcribed spacer region helped with the rapid and specific identification of A. elegans. The strains could be divided into two groups according to their patterns, with clustering into one pattern obtained by using microsatellite [(GTG) 5 and (GAC) 5 ] PCR fingerprinting. The study highlights the epidemiology, clinical spectrum, and diagnosis of emerging A. elegans infections.Zygomycosis is a serious and often rapidly fatal infection especially in immunocompromised patients. It is caused by sparsely septate filamentous, saprophytic fungi belonging to the class Zygomycetes and the order Mucorales.

The probiotic yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii (Sb) is known to be effective against many gastrointestinal disorders and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. To understand molecular basis of probiotic-properties ascribed to Sb we determined the complete genomes of two strains of Sb i.e. Biocodex and unique28 and the draft genomes for three other Sb strains that are marketed as probiotics in India. We compared these genomes with 145 strains of S. cerevisiae (Sc) to understand genome-level similarities and differences between these yeasts. A distinctive feature of Sb from other Sc is absence of Ty elements Ty1, Ty3, Ty4 and associated LTR. However, we could identify complete Ty2 and Ty5 elements in Sb. The genes for hexose transporters HXT11 and HXT9, and asparagine-utilization are absent in all Sb strains. We find differences in repeat periods and copy numbers of repeats in flocculin genes that are likely related to the differential adhesion of Sb as compared to Sc. Core-proteome based taxonomy places Sb strains along with wine strains of Sc. We find the introgression of five genes from Z. bailii into the chromosome IV of Sb and wine strains of Sc. Intriguingly, genes involved in conferring known probiotic properties to Sb are conserved in most Sc strains.

Ten different versions of the D1/D2 divergent domain of the large-subunit ribosomal DNA were identified among interbreeding members of the yeast species Clavispora lusitaniae. One major polymorphism, located in a 90-bp structural motif of the D2 domain, exists in two versions that differ by 32 base substitutions. Three other polymorphisms consist of a two-base substitution, a two-base deletion, and a single-base deletion, respectively. The polymorphisms are independent of one another and of the two mating types, indicating that the strains studied belong to a single, sexually active Mendelian population. Several strains were heterogeneous for one or more of the polymorphisms, and one strain was found to be automictic and capable of producing asci on its own by isogamous conjugation or by bud-parent autogamy. These observations suggest circumspection in the use of sequence divergence as the principal criterion for delimiting yeast species.

The majority of species within the genus Malassezia are lipophilic yeasts that colonize the skin of warm-blooded animals. Two species, Malassezia globosa and Malassezia restricta, are implicated in the causation of seborrheic dermatitis/dandruff (SD/D). During our survey of SD/D cases, we isolated several species of Malassezia and noticed vast variations within a few lipid-dependent species. Variations observed in the phenotypic characteristics (colony morphology, absence of catalase activity, growth at 37°C, and precipitation surrounding wells containing Tween 20 or Cremophor EL) suggested the possible presence of a novel species. Sequence divergence observed in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the D1/D2 domain, and the intergenic spacer 1 (IGS1) region of rDNA and the TEF1 gene, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the ITS2 region, and fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis support the existence of a novel species. Based on phenotypic and molecular characterization of these strains, we propose a new species, namely, M. arunalokei sp. nov., and we designate NCCPF 127130 ‫؍(‬ MTCC 12054 ‫؍‬ CBS 13387) as the type strain. Malassezia spp. are lipophilic, unipolar budding, commensal yeasts that inhabit body surfaces rich in sebaceous glands in warm-blooded animals. In humans, these microorganisms have been implicated in a variety of skin diseases, including pityriasis versicolor (PV), seborrheic dermatitis/dandruff (SD/D), pityrosporum folliculitis (PF), and some subsets of psoriasis and atopic dermatitis (AD) (1). Weather conditions (such as temperature and humidity), the cutaneous microenvironment, or host defense mechanisms may predispose individuals to Malassezia infection or colonization. After a thorough analysis of morphological and biochemical characteristics, Gueho et al. described seven species (Malassezia furfur, Malassezia obtusa, Malassezia globosa, Malassezia slooffiae, Malassezia sympodialis, Malassezia pachydermatis, and Malassezia restricta) (2). Seven more Malassezia spp. (Malassezia dermatis, Malassezia equina, Malassezia japonica, Malassezia nana, Malassezia yamatoensis, Malassezia caprae, and Malassezia cuniculi) were described later by different groups (3-9). Of these, M. caprae, M. equina, M. nana, and M. cuniculi have been isolated only from domestic animals; the host specificity of these species prompted other workers to look for new species in the genus (10).In human infections, certain species possibly play important roles in pathogenesis. M. globosa is commonly associated with SD/D (11). Other species, including M. restricta, M. furfur, M. sympodialis, M. obtusa, and M. slooffiae, are occasionally associated with SD/D at different geographical locations (12). SD/D is widely prevalent in India, and M. globosa and M. restricta are commonly associated with this condition (13,14). While conducting a detailed survey of SD/D cases, however, we noticed vast variations within a few lipid-dependent strains of Malassezia, which are chara...