The localization and population levels of the indigenous bacterial flora of conventional rats were investigated by cultural and histological techniques. Lactobacilli predominate in the stomach and upper part of the small intestine and associate with keratinized cells of the nonglandular portion of stomach. Mixtures of varying complexity of pure cultures of indigenous bacteria were inoculated into germfree rats. The distribution of these bacteria was examined to investigate the effect of lactobacilli in controlling the composition of other bacterial species in each portion of the digestive tract. In the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine, lactobacilli controlled the population levels of other bacterial species. In the lower part of the small intestine, not only lactobacilli but also the anaerobes which colonized the large bowel influenced the population levels of other bacterial types. Staphylococci isolated from a conventional rat colonized specifically the keratinized cells of the nonsecreting epithelium of the stomach when the rats were free from lactobacilli. This colonization was not observed after inoculation of lactobacilli into the rats.

Certain indigenous bacteria isolated from rats and chickens were found to adhere to keratinized cells obtained from host stomachs and maintained in vitro. Only lactobacilli and staphylococci isolated from rats attached to the keratinized epithelial cells of the rat stomach, suggesting that they are dominant bacteria in the microflora of the stomachs of those animals. Indigenous lactobacilli heated at 60 C for 1 h or treated with the detergents sodium dodecyl sulfate, Tween 80, and Triton X-100 lose the ability to adhere to the keratinized cells of the rat stomach. Indigenous lactobacilli treated with formalin, however, retain the capacity to adhere to the cells. These observations suggest that surface structures of the bacteria are involved in adhesion of indigenous lactobacilli to the keratinized cells of rat stomach.

Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans) var. gattii infection usually occurs in tropical and subtropical areas, and rarely in the northern hemisphere. Wereport the first Japanese with cryptococcal meningoencephalitis caused by C. neoformans var. gattii infection that occurred during a trip to Australia. This agent was identified in a cerebellar biopsy specimen by immunohistochemical technique with serotype-specific anti-sera. Because the meningitis caused by it did not respond well to conventional therapy, we used an aggressive therapeutic regimen to successfully treat the patient. Evenin areas where C. neoformans var. gattii does not exist, this infection should be considered possible as a travel-related infection.

A clinical study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of lactoferrin, which is a protein component of cow's milk, in the treatment of tinea pedis. Doses of either 600 mg or 2000 mg of lactoferrin, or a placebo was orally administered daily for 8 weeks to 37 adults who were judged to have mild or moderate tinea pedis. Dermatological improvement and antifungal efficacy were assessed. In the analysis of all subjects, dermatological symptoms scores in all groups decreased but the differences were not statistically significant comparing the three groups. However, in the analysis limited to subjects with moderate vesicular or interdigital tinea pedis, dermatological symptoms scores in the lactoferrin-treated groups decreased significantly in comparison with the placebo group (P < 0.05). The organisms isolated were Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. A mycological cure was not seen in any of the subjects. In the 37 subjects there were no adverse events and no subject withdrew from the study because of an adverse event. These results suggest that orally administered lactoferrin can improve the dermatological symptoms in some subjects. The potential usefulness of lactoferrin as a functional food material for treating tinea pedis was seen for the first time in this study.

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