Aims:  The present study was conducted to screen for psychrophilic yeasts that are able to degrade pectin compounds at low temperature, and to examine the cold‐active pectinolytic enzymes produced by the isolated psychrophilic yeasts. Methods and Results:  Psychrophilic yeasts, which grow on pectin as a sole carbon source, pectinolytic–psychrophilic yeast (PPY) strains PPY‐3, 4, 5 and 6, were isolated from soil from Abashiri (Hokkaido, Japan). The sequences of 28S rDNA D1/D2 of strains PPY‐3 and 4 indicated a taxonomic affiliation to Cryptococcus cylindricus and Mrakia frigida, respectively, strains PPY‐5 and 6 belonged to Cystofilobasidium capitatum. The isolated strains were able to grow on pectin at below 5°C, and showed the activities of several cold‐active pectinolytic enzymes. Conclusion:  The findings of this study indicate the possibility that the isolated strains produce novel pectinolytic enzymes that are able to degrade pectin compounds at low temperature. Significance and Impact of the Study:  It is possible that the cold‐active pectinolytic enzymes from the isolated strains can be applied to the food industry, e.g. the clarification of fruit juice below 5°C.

No abstract

In twenty patients with erythema multiforme we investigated circulating immune complexes and their deposition in the skin lesions. CIq-binding activity was elevated in ten of twenty patients, and the platelet aggregation titre was high in three of twelve tested sera. Decreased levels of C3 were seen in two and of C4 in one out of eighteen patients. Direct immunofluorescence showed a deposition of C3, IgM or IgG in the blood vessel walls of the upper dermis in four of twelve patients. These findings may suggest that transient production of circulating immune complexes and their deposition play an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Two cases of penis tuberculides are described. Although this disease once used to be comparatively common in Japan, the number of people affected by the disease has recently decreased as the prevalence of tuberculosis has fallen. However, we can still find a few cases in the Japanese literature every year. Outside Japan, we can hardly find reports of this disease, except for a few cases reported under the title of ‘Papulonecrotic tuberculides on the penis’ from Northern European countries. In addition to reporting 2 cases, we summarize clinical features of this disease. Racial predisposition or endemic factors may be related to the tuberculides in such a special site.

Five patients with Behçet's disease were satisfactorily treated with colchicine. Oral aphthosis, erythema nodosum-like lesions and genital erosions improved greatly within a month as did laboratory findings. We believe colchicine to be the first choice in the management of the cutaneous and ocular lesions of Behçet's disease.