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PubMed1977

[Protothecosis in cattle. Report of a case (author's transl)].

A brief review of the classification of the genus Prototheca is followed by a report on a case of protothecosis in cattle. A pure culture of Prototheca was isolated from the milk of the affected quarter. Despite the fact that the alga showed some sensitivity of nystatin in vitro, the mastitis failed to disappear on treatment with this agent. In the discussion, the incidence of Prototheca infection in man and animals and the appearance of infections with this facultatively pathogenic alga are reviewed.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

First case of human protothecosis in Canada: laboratory aspects.

A case of bursitis due to Prototheca wickerhamii is briefly reported. In histological sections the organism stained well with fungal stains, grey with silver methanamine and red with periodic acid Schiff reagent. This unicellular achlorophyllous alga was studied on common laboratory media. The characterization of the Prototheca sp. depends largely on wet mount microscopic examination from broth or agar cultures which ensures the observation of endosporulation and a consistent absence of budding. Otherwise the growth rate and the pasty white colonies may lead to an erroneous identification, most likely as a Cryptococcus sp. P. wickerhamii lends itself very well to standard physiological tests used for the identification of yeasts. The strain was found insensitive to 5-fluorocytosine. The MIC of amphotericin B was 0.15 microgram/ml.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Cutaneous protothecosis and AIDS.

Cutaneous protothecosis is an uncommon algal infection with a varied clinical presentation that occurs mainly in immunocompromised patients. We describe a 33-year-old Hispanic woman with AIDS who had a verrucous plaque on the dorsum of her hand. A biopsy specimen revealed organisms suggestive of Prototheca. Culture confirmed the organism to be Prototheca wickerhamii. To our knowledge, this is the first case of cutaneous protothecosis reported in a patient with AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Algal peritonitis complicating continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

A 41-year-old woman on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) presented with algal peritonitis. Prototheca wickerhamii was isolated from multiple dialysate effluent cultures. Despite treatment with amphotericin B, catheter removal was required. An attempt to reinsert a Tenckhoff catheter 3 months later was unsuccessful because of dense intraperitoneal adhesions. Prototheca sp are a rare cause of human disease, this being the first reported case of algal peritonitis complicating CAPD.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Protothecosis successfully treated with amikacin combined with tetracyclines.

Summary We report a case of protothecosis in an 18-year-old female student caused by Prototheca zopfii successfully treated with amikacin combined with tetracyclines. Zusammenfassung Es wird über eine Protothecose, verursacht durch Prototheca zopfii, bei einer 18-jährigen Studentin berichtet, die erfolgreich mit Amikacin in Kombination mit Tetracyclinen behandelt wurde.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Experimental protothecosis in labortory animals.

Attemps were made to produce protothecosis in laboratory animals by intratesticular, intraperitoneal, intravenous and subcutaneous inoculation of Prototheca zopfii, P. wickerhamii and P stagnorta. Only intratesticular injection successfully caused infection, and of the inoculated protothecae, only P. zopfii and P. wickerhamii were recovered in culture from testicular material.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Phylogenetic spectrum of fungi that are pathogenic to humans.

Recent phylogenetic studies based on ribosomal RNA sequences have confirmed that the organisms traditionally treated as fungi include those that have evolved from several different lines (multiphyletic organisms), as has been suspected. Even organisms causing disease in humans represent at least two evolutional lines. Pythium insidiosum and Prototheca species are both believed to have evolved from one line, while the rest of the pathogens have evolved from another line. P. insidiosum is more closely related to red algae and diatoms than to fungi. Prototheca species, as has been previously postulated, are closer to blue-green algae and plants than to fungi. Pythiosis and protothecosis, however, will still be dealt with by medical mycologists because of the morphological and in vivo staining characteristics of the causative organisms. Molecular genetic studies have revealed that Pneumocystis carinii can best be categorized as a fungus, although questions regarding its fungal status may remain unanswered until additional information becomes available on its life cycle, nuclear division, cell-wall chemistry, nutritional uptake pattern, and lysine biosynthetic pathway as well as the ultrastructural characteristics of its cellular components such as the Golgi complex. The phylogeny of the agents of lobomycosis and rhinosporidiosis, although they are treated as fungi, remains unknown. Although there is no in vitro culture system for Loboa loboi and Rhinosporidium seeberi at present, a molecular approach would allow us to reveal their phylogenetic relationship, and we can hope that such attempts are forthcoming.

DNA, Fungal↗
PubMed1994

Protothecosis in an HIV-positive patient.

This is the first report of localized tendosynovial human protothecosis in an HIV-positive host. The lesion appeared as a nodule in the extensor face of the thumb. A simple excision was performed, and histology confirmed numerous granulomas, some with central fibrinoid necrosis. Enormous numbers of prototheca were found in periodic acid-Schiff and Gömöri methenamine silver strains, evidencing endosporulation with diagnostic morula- or daisy-like sporangia. The presence of prototheca species was confirmed by direct immunofluorescence with the specific conjugate. The cellular response estimated by the relative number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, lymphocytes, and plasma cells was minimal, although granuloma formation was unaffected. The infective agents were found either extracellular or harbored by macrophages and giant cells.

Fluorescent Antibody Technique↗
PubMed2006

Onychoprotothecosis: report of the first case in Brazil.

The present report describes a case of onychoprotothecosis caused by Prototheca wickerhamii in a nonimmunocompromized female. Dermatological examination showed yellowish discoloration of the left and right forefinger nails, showing onicolysis and hyperkeratosis. The repeated isolation of the algae Prototheca (organisms morula-like) as well as the repeated culture in media, Sabouraud agar, confirmed the diagnosis. The patient was successfully treated with tioconazol 1% topic solution. The aim of this paper was to present a rare condition.

Brazil↗
PubMed2006

More than meets the eye: subretinal aspirate from an acutely blind dog.

A 14-year-old, spayed female Cocker Spaniel was presented to the Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at Oklahoma State University with acute loss of vision in the right eye and a history of intermittent bloody diarrhea of unknown duration. Small, white, plaque-like lesions in the retina and subretina were visualized by direct ophthalmic examination, and aspirated with ultrasound-guidance. A direct smear of the subretinal fluid was highly cellular and contained large numbers of pleomorphic organisms consistent with Prototheca sp. The structures were round, oval, or elongated, 4-6 microm width and 8-16 microm in length and surrounded by a thin, clear cell wall. Small, central, pink to purple nuclei were observed in some organisms, but in most, the nuclei were obscured by a deeply basophilic, granular cytoplasm. Some organisms contained endospores. Negatively-stained structures of similar size and shape were considered to be empty casings (theca) of ruptured sporulating and nonsporulating forms of the organism. Protothecosis usually is a disseminated, fatal disease in dogs. The Prototheca organisms observed in this case showed characteristic morphology, illustrating the ability to diagnose protothecosis in cytologic samples.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1993

Protothecosis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A rare case of protothecosis in a 40-year-old Japanese woman with systemic lupus erythematosus, under long-term prednisolone treatment is presented. The patient developed extensive ulcerative skin lesions after injury. The characteristic histopathological findings and biochemical sugar assimilation tests indicated infection by Prototheca wicherhamii. The lesions improved following treatment with amphotericin B. The immunodeficient state of this patient seemed to contribute to the infection with Prototheca.

Abscess↗
PubMed1990

[Protothecosis. A new, or rarely recognized disease?].

Two cases of infection caused by Prototheca, belonging to the colourless algae, are discussed. In one of the patients colpitis, in the other one disease of the cubital bursa developed due to Prototheca. In the first case recovery was attained with tetracyclin, in the second case with surgical treatment. Microbiology, epidemiology, pathology and clinical aspects of the insufficiently known in Hungary protothecosis are outlined.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Disseminated protothecosis in a dog.

A dog with forelimb lameness, bilateral retinal detachment, and hemorrhagic diarrhea, died. Necropsy demonstrated multifocal lesions in the skeletal musculature, myocardium, liver, thyroid glands, kidneys, eyes, and brain. Microscopically, the lesions contained numerous organisms and minimal cellular infiltrates. The morphologic and cultural characteristics of the organisms were similar to prototheca. The organisms in tissue sections reacted positively for Prototheca zopfii, using an indirect fluorescent antibody technique.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Study of the susceptibility of yeast isolates of clinical interest to five antifungal agents using the E test.

The E test is a quantitative technique for determining antimicrobial susceptibility; it is based on the diffusion of a stable predetermined gradient of a specific antifungal agent along an inert plastic strip which is applied to a solid culture medium. The E test is an alternative method for determining inhibitory concentrations of antimicrobial agents. The aim of the present study was to determine the in vitro susceptibility of different yeasts to 5 antifungal agents using the E test. The antifungal susceptibility of 87 strains, 73 of which were yeasts obtained from clinical samples, 11 were Prototheca strains and 3 controls, were examined using a gradient diffusion technique (E test). Of these isolates, 13% of Candida albicans were resistant to flucytosine, and 20%, 17% and 33% showed resistance to ketoconazole, itraconazole and fluconazole, respectively. All Candida krusei isolates showed resistance to flucytosine and fluconazole. The Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis strains all presented in vitro susceptibility to all the agents tested. Prototheca strains were only susceptible in vitro to amphotericin B. It was found that the E test was easy to perform, and provided MIC values similar to those obtained with other well documented techniques. It was therefore concluded that the E test could be implemented as a standard procedure in clinical mycology laboratories.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed2006

The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the green alga Oltmannsiellopsis viridis: evolutionary trends of the mitochondrial genome in the Ulvophyceae.

The mitochondrial genome displays a highly plastic architecture in the green algal division comprising the classes Prasinophyceae, Trebouxiophyceae, Ulvophyceae, and Chlorophyceae (Chlorophyta). The compact mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs) of Nephroselmis (Prasinophyceae) and Prototheca (Trebouxiophyceae) encode about 60 genes and have been ascribed an 'ancestral' pattern of evolution, whereas those of chlorophycean green algae are much more reduced in gene content and size. Although the mtDNA of the early-diverging ulvophyte Pseudendoclonium contains 57 conserved genes, it differs from 'ancestral' chlorophyte mtDNAs by its unusually large size (96 kb) and long intergenic spacers. To gain insights into the evolutionary trends of mtDNA in the Ulvophyceae, we have determined the complete mtDNA sequence of Oltmannsiellopsis viridis, an ulvophyte belonging to a distinct, early-diverging lineage. This 56,761 bp genome harbours 54 conserved genes, numerous repeated sequences, and only three introns. From our comparative analyses with Pseudendoclonium mtDNA, we infer that the mitochondrial genome of the last common ancestor of the two ulvophytes closely resembled that of the trebouxiophyte Prototheca in terms of gene content and gene density. Our results also provide strong evidence for the intracellular, interorganellar transfer of a group I intron and for two distinct events of intercellular, horizontal DNA transfer.

Base Pairing↗
PubMed2005

Expressed sequence tag (EST) survey of the highly adapted green algal parasite, Helicosporidium.

Helicosporidia are obligate invertebrate pathogens with a unique and highly adapted mode of infection. The evolutionary history of Helicosporidia has been uncertain, but several recent molecular phylogenetic studies have shown an unexpectedly close relationship to green algae, and specifically to the opportunistic pathogen Prototheca. To date, molecular sequences from Helicosporidia are restricted to those genes used for phylogenetic reconstruction and genes related to the existence and function of its cryptic plastid. We have therefore conducted a small expressed sequence tag (EST) project on Helicosporidium sp., yielding about 700 unique sequences. We have examined the functional distribution of known genes, the distribution of EST abundance, and the prevalence of previously unknown gene sequences. To demonstrate the potential utility of large amounts of data, we have used ribosomal proteins to test whether the phylogenetic position of Helicosporidium inferred from a small number of genes is broadly supported by a large number of genes. We conducted phylogenetic analyses on 69 ribosomal proteins and found that 98% supported the green algal origin of Helicosporidia and 80% support a specific relationship with Prototheca. Overall, these data multiply the available molecular information from Helicosporidium 100-fold, which should provide the basis for new insights into these unusual but interesting parasites.

Chlorophyta↗
PubMed1990

Sterol phylogenesis and algal evolution.

The stereochemistry of several sterol precursors and end products synthesized by two fungal-like micro-organisms Prototheca wickerhamii (I) and Dictyostelium discoideum (II) have been determined by chromatographic (TLC, GLC, and HPLC) and spectral (UV, MS, and 1H NMR) methods. From I and II the following sterols were isolated from the cells: cycloartenol, cyclolaudenol, 24(28)-methylenecycloartanol, ergosterol, protothecasterol, 4alpha-methylergostanol, 4alpha-methylclionastanol, clionastanol, 24beta-ethylcholesta-8,22-enol, and dictyosterol. In addition, the mechanism of C-24 methylation was investigated in both organisms by feeding to I [2-3H]lanosterol, [2-3H]cycloartenol, [24-3H]lanosterol, and [methyl-2H3]methionine and by feeding to II [methyl-2H3]methionine. The results demonstrate that the 24beta configuration is formed by different alkylation routes in I and II. The Delta25(27) route operates in I while the Delta24(28) route operates in II. Based on what is known in the literature regarding sterol distribution and phylogenesis together with our findings that the stereochemical outcome of squalene oxide cyclization leads to the production of cycloartenol rather than lanosterol (characteristic of the fungal genealogy) and the chirality of the C-24 alkyl group is similar in the two nonphotosynthetic microbes (beta oriented), we conclude that Prototheca is an apoplastic Chlorella (i.e., an alga) and that Dictyostelium as well as the other soil amoebae that synthesize cycloartenol evolved from algal rather than fungal ancestors.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1977

Protothecosis of Atlantic salmon.

The organism causing sporadic outbreaks of a visceral disease of salmon parr in fresh water stocks of a fish farm was identified by histological examination as a Prototheca species. Cultures confirmed the diagnosis and the organism, which does not conform to the characteristics of known Prototheca spp., is described as a new species Prothotheca salmonis.

Animals↗