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PubMed1999

Rapid identification of clinically relevant Nocardia species to genus level by 16S rRNA gene PCR.

Two regions of the gene coding for 16S rRNA in Nocardia species were selected as genus-specific primer sequences for a PCR assay. The PCR protocol was tested with 60 strains of clinically relevant Nocardia isolates and type strains. It gave positive results for all strains tested. Conversely, the PCR assay was negative for all tested species belonging to the most closely related genera, including Dietzia, Gordona, Mycobacterium, Rhodococcus, Streptomyces, and Tsukamurella. Besides, unlike the latter group of isolates, all Nocardia strains exhibited one MlnI recognition site but no SacI restriction site. This assay offers a specific and rapid alternative to chemotaxonomic methods for the identification of Nocardia spp. isolated from pathogenic samples.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed2006

Use of PCR-restriction enzyme pattern analysis and sequencing database for hsp65 gene-based identification of Nocardia species.

Nocardia identification required laborious and time-consuming phenotypic and chemotaxonomic methods until molecular methods were developed in the mid-1990s. Here we reassessed the capacity of PCR-restriction enzyme pattern analysis (PRA) of the hsp65 gene to differentiate Nocardia species, including 36 new species. Our results confirm that hsp65 PRA must no longer be used for Nocardia species identification, as many species have the same restriction pattern. We then compared sequencing-based strategies using an hsp65 database and a 16S rRNA database and found that the hsp65 region contained sufficient polymorphisms for comprehensive Nocardia species identification.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Structural studies of the cell wall polysaccharide of Nocardia asteroides R 399.

As with other bacteria belonging to the corynebacteria, mycobacteria, and nocardia group, Nocardia possess in their cell walls a neutral polysaccharide. Structural analysis of the cell wall polysaccharide of Nocardia asteroides R 399 was undertaken. The carbohydrate polymer contained D-arabinose and D-galactose as in mycobacteria. Besides these two carbohydrates we pointed out the occurrence of two additional components: D-glucose and a polyol. This polyol, because of its small amount and its uneasy detection, had been for a long time ignored. It has been proven to be the 6-deoxy-D-altritol or 1-deoxy-D-talitol. The polymer consists of a main strand composed of----5 Araf 1----and----4Galp1----or----5Galf1----; oligoarabinosyl side chains were localized on C3 of an arabinosyl residue. Other shorter ramifications also occur on some galactosyl units. A characterization of the linkage between polysaccharide and peptidoglycan inside the cell wall has also been carried out. The two polymers are joined by a phosphodiester bond which involves 6-deoxyaltritol. As some corynebacteria previously analyzed were also shown to contain mannose (and sometimes glucose), we can conclude that the main skeleton of cell wall polysaccharides of the corynebacteria, mycobacteria, and nocardia group of bacteria is an arabinogalactan; however, individual structural features of the polysaccharide are varying according to the bacterial species. These results might be connected with variations that were observed in immunological analysis.

Arabinose↗
PubMed2000

Nocardia infection of a joint prosthesis complicating systemic lupus erythematosus.

The authors report the case of a 43-year-old woman suffering from severe systemic lupus erythematosus treated with long-term prednisone, who developed Nocardia nova infection on a hip prosthesis. Sepsis occurred about two years after an episode of pulmonary nocardiosis with the same Nocardia species, that was successfully treated by 12 months of antibiotics. A good outcome of the joint infection was observed in response to antibiotics and removal of the prosthesis. Nocardiosis is a rare infection, acting as an opportunistic infection, facilitated in the present case by systemic lupus erythematosus and chronic corticosteroid therapy. Nocardia infections mainly affect the lungs, skin and central nervous system; these last two sites are mostly due to haematogenous spread, a frequent event. Treatment is based on antibiotics, usually continued for 3-12 months, especially because of the risk of relapse. The imipenem-amikacin combination appears to be more effective than trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of Nocardia nova joint prosthesis infection also presenting as late septic spread of pulmonary nocardiosis, complicating corticosteroid-treated systemic lupus erythematosus.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1998

Granuloma formation and in vitro macrophage activation in mice by mycoloyl glycolipids from Nocardia asteroides and related taxa.

Cord factor (trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate: TDM) is a well-known toxic glycolipid in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We isolated various mycoloyl glycolipids from Nocardia asteroides 23,167 and related species which are closely related taxonomically to Mycobacterium. Since Nocardia is also an opportunistic pathogen co-infected with HIV, we examined in vivo granuloma formation and the in vitro macrophage activation in mice. We found that cord factor (TDM) and glucose monomycolate (GM) from Nocardia asteroides and Rhodococcus species with shorter chain mycolic acids also exhibited distinctive granuloma-forming activity in lungs, spleen and liver in mice and in vitro induction of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interleukin 1 (IL-1) synthesis. We also found that mycoloyl glycolipids possessing trehalose or glucose as a carbohydrate moiety exhibited immunomodulatory activity, and that mycoloyl glycolipids with longer chain mycolic acids exhibited stronger activity in mice than did those with shorter chain mycolic acids. The mycoloyl glycolipids from Nocardia asteroides directly activated macrophages. Stimulation of above concentration with 0.16 microgram/ml of TDM or 0.8 microgram/ml of GM markedly enhanced production of PGE2 by mouse peritoneal macrophages. At higher concentrations above 100 micrograms/ml of TDM or 500 micrograms/ml of GM, IL-1 release was also enhanced.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

[Pulmonary Nocardia otitidis-caviarum infection in a patient with Cushing's disease].

While Nocardial infections are being diagnosed with increasing frequency, infection with Nocardia otitidiscaviarum remains relatively uncommon. We report a case of pulmonary Nocardia otitidis-caviarum infection in a 35-year-old man with Cushing's disease. This work describes the first case of nocardiosis in Japan caused by Nocardia otitidis-caviarum in Cushing's disease. The patient was admitted to our department because of edema. A diagnosis of Cushing's disease was made on the basis of elevated serum levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and pituitary adenoma was found in a cranial CT scan. One month after admission, chest radiographs showed a large bilateral mass on the lung fields. Nocardia otitidis-caviarum was isolated from the sputum. The patient responded poorly to intravenous PAPM/BP, but later improved after treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, but he died of heart failure and respiratory failure after the initiation of this therapy. This case demonstrated that nocardiosis must be considered in differential diagnosis as an opportunistic infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Primary Nocardia osteomyelitis as a presentation of AIDS.

Human infection with Nocardia species presents as a wide range of clinical syndromes. Nocardia is an important opportunistic pathogen in immunocom-promised patients. We report a case of primary Nocardia asteroides osteomyelitis as the initial clinical presentation of AIDS. The infection was successfully treated with a prolonged course of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in conjunction with HAART. Nocardia osteomyelitis should be recognized as an unusual but important and treatable opportunistic infection in patients living with HIV infection.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2004

Venous access port-related nocardia bacteremia with successful short-term antibiotics treatment.

Nocardia infection occurs primarily among patients with deficient cell-mediated immunity. The portal of entry in the majority of patients with Nocardia infection is pulmonary origin. Central venous catheter-associated bacteremia caused by Nocardia species is very rare, and the optimal management for these situations was indeterminate. Most patients were cured after discontinuation of central venous catheter and prolonged antibiotics use. Thereafter, we reported an 18-year-old male who received chemotherapy for his nasal rhabdomyosarcoma had central venous catheter-associated N. asteroids bacteremia. The outcome was satisfying after discontinuation of central venous catheter followed by short-term antibiotics. Conclusively, prolonged antibiotics may not be necessary in catheter-associated Nocardia bacteremia without distant metastatic site after removal of catheter.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Macrophage involvement in the antitumoral effect of Nocardia-delipidated cell mitogen (NDCM).

Several immunomodulatory fractions derived from Nocardia have been found to inhibit the growth of several experimental tumors, including Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL). An involvement of both macrophages and lymphocytes in the antitumoral effect of Nocardia fractions has been suggested. The mechanism of the Nocardia delipidated Cell Mitogen (NDCM)-induced tumor-inhibiting effect was investigated further in the present study. Macrophages activated by NDCM exerted a cytotoxic effect on 3LL cells in vitro, indicating a direct influence of macrophages on the tumor cells. These results correlate with previous findings which showed a local accumulation of macrophages (but also lymphocytes) at the tumor site in NDCM-treated mice. In tumor-bearing mice--both treated and non-treated with NDCM--a splenomegaly due to a pronounced extramedullary hematopoiesis was seen. Concomitant with the gradual evolution of the extramedullary hematopoiesis in the red pulp, a depletion in white pulp component was observed, more pronounced in the control 3LL-bearing mice than in the 3LL-inoculated NDCM-treated animals. The disappearance of the lymphatic follicles in 3LL-bearing mice may be responsible for the failure to cope with the tumor. It is therefore possible that by delaying white pulp depletion, NDCM favors a better host defense against the tumor. Examination of lungs in 3LL-bearing mice treated by NDCM showed a rich infiltration of macrophages in the vicinity of isolated tumor cells, probably indicating a defensive role of NDCM-activated macrophages against metastatic spread of the tumor. Although the macrophage appears to be of major importance in the NDCM-induced host response against the tumor, other components of the immune system are probably system are probably also activated by the Nocardia fraction in defense against the neoplasm.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Stimulation of sea star Asterias rubens axial organ B-like cells by Nocardia-delipidated cell mitogen and derived fractions.

The axial organ (AO-cells) of the starfish Asterias rubens is a primitive immune organ. The total population was fractionated into two populations: adherent (B-like) and non-adherent (T-like) to nylon wool. Nocardia-delipidated cell mitogen (NDCM), Nocardia water soluble mitogen (NWSM), NWSM-pellet (NWSMP) and purified cell walls (CW) from Nocardia opaca induce the proliferation of B-like cells from the axial organ. The Nocardia immunomodulators studied are inactive on the total and T-like population. The mitogenic activity of B-like cells requires the presence of phagocytic cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Sensitivity to capreomycin and prothionamide in strains of Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, and related taxa for taxonomical purposes.

Sensitivity to capreomycin and to prothionamide was analysed for 150 strains belonging to the genera Mycobacterium, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, and related taxa. The analyses showed, e.g., that strains of Mycobacterium chelonei and Nocardia brasiliensis were more resistant to capreomycin than the other strains tested and that M. farcinogenes differed from M. senegalense concerning sensitivity to this drug. The analysis showed, furthermore, that strains of Mycobacterium differ from those of Nocardia, Rhodococcus, "Mycobacterium album", and "Gordona aurantiaca" in being more sensitive to prothionamide than these organisms. Strains designated N. amarae were more sensitive to both drugs than were the other tested strains of Nocardia, which indicates that N. amarae diverges from the other species of this genus.

Capreomycin↗
PubMed1982

[Sporotrichoid infection caused by Nocardia brasiliensis].

A few days after a spine of one of his indoor cacti had pricked the fourth finger of his left hand, a 56-year-old man developed multiple inflammatory suppurating nodules and infiltrates and a cord-like lymphangitis on the left forearm and upper arm. Nocardia brasiliensis was cultivated from aspirated pus. Subsequently, both Nocardia brasiliensis and Nocardia asteroides were isolated from the cactus earth. This is the first report of an infection by Nocardia brasiliensis acquired in Germany.

Arm↗
PubMed1993

Immunomodulatory activities of Nocardia opaca.

Nocardia lysozyme digest (NLD), a particulate fraction from Nocardia opaca, is able to induce antitumor activity to SaL-1 tumor cells (lung sarcoma) in Balb/c mice. In mice immunized with NLD inhibition of tumor growth and prolonged survival of tumor bearing animals was observed. Macrophages isolated from peritoneal cavity and stimulated with NLD release a few arachidonic acid metabolites, mostly PGE 2. Macrophages from tumor bearing mice are more sensitive to Nocardia antigens than normal. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments have documented that Nocardia is an active immunomodulator.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗
PubMed1994

Pneumonia caused by Nocardia species.

There are nine species of Nocardia. Nocardia asteroides accounts for 80% of infections caused by this organism in man. N brasiliensis causes 3% to 9% of these infections, and N farcinica is being recognized with increasing frequency. We present three cases of Nocardia pneumonia two of which were caused by N asteroides and one was caused by N farcinica. These cases illustrate the diverse nature of nocardiosis and show that sometimes it is difficult to determine whether the Nocardia was community- or nosocomially-acquired.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Chemotaxonomic characteristics of bacteria belonging to the genus Nocardia isolated from Ukrainian SSR soils].

From soils of the Ukrainian SSR bearing oil and without it, 241 strains of Nocardia were isolated on mineral media containing n-alkanes C12-C22. The strains were divided into two groups: actinoid (N. asteroides, N. flavescens) and bacterium-like (N. rubropertincta, N. flava, N. ucrainica, N. salmonicolor, N. rubra, N. erythropolis, Nocardia ssp). Chemotaxonomic characteristics (the presence in the cells of galactose, arabinose, mesodiaminopimelic acid, lipid LCN-A) were used to differentiate Nocardia from other genera of actinomycetes and coryneforms and to confirm the taxonomy of museum strains. The majority of the Nocardia cultures belongs to the groups "asteroides" and "rhodochrous" according to location of spots of lipid LCN-A on chromatograms. The strains of N. asteroides and complex "M." rhodochrous may belong to both groups. A small number of strains belongs to the group which is represented by N. calcarea 41 (NCIB 8863).

Actinomycetales↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Accumulation in the medium and properties of proteolytic enzymes formed by Nocardia minima].

The accumulation dynamics of extracellular proteinases with plasmin-like and activatory mechanisms of action (belonging to the subtilisin family of the class of serine proteases and to the class of metallo-proteinases, respectively) were followed during the course of growth of Nocardia minima, strain 1. The sequence of the appearance of extracellular proteinases and their activity at various growth phases of the producer suggest their participation in the processes of the morphophysiological transformations accompanying the transition from mycelium to rods and from rods to cocci. The proteinases produced by Nocardia showed specificity to either human or bovine blood fibrin. The specific pattern of Nocardia minima proteinases (absence of chymotrypsin-like enzymes typical of streptomycetes, presence of metalloproteinases typical of bacilli) and the distinctive features of Nocardia minima subtilisins distinguishing them from subtilisins of bacilli and streptomycetes agree well with the intermediate taxonomic position of N. minima.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1977

A method for determining in-vitro drug susceptibilities of some Nocardiae and Actinomadurae: results with 17 antimicrobial agents.

A simple timesaving method for determining drug susceptibilities in vitro of isolates of Nocardia and Actinomadura is reported. An isolate is considered "susceptible" when the quantity of drug required for inhibition of growth is that concentration which might be obtained in serum by conventional therapy. Sulfonamides remain the drugs of choice for treating disease due to Nocardia species. Although doxycycline and minocycline appear to be very effective against Nocardia species, susceptibility testing may be desirable when a physician is considering substitution of an antibiotic for a sulfonamide. Susceptibility testing also may be desired before a drug is selected for treating disease due to Actinomadura madurae.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1997

Rapid identification of clinically significant species and taxa of aerobic actinomycetes, including Actinomadura, Gordona, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, Streptomyces, and Tsukamurella isolates, by DNA amplification and restriction endonuclease analysis.

A previously described PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) identification schema for Nocardia that used an amplified 439-bp segment (amplicon) of the 65-kDa heat shock protein gene was evaluated for potential use with isolates of all clinically significant aerobic actinomycetes. The study included 28 reference (American Type Culture Collection) strains and 198 clinical isolates belonging to 20 taxonomic groups. Of these 198 isolates, 188 could be differentiated by this PCR-RFLP method. Amplicons from all aerobic actinomycete isolates lacked BstEII recognition sites, thereby distinguishing them from those of mycobacteria that contain one or more such sites. Of 29 restriction endonucleases, MspI plus HinfI produced RFLP patterns that differentiated 16 of the 20 taxa. A single RFLP pattern was observed for 15 of 20 taxa that included 65% of phenotypically clustered isolates. Multiple patterns were seen with Gordona bronchialis, Nocardia asteroides complex type VI, Nocardia otitidiscaviarum, Nocardia transvalensis, and Streptomyces spp. Streptomyces RFLP patterns were the most heterogeneous (five patterns among 19 isolates), but exhibited a unique HinfI fragment of > 320 bp. RFLP patterns that matched those from type strains of Streptomyces albus, Streptomyces griseus, or Streptomyces somaliensis were obtained from 14 of 19 Streptomyces isolates. Only 10 of 28 isolates of N. otitidiscaviarum failed to yield satisfactory amplicons, while only 6 of 188 (3.2%) clinical isolates exhibited patterns that failed to match one of the 21 defined RFLP patterns. These studies extended the feasibility of using PCR-RFLP analysis as a rapid method for the identification of all clinically significant species and taxa of aerobic actinomycetes.

Actinomyces↗