Project description:Investigation of whole genome gene expression level changes in Lodderomyces elongisporus NRRL YB-4239 grown aerobically in xylose, compared to the same strain grown aerobically in glucose. A six array study using total RNA recovered from three separate cultures of Lodderomyces elongisporus NRRL YB-4239 grown in glucose and three separate cultures of Lodderomyces elongisporus NRRL YB-4239 grown in xylose. Each array measures the expression level of 371,451 probes (average probe length 54.1 +/- 4.1 nt) tiled across the Lodderomyces elongisporus NRRL YB-4239 genome with a median spacing distance of 33 nt. During data processing, probes are filtered to include only those probes corresponding to annotated protein-coding genes.
Project description:Investigation of whole genome gene expression level changes in Lodderomyces elongisporus NRRL YB-4239 grown aerobically in xylose, compared to the same strain grown aerobically in glucose.
Project description:The true clinical significance of Lodderomyces elongisporus remains underestimated as a result of problems associated with its identification by the VITEK 2 yeast identification system. Here we describe a case of L. elongisporus primary progressive fungaemia in a woman with no known risk factors for invasive fungal infections. The isolate was identified by PCR sequencing of the internally transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA. Despite treatment with caspofungin, the patient died within 3 days of onset of fungaemia. Our literature review highlights this organism's emerging role as a bloodstream pathogen. A need for application of molecular methods for its accurate identification is emphasized.
Project description:Many rare yeasts are emerging as pathogens, causing invasive infections in susceptible hosts that are associated with poor clinical outcome. Here, we describe the first and fatal case of Lodderomyces elongisporus fungemia in a premature, extremely low-birth-weight neonate after spontaneous vaginal delivery. The bloodstream isolate was identified as C. parapsilosis by the VITEK 2 yeast identification system and as L. elongisporus by PCR-sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA. Antifungal susceptibility testing data for the isolate, performed by the broth microdilution-based MICRONAUT-AM assay, showed susceptibility to all nine antifungal drugs tested. Despite the initiation of treatment with liposomal amphotericin B, the patient died on the same day that the blood culture yielded yeast growth. This is the first report of L. elongisporus bloodstream infection in a neonate as the previous nine cases reported in the literature occurred in adult patients. The crude mortality rate for invasive L. elongisporus infection is 50%, as only 5 of 10 patients survived.