Isolation and Characterization of an Atypical Metschnikowia sp. Strain from the Skin Scraping of a Dermatitis Patient.
A yeast-like organism was isolated from the skin scraping sample of a stasis dermatitis patient in the Mycology Unit Department of Medical Microbiology, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The isolate produced no pigment and was not identifiable using chromogenic agar and API 20C AUX. The fungus was identified as Metschnikowia sp. strain UM 1034, which is close to that of Metschnikowia drosophilae based on ITS- and D1/D2 domain-based phylogenetic analysis. However, the physiology of the strain was not associated to M. drosophilae. This pathogen exhibited low sensitivity to all tested azoles, echinocandins, 5-flucytosine and amphotericin B. This study provided insight into Metschnikowia sp. strain UM 1034 phenotype profiles using a Biolog phenotypic microarray (PM). The isolate utilized 373 nutrients of 760 nutrient sources and could adapt to a broad range of osmotic and pH environments. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation of Metschnikowia non-pulcherrima sp. from skin scraping, revealing this rare yeast species as a potential human pathogen that may be misidentified as Candida sp. using conventional methods. Metschnikowia sp. strain UM 1034 can survive in flexible and diverse environments with a generalist lifestyle.
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Chee Sian
CS
Kuan
Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Rokiah
R
Ismail
Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Zhenli
Z
Kwan
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Su Mei
SM
Yew
School of Biosciences, Taylor's University Lakeside Campus, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
Siok Koon
SK
Yeo
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Chai Ling
CL
Chan
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Yue Fen
YF
Toh
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Shiang Ling
SL
Na
Codon Genomics SB, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
Kok Wei
KW
Lee
Codon Genomics SB, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
Chee-Choong
CC
Hoh
Codon Genomics SB, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
Wai-Yan
WY
Yee
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Kee Peng
KP
Ng
D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055163:Metschnikowia / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D009181:Mycoses / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D010858:Pigmentation; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal