Publications
Subcutaneous granulomatous inflammation due to basidiobolomycosis Institute of Tropical Medicine
Background: Basidiobolomycosis is a rare subcutaneous mycosis, which can be mistaken for several other diseases, such as soft tissue tumors, lymphoma, or Buruli ulcer in the preulcerative stage. Microbiological confirmation by PCR forBasidiobolus ranarumand culture yield the most specific diagnosis, yet they are not widely available in endemic areas and with varying sensitivity. A combination of histopathological findings, namely, ...
Characterization of Mycobacterium chelonae-like strains by comparative genomics Institute of Tropical Medicine
Isolates of the Mycobacterium chelonae-M. abscessus complex are subdivided into four clusters (CHI to CHIV) in the INNO-LiPA (R) Mycobacterium spp DNA strip assay. A considerable phenotypic variability was observed among isolates of the CHII cluster. In this study, we examined the diversity of 26 CHII cluster isolates by phenotypic analysis, drug susceptibility testing, whole genome sequencing and single-gene analysis. Pairwise genome ...
Multiple introductions and recent spread of the emerging human pathogen Mycobacterium ulcerans across Africa Institute of Tropical Medicine
Buruli ulcer (BU) is an insidious neglected tropical disease. Cases are reported around the world but the rural regions of West and Central Africa are most affected. How BU is transmitted and spreads has remained a mystery, even though the causative agent, Mycobacterium ulcerans, has been known for more than 70 years. Here, using the tools of population genomics, we reconstruct the evolutionary history of M. ulcerans by comparing 165 isolates ...
Persistence of Mycobacterium ulcerans disease (buruli ulcer) in the historical foci of Kongo Central Province, The Democratic Republic of Congo Institute of Tropical Medicine
Bacterial diversity in Buruli ulcer skin lesions Institute of Tropical Medicine
BACKGROUND: Buruli ulcer (BU) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans and considered the third most prevalent mycobacterial disease in humans. Secondary bacterial infections in open BU lesions are the main cause of pain, delayed healing and systemic illness, resulting in prolonged hospital stay. Thus, understanding the diversity of bacteria, termed the microbiome, in these open lesions is important for proper treatment. ...
Twenty years of global surveillance of antituberculosis-drug resistance Institute of Tropical Medicine
Nuevas herramientas para la detección de resistencia a la amikacina en Mycobacterium tuberculosis Institute of Tropical Medicine
hsp65 PCR-restriction analysis (PRA) with capillary electrophoresis for species identification and differentiation of Mycobacterium kansasii and Mycobacterium chelonae-Mycobacterium abscessus group Institute of Tropical Medicine
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to identify and differentiate Mycobacterium kansasii and Mycobacterium chelonae-Mycobacterium abscessus group strains isolated from clinical and environmental sources in different countries. METHODS: PCR-restriction analysis of the hsp65 gene (PRA) with automated capillary electrophoresis was applied to the isolates previously identified by conventional biochemical testing and the molecular INNO-LiPA ...
Effect of a control project on clinical profiles and outcomes in Buruli ulcer: a before/after study in Bas-Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo Institute of Tropical Medicine
BACKGROUND: Buruli ulcer (BU) is a necrotizing bacterial infection of skin, subcutaneous tissue and bone caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Although the functional impairment caused by BU results in severe suffering and in socio-economic problems, the disease remains largely neglected in Africa. The province of Bas-Congo in Democratic Republic of Congo contains one of the most important BU foci of the country, i.e. the Songololo Territory in the ...