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Identifying Dysregulated Genes Induced by Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus (KSHV)
07:02

Identifying Dysregulated Genes Induced by Kaposi's Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus (KSHV)

Published on: September 14, 2010

Electron microscopy reveals fungal cells within tumor tissue from two African patients with AIDS-associated Kaposi

Karl-Horst Marquart1

  • 1Institute of Molecular Virology, GSF-National Research Center for Environment and Health, Neuherberg, Germany. wenched@ulrik.uio.no

Ultrastructural Pathology
|July 11, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Fungal cells resembling Candida albicans were found in Kaposi sarcoma lesions of two AIDS patients. This suggests an early, asymptomatic cutaneous candidiasis stage in immunocompromised individuals.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Immunology
  • Dermatology

Background:

  • Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is an opportunistic malignancy common in individuals with advanced HIV/AIDS.
  • Severely immunocompromised patients are susceptible to various opportunistic infections.

Observation:

  • Electron microscopy of KS skin lesions from two African AIDS patients revealed fungal cells.
  • These fungal cells exhibited a triple-layered cell wall and lacked encapsulation.
  • The ultrastructure of the observed cells was consistent with Candida albicans.

Findings:

  • Candida albicans was identified within the tumor tissue of Kaposi sarcoma lesions.
  • No clinical signs of systemic fungal infection were present in either patient.
  • The presence of Candida albicans in KS lesions indicates an early, asymptomatic cutaneous candidiasis.

Implications:

  • This finding highlights a potential co-infection in immunocompromised patients with Kaposi sarcoma.
  • Early, asymptomatic cutaneous candidiasis may be a marker in severely immunocompromised individuals.
  • Further research is needed to understand the interaction between Candida albicans and Kaposi sarcoma in AIDS patients.

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