We describe the case of an elderly woman who acquired a Mycobacterium marinum infection following skin exposure to the bacteria through a small wound on her right ring finger, obtained while preparing fish. The resultant sporotrichoid nodules of the right hand and the distal forearm, refractory to the initial therapy with doxycycline and rifampicin, were successfully treated with oral regimen o...

Israeli Mycobacterium marinum isolates from humans and fish were compared by direct sequencing of the 16S rRNA and hsp65 genes, restriction mapping, and amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis. Significant molecular differences separated all clinical isolates from the piscine isolates, ruling out the local aquaculture industry as the source of human infections.

The susceptibility pattern of Mycobacterium marinum was determined. Quinupristin-dalfopristin and telithromycin were less active than clarithromycin. Linezolid showed good antimicrobial activity at clinically achievable concentrations. Gatifloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin displayed activities similar to those of ciprofloxacin. Gemifloxacin was less active. The Etest method showed variab...

Background: Various cell surface proteins of pathogenic mycobacteria have been implicated in virulence. Results: A screen for secretion defects of specific cell surface proteins in Mycobacterium marinum identified predominantly lipooligosaccharide (LOS) biosynthesis mutants. Conclusion: Defects in LOS biosynthesis alter the release of cell surface proteins. Significance: Ten novel genes are des...

In this study, we show that about 20% of the septating Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium xenopi cells in the exponential phase populationdivideasymmetrically, with an unusually high deviation (17 ± 4%) in the division site from the median, to generate short cells and long cells, thereby generating population heterogeneity. This mode of division is very different from the symmetric divis...

Deletion of Mycobacterium marinum MMAR2333 resulted in the loss of three of four subclasses of lipooligosaccharides (LOSs). The mutant was unable to extend an intermediate (LOS-II*) by addition of caryophyllose. These data and the predicted domain structure suggest that MMAR2333 is a glycosyltransferase involved in the generation of a lipid-linked caryophyllose donor.

A case of Mycobacterium marinum infection presenting with a sporotrichoid spread in a HIV positive Chinese male is presented. The patient responded to oral cotrimoxazole treatment. A brief review of the literature concerning atypical mycobacterial infection presenting in such a fashion is discussed.