Germanistikstudium in Marokko – Probleme und Perspektiven

In many African countries, German Studies has recently come under increasing pressure. In view of the globalization of economic and cultural processes, as well as the wider acceptance of French and English, German Studies finds itself in growing competition. This is also true in Morocco. In this context, as elsewhere, it has become essential to seek alternatives and to become innovative. Thus the traditional DaF (German as a foreign language) also has to redefine its roll. In this paper the author presents a professionally oriented course consisting of three modules: (1) business German, (2) German for tourism, and (3) intercultural communication. In addition, the general conditions under which such modules are to be introduced will be discussed.Keywords: German language and literature studies, German for business, German for tourism, intercultural communicationSchlüsselbegriffe: Germanistikstudium, Wirtschaftsdeutsch, Deutsch für den Tourismus, interkulturelle Kommunikatio

Scedosporium and Pseudallescheria low molecular weight metabolites revealed by database search

The potential of mMass software search tool with new compound libraries was demonstrated on metabolomics of Scedosporium prolificans, S. apiospermum and Pseudallescheria boydii sensu stricto. Cyclic peptides pseudacyclins, small molecular weight tyroscherin analogues and various lipids were annotated by open source mass spectometry tool utilising accurate matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectral data of intact fungal spores. Electrospray ionisation combined with tandem mass spectrometry was used for monohexosylceramide characterisation in fungal extracts

Epidemiology of airway colonization by Scedosporium apiospermum during cystic fibrosis

With a frequency of about 10%, species of the Scedosporium apiospermum complex (which comprises at least five distinct species with different antifungal susceptibility patterns) rank the second among the filamentous fungi colonizing the airways in cystic fibrosis (CF). Additionally, it is clearly established that these fungi may disseminate in case of immunodeficiency and that a chronic colonization of the airways by these pathogens may hinder the success of lung transplantation. In this study, we develop a new genotyping method to investigate the epidemiology of the airway colonization by these fungi. 63 multiple and sequential isolates of S. apiospermum collected from 9 CF patients, and selected among those previously studied by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), were analyzed using the automated typing system DiversiLab (bioMérieux) based on PCR amplification of repetitive sequences. The DiversiLab Aspergillus rep-PCR kit which uses specific primers designed for Aspergillus fumigatus, was compared with the pan-fungus DiversiLab Fungal kit. Amplification products were separated by capillary electrophoresis on Agilent B2100 bioanalyzer, leading to single profiles for each isolate which were then compared using the DiversiLab software. In addition, species identification of these isolates was clarified by sequencing the betatubulin gene. Results obtained with both kits were comparable. Nevertheless, differentiation was easier using the DiversiLab Fungal kit. Additionally, rep-PCR usually confirmed the colonization patterns described by RAPD. Only two patients showed distinct genotypes. For Patient 2, two isolates were analyzed which were undistinguishable by RAPD, but rep-PCR revealed that they belonged to distinct genotypes, suggesting a transient colonization. For Patient 8 which showed by RAPD two distinct genotypes, 5 genotypes were found by rep-PCR with a dominant one represented by 5 isolates and two very close genotypes (corresponding to 3 isolates), while 4 other isolates belonged to two distant genotypes. In conclusion, the automated typing system DiversiLab proved to be an easy and efficient method to investigate the molecular epidemiology of the airway colonization by S. apiospermum in CF. Our results also confirm the capacity of the different species from the S. apiospermum complex to chronically colonize the airways of CF patients

Different colonization patterns of Aspergillus terreus in patients with cystic fibrosis

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are at high risk of colonization of the respiratory tract by filamentous fungi, mainly Aspergillus fumigatus, but also other Aspergillus species including A. terreus. In our experience, this last fungus ranks the third among the filamentous fungi colonizing the respiratory tract of CF patients. Additionally, although uncommon, infections caused by A. terreus present a high mortality rate due to its usually low susceptibility to systemic antifungals. The recent development of a microsatellite typing system allowed us to investigate the molecular epidemiology of the airway colonization by this fungus in CF. Nine short tandem repeats of A. terreus were used to genotype multiple and sequential isolates from sputum samples from CF patients followed-up in Angers and Giens hospitals (France). Sputum samples were collected over a 2 month to 7 year period, and for each sample, all the obtained isolates were studied, with a maximum of five per sample. Thus a total of 122 isolates was studied, corresponding to 47 samples collected from 5 distinct patients. Three colonization patterns were observed. The first one consisted of a chronic colonization (presence of the same genotype in at least two successive samples collected over a minimum period of two months) by a largely dominant genotype associated with two or three other genotypes found occasionally (patient 1) or over a short period (patient 2). The second pattern consisted of a chronic colonization by two distinct genotypes simultaneously detected (patients 3 and 4). For the last patient (patient 5), 16 isolates recovered from 6 sputum samples collected during four years were analyzed, corresponding to 8 distinct genotypes which succeeded to each other. Numerous questions rise from these different colonization patterns, relatively uncommon environmental fungus; and (ii) differences between genotypes in their ability to chronically colonize the airways of the CF patients or differences between CF patients in their individual susceptibility to same genotypes. Strikingly, some genotypes shared by some patients were responsible for a chronic colonization in some patients while they rapidly disappear in other patients. A multicenter study should be conducted combining genetic study of the host and genotyping of fungal isolates, searching for predisposing factors to the airway colonization by A. terreus

Proposed nomenclature for Pseudallescheria, Scedosporium and related genera

As a result of fundamental changes in the International Code of Nomenclature on the use of separate names for sexual and asexual stages of fungi, generic names of many groups should be reconsidered. Members of the ECMM/ISHAM working group on Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium infections herein advocate a novel nomenclature for genera and species in Pseudallescheria, Scedosporium and allied taxa. The generic names Parascedosporium, Lomentospora, Petriella, Petriellopsis, and Scedosporium are proposed for a lineage within Microascaceae with mostly Scedosporium anamorphs producing slimy, annellidic conidia. Considering that Scedosporium has priority over Pseudallescheria and that Scedosporium prolificans is phylogenetically distinct from the other Scedosporium species, some name changes are proposed. Pseudallescheria minutispora and Petriellidium desertorum are renamed as Scedosporium minutisporum and S. desertorum, respectively. Scedosporium prolificans is renamed as Lomentospora prolificans

Ecology of Scedosporium Species: Present Knowledge and Future Research

The genus Scedosporium, which comprises at least five clinically relevant species, i.e. Scedosporium apiospermum, Scedosporium boydii, Scedosporium aurantiacum, Scedosporium dehoogii and Scedosporium minutisporum, ranks the second among the filamentous fungi colonizing the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). This colonization of the airways is thought to contribute to the inflammatory reaction leading to a progressive deterioration of the lung function. Additionally, these colonizing fungi may lead to severe disseminated infections in case of lung transplantation. Therefore, considering the low susceptibility of Scedosporium species to all current antifungal drugs, preventive measures should be defined to reduce the risk of exposure to these fungi for non-colonized CF patients. With this in mind, several studies have been conducted to elucidate the ecology of these fungi and to define possible sources of patient contamination. This review will summarize the major outcomes of those studies, including: the clear demonstration that ecological niches of Scedosporium species are strongly impacted by human activities, and the ability of Scedosporium species to degrade aliphatic and aromatic pollutants which supports the high occurrence of these species in contaminated soils and polluted waters and makes them promising candidates for bioremediation purposes. Finally, prospects for future research in this field are proposed