The ability to form biofilms in a variety of environments is a common trait of bacteria, and may represent one of the earliest defenses against predation. Biofilms are multicellular communities usually held together by a polymeric matrix, ranging from capsular material to cell lysate. In a structure that imposes diffusion limits, environmental microgradients arise to which individual bacteria a...

of antimycobacterial drugs that are also effective against M. avium complex (4). In 2 studies that evaluated the effect of adjunctive IL-2 therapy in addition to ART for previously treatment-naive patients with HIV infection, baseline median numbers of circulating CD4+ cells increased significantly, but expansion of CD4+ T cells was not associated with the reduction in the risk for opportunisti...

The unique structure of the human eye as well as exposure of the eye directly to the environment renders it vulnerable to a number of uncommon infectious diseases caused by fungi and parasites. Host defenses directed against these microorganisms, once anatomical barriers are breached, are often insufficient to prevent loss of vision. Therefore, the timely identification and treatment of the inv...

This review looks at the critical role of vitamin D in improving barrier function, production of antimicrobial peptides including cathelicidin and some defensins, and immune modulation. The function of vitamin D in the innate immune system and in the epithelial cells of the oral cavity, lung, gastrointestinal system, genito-urinary system, skin and surface of the eye is discussed. Clinical cond...

The literature on Clostridium perfringens infections is reviewed up to 1983. An additional case is reported with bilateral clostridial infections of the eye and orbit. One eye followed the classical course of relentless panophthalmitis, amaurosis, and orbital cellulitis ending in enucleation. The second eye contained intracameral mud and gas bubbles that were removed by vitrectomy instrumentati...

The genitourinary tract is well recognized as a route through which bacteria could gain access to the blood circulation. Under some circumstances, metastatic infections rarely occur in distant organs, including the eye. Endogenous endophthalmitis is a relatively uncommon but severe infection, and has a varied aetiology [1,2]. Moreover, polymicrobial infections in endophthalmitis are extremely u...