Abstract
Fusarium is the major causative agent of fungal infections leading to corneal ulcer (keratitis) in Southern India and other tropical countries. Keratitis caused by Fusarium is a difficult disease to treat unless antifungal therapy is initiated during the early stages of infection. In this study tear proteins were prepared from keratitis patients classified based on the duration of infection. Among the patients recruited, early infection (n = 35), intermediate (n = 20), late (n = 11), samples from five patients in each group were pooled for analysis. Control samples were a pool of samples from 20 patients. Proteins were separated on difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) and the differentially expressed proteins were quantified using DeCyder software analysis. The following differentially expressed proteins namely alpha-1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin α2 chain, zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein, apolipoprotein, albumin, haptoglobin precursor - β chain, lactoferrin, lacrimal lipocalin precursor, cystatin SA III precursor, lacritin precursor were identified using mass spectrometry. Variation in the expression level of some of the proteins was confirmed using western blot analysis. This is the first report to show stage specific tear protein profile in fungal keratitis patients. Validation of this data using a much larger sample set could lead to clinical application of these findings.
Highlights
Corneal ulceration is the most common cause of corneal blindness in developing countries [1]
Fusarium species is more commonly associated with fungal keratitis in southern India, while Aspergillus species is more often implicated in northern India and Nepal [7]
The visual outcome following mycotic keratitis is generally poorer when compared to bacterial keratitis [8] and Natamycin, which is still the drug of choice for antifungal treatment is ineffective during late stages of the disease [9]
Summary
Corneal ulceration is the most common cause of corneal blindness in developing countries [1]. Fusarium and Aspergillus, are the predominant etiological agents responsible for 44% of all corneal ulcers [4]. Reports from Ghana [5] and northern Tanzania [6] showed fungi as the etiological agent in over 50% of culture positive cases of keratitis. Fusarium species is more commonly associated with fungal keratitis in southern India, while Aspergillus species is more often implicated in northern India and Nepal [7]. The visual outcome following mycotic keratitis is generally poorer when compared to bacterial keratitis [8] and Natamycin, which is still the drug of choice for antifungal treatment is ineffective during late stages of the disease [9]. Neither the molecular mechanism underlying the susceptibility of the host and virulence of the pathogen examined
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
