Lacazia loboi

L. loboi is an uncultivated fungal pathogen of humans and dolphins. It is connected by its tubules within the tissue of infected organism. L. loboi thrives in aquatic environment and survive on the dying or decaying materials. The fungus mainly infects cutaneous and subcutaneous skin by developing parakeloidal lesions near cooler areas of the body. It kills the cells of the skin and feed off of that to grow and spread. The biological and epidemiological characterstics of L. Loboi remain unknown due to its strong resistance to in vitro cultivation.

Characteristics
Shape and Size
unicellular, thick-walled yeast like globose to subglobose cells of 5 to 12 µm in diameter
Genome Information
genome not found
Food Source
contaminated water
Pathological Factor
Lobomycosis is a chronic granulomatous infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues caused by the fungus L. Loboi. In the dermis, the fungus starts its proliferative phase within the macrophages. By direct influence of the microorganism, transforming growth factor ²1 concentration increases. Transforming growth factor ²1 is a cytokine produced by macrophages and Th3 lymphocytes and is considered to be a potent immunosuppressive molecule. This cytokine is expressed in histiocytes and multinucleated giant cells and diffuses in the inflammatory infiltrate of patients with lobomycosis.cytokine can promote the proliferation of CD8 T lymphocytes, stimulating the production of immunoglobulin A antibodies by plasma cells and the process of fibrosis.
Disease
Lobomycosis
Symptoms
chronic fungal infection of the skin
Affected Body Organs
skin

Classification
Kingdom Fungi
Division Ascomycota
Class Eurotiomycetes
Order Onygenales
Family Incertae sedis
Genus Lacazia
Species L. Loboi