Prototheca zopfii Colitis in Inherited CARD9 Deficiency

J Infect Dis. 2018 Jul 2;218(3):485-489. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiy198.

Abstract

Human protothecosis is a rare microalgae infection, and its dissemination typically occurs in immunocompromised individuals, but no specific immune defect has been reported. Here, we describe an 8-year-old daughter of a consanguineous union with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea for 3 months who was found to have pancolitis with numerous microalgae identified as Prototheca zopfii. In the absence of a known immunodeficiency, exome sequencing was performed, which uncovered a novel recessive frameshift mutation in CARD9 (p.V261fs). This report highlights that CARD9 deficiency should be investigated in patients with unexplained systemic/visceral protothecosis and suggests a new mechanistic insight into anti-Prototheca immunity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins / genetics*
  • Candidiasis, Chronic Mucocutaneous / complications*
  • Child
  • Colitis / genetics*
  • Colitis / pathology*
  • Female
  • Frameshift Mutation
  • Humans
  • Prototheca / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins
  • CARD9 protein, human

Supplementary concepts

  • Candidiasis familial chronic mucocutaneous, autosomal recessive