TY - JOUR
AR - CMR-2018-1-107
TI - The Presence of Biofilms in Gouty Tophi
AU - Carrie Ann , Cusack
AU - Herbert B. , Allen
AU - Robert A, Allen
JO - Clinical Microbiology and Research
PY - 2018
DA - Mon 18, Mar 2019
SN - 2674-418X
DO - http://dx.doi.org/10.31487/j.CMR.2018.01.007
UR - https://www.sciencerepository.org/the-presence-of-biofilms-in-gouty-toph_CMR-1-107 
KW - HIV, ART, Adherence, PMTCT, Social support
AB - In patients who had confirmed gout, we have pathologically identified biofilms in cutaneous tophi.
Clinically, these lesions were asymptomatic, off-white papules on the ears and/or extremities. The methods
used for confirmation were the same as those used for biofilms in other organs, namely staining for the
extracellular polysaccharides which make up the bulk of the biofilm with colloidal iron (CFE), and Congo
red (CR) that stains the amyloid that serves as infrastructure of the biomass. CFE was used, instead of
periodic acid Schiff (PAS), because of the presence of uric acid crystals in the tophi; CFE, which stains
acidic mucin, was used and showed more positivity than PAS that stains neutral mucins. These stains were
positive in the areas of the tophus and negative in the surrounding tissue. CD 282 (Toll-like receptor 2)
immunostain was negative in all, save for faint staining in one specimen, indicating the immune system was
not involved.