A simple liquid medium for chlamydospore formation in Candida albicans

ABSTRACT The Hog1 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase mediates an adaptive response to both osmotic and oxidative stress in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. This protein also participates in two distinct morphogenetic processes, namely the yeast-to-hypha transition (as a repressor) and chlamydospore formation (as an inducer). We show here that repression of filamentous growth occurs both under serum limitation and under other partially inducing conditions, such as low temperature, low pH, or nitrogen starvation. To understand the relationship of the HOG pathway to other MAP kinase cascades that also play a role in morphological transitions, we have constructed and characterized a set of double mutants in which we deleted both the HOG1 gene and other signaling elements (the CST20, CLA4, and HST7 kinases, the CPH1 and EFG1 transcription factors, and the CPP1 protein phosphatase). We also show that Hog1 prevents the yeast-to-hypha switch independent of all the elements analyzed and that the inability of the hog1 mutants to form chlamydospores is suppressed when additional elements of the CEK1 pathway (CST20 or HST7) are altered. Finally, we report that Hog1 represses the activation of the Cek1 MAP kinase under basal conditions and that Cek1 activation correlates with resistance to certain cell wall inhibitors (such as Congo red), demonstrating a role for this pathway in cell wall biogenesis.

Download Full-text

Effect of the metalic salts on the pseudohyphae and chlamydospore formation of Candida albicans

Japanese Journal of Medical Mycology ◽

10.3314/jjmm1960.14.106 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 106-108_1

Author(s):

Tomi TAMAMURA ◽

Teruo ISODA ◽

Fukumitsu YAMAGUCHI ◽

Yoshio SCHÖBL

Keyword(s):

Candida Albicans ◽

Chlamydospore Formation

Download Full-text

Candida albicans isolated from post-operative penetrating keratoplasty patient: Case report

Asian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3126/ajms.v5i3.8669 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 116-119

Author(s):

Abhishek Chandra ◽

Munesh Kumar Gupta ◽

Ragini Tilak

Keyword(s):

Candida Albicans ◽

Case Report ◽

Amphotericin B ◽

Penetrating Keratoplasty ◽

Antifungal Susceptibility ◽

Medical Science ◽

Eye Drops ◽

Gram Staining ◽

Chlamydospore Formation ◽

Culture Characteristics

We report a case report of Candida albicans suture infiltrate on 3rd post-op day in a 53 year female operated for penetrating keratoplasty. Candida albicans was identified by KOH mount, Gram Staining, germ tube, growth at 450C, chlamydospore formation and light green color on CHROMagar with sugar assimilation and culture characteristics. Despite being susceptible to Fluconazole by broth microdilution, patient did not respond to 0.3% fluconazole eye drops. On antifungal susceptibility testing by CLSI44A, it was susceptible to only Amphotericin B (100units). Patient was then started on 0.15% fortified amphotericin B eye drops resulting in complete resolution of infiltrates. Asian Journal of Medical Science, Volume-5(3) 2014: 116-119 http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v5i3.8669

Download Full-text

Antibacterial Efficacy of the Compound Preparation of Traditional Chinese Drug on System Fungi Reside in Faecal Specimen of Pigeon

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.518-523.5514 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 518-523 ◽

pp. 5514-5517 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lian Lan Ma ◽

Zhi Chun Liu ◽

Xiao Yuan Wang ◽

Xiao Yun Wu

Keyword(s):

Candida Albicans ◽

Cryptococcus Neoformans ◽

Drug Concentration ◽

Chinese Drug ◽

Faecal Specimen ◽

Sterile Saline ◽

Gram Staining ◽

Chlamydospore Formation ◽

Positive Rate ◽

Acid Test

To investigate the efficacy of the compound preparation of traditional Chinese drug which is named KZY-2) on system fungi reside in faecal specimen of pigeon, the 66 faecal specimen of pigeon were collected from columbary of local park and residents.Each specimen which weigh 2.0g was mixed with 10ml sterile saline and the supernatant which volume was 1ml was incubated with the same volume drug which concentration were 200mɡ/ml,100mɡ/ml and 50mɡ/ml respectively at 37°C.After 24h,48h and 72h, the isolated positive rates of Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans were calculated. Candida albicans was identified by gram staining, budding development, chlamydospore formation, sugar fermented test,sugar assimilated test and Cryptococcus neoformans was identified by gram staining,sugar fermented test,sugar assimilated test,urease tests,caffeic acid test, Hiss capsule staining.Results showed that the isolated positive rates of Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans were 27.3%（18/66） and 16.7%（11/66） without drug action, KZY-2 could reduce the isolated positive rates of Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans(P<0.05 and P<0.05).The drug concentration and action time could significantly affect the isolated positive rate which was negative correlation between them, higher drug concentration and longer incubation time,more lower the positive rate, especially the isolated positive rates of Cryptococcus neoformans are reduced 77.7%（6.1/27.3）which incubated with 200mɡ/ml drug after 72h compared with the control group.These results indicate The KZY-2 have good germicidal efficacy on Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans isolated from faecal specimen of pigeon.

Download Full-text

Novel synthetic antimicrobial peptides effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj3020535 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 302 (2) ◽

pp. 535-538 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

J Alvarez-Bravo ◽

S Kurata ◽

S Natori

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Antimicrobial Activity ◽

Candida Albicans ◽

Liquid Medium ◽

Culture Medium ◽

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Antimicrobial Activities ◽

Methicillin Resistant ◽

Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides

Previously, we identified a core undecapeptide of sapecin B having antimicrobial activity. Based on the structure of this peptide, we systematically synthesized peptides consisting of terminal basic motifs and internal oligo-leucine sequences and examined their antimicrobial activities. Of these peptides, RLKLLLLLRLK-NH2 and KLKLLLLLKLK-NH2 were found to have potent microbicidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, methicillin-resistant S. aureus and Candida albicans in liquid medium. We also synthesized the D-enantiomer of KLKLLLLLKLK-NH2. This enantiomer was resistant to tryptic digestion and persisted longer in the culture medium, showing greater antimicrobial activity than the original peptide.

Download Full-text

New culture medium for the presumptive identificaion of Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.5.2.236-243.1977 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 236-243

Author(s):

W H Fleming ◽

J M Hopkins ◽

G A Land

Keyword(s):

Candida Albicans ◽

Cryptococcus Neoformans ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Tween 80 ◽

Brown Pigment ◽

Chlamydospore Formation ◽

Time Required ◽

Germ Tubes ◽

Light Brown Color ◽

Brown Color

A new medium composed of Tween 80, oxgall, caffeic acid, and Davis agar (TOC) that provides for the rapid presumptive identification of Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans is described herein. C. albicans is differentiated from other yeasts by the sequential production of germ tubes and chlamydospores. In a comparison with cormeal agar control plates, there was an increase of chlamydospore-forming strains of C. albicans (97.1% versus 87.2%) and a decrease in the time required for chlamydospore formation (24 h versus 48 h). C. neoformans produced a brown pigment of TOC, which is specific for its identification, thus differentiating it from the other yeasts. A comparison of 24-h pigment production by C. neoformans on TOC with that of birdseed agar showed a dark, coffee brown color in the former cultures and a light brown color in the latter. The change in pigmentation of C. neoformans, as well as morphological changes in C. albicans, can be induced within 3 to 12 h and in not more than 24 h on the TOC medium.

Download Full-text