Ultrastructural Changes During the Yeastlike to Mycelial-Phase Conversion of Blastomyces dermatitidis and Histoplasma capsulatum

Fine details of the sequential anatomical events occurring during yeast to mold morphogenesis of the dimorphic fungal pathogens Blastomyces dermatitidis and Histoplasma capsulatum as seen in ultrathin sections are described and illustrated by electron micrographs. Discrete intracytoplasmic membrane systems intimately associated with the plasma membrane were observed to be formed within 6 to 8 hr after induction of the conversion process. Within 12 to 18 hr, an intermediate or transitional cell with Woronin bodies at the septum was formed from the converting yeastlike cell. Both cells were noted to contain increased numbers of mitochondria. At approximately 48 hr from the initial induction of the conversion stimuli, the newly forming hyphal cells were observed to produce postconversional intracytoplasmic membrane systems seen normally in the ultrastructural organization of the fully established mycelial-phase cell. These membrane systems appear to be associated with normal septal formation. Although minor variations of time were observed in the occurrence of the sequential events, it is suggested that yeastlike to mycelial-phase conversion of these two fungal pathogens proceeds via a similar mechanism of ultrastructural reorganization.     

Ultrastructural studies of the mycelium-to yeast transformation of Sporothrix schenckii.

Fine details of the internal and external morphology of the in vitro mycelial phase (MP) to yeastlike phase (YP) transition of the dimorphic fungal pathogen Sporothrix schenckii are shown in electron micrographs of ultrathin sections. Morphological transformation at the ultrastructural level was observed to occur by direct formation of budlike structures at the tips and along the hyphae and by oidial cell formation. Direct budding of yeast from conidiospores was not observed. Early transitional forms arising by direct blastic action from the MP possessed conspicuous electron-dense microfibrillar material at the outer limits of the cell wall. The electron density of this microfibrillar material was enhanced by staining with acidified dialyzed iron. It is believed that this extracellular material may be composed in part of an acid mucosubstance. No acid phosphatase activity was associated with this microfibrillar material. This substance was found to be a characteristic of the outer limits of the cell wall of the YP of S. schenckii. Oidial YP cell formation occurred later during the transition. The cell wall of the developing oidial YP transitional form arose from an inner layer of the converting hyphae. No consupicuous alterations of the cytoplasmic content of the parent MP cell was observed during MP-to-YP transition. It is suggested that the MP-to-YP transition of S. schenckii may be regulated by at least two mechanisms involving alterations of the biochemical and/or biophysical nature of the cell wall of the MP cell in response to the conversional stimuli.     

Role of the conidium in dimorphism of Blastomyces dermatitidis

Fine details of yeastlike cell development of Blastomyces dermatitidis from its conidium are described and illustrated by electron micrographs. When cultured in an enriched medium at 37 °C, conidia of two strains of B. dermatitidis readily underwent ultrastructural changes consistent with mycelial to yeast dimorphism. Although hyphal cells contained in the conversion cultures were observed consistently to undergo profound degenerative changes, the conidia rapidly germinated to give rise to short germ tubes which subsequently enlarged to form intermediate yeast mother cells (YMC). The wall of the germ tube arose from the innermost layer of the wall of the germinant. During the transition globoid osmiophilic inclusions of unknown origin and function were observed in vacuolated areas of the germ tube and YMC cytoplasm. Yeastlike daughter cells then budded from the intermediate YMC. Since transformation was readily accomplished under in vitro conditions favoring mycelial to yeast dimorphism, it is suggested that the conidium of B. dermatitidis represents the primary infective unit of this pathogenic fungus.     

Electron microscopy of yeastlike cell development from the microconidium of Histoplasma capsulatum.

Fine details of the sequential morphological events occurring during transition of microconidia (spores less than 5 micrometer in diameter) to the yeastlike phase of Histoplasma capsulatum as seen in ultrathin section are described and illustrated by electron micrographs. Masses of microconidia were obtained when the fungas was grown on a garden soil extract medium. Spores were incubated under in vitro environmental conditions conducive for phase transition (an enriched medium at 37 degrees C). Within 48 h of incubation, the microconidia either germinated to give rise to a short mycelium or the germ tube process became a yeast mother cell without further extension. The wall of the yeast mother cell was thin and smooth, and its cytoplasmic content was ultrastructurally complex, consisting of numerous lipid bodies, vacuoles, glycogen-like deposits, and membrane systems. Within 96 h, the mother cell underwent multipolar budding to form simultaneously linear hyphal and/or ovate yeastlike daughter cells. During the transition, new cell wall materials of the germ tube, the mother cell, and yeastlike daughter cells arose by blastic action from the innermost layer(s) of the wall of the precursor form. Lomasome-like vesicles were often seen in association with areas of new cell wall formation. After organellar migration into and septation of the daughter cells, the yeast mother cell's cytoplasmic content underwent marked degenerative changes.     

Yeastlike to mycelial phase transformation of Histoplasma capsulatum as observed by scanning electron microscopy

Details of the sequential events occurring during the critical phases of yeast to mold morphogenesis of the dimorphic fungal pathogenHistoplasma capsulatum as seen by the new technique of scanning electron microscopy are described and illustrated by electron micrographs.No conspicuous surface sculpturing was observed for the normal yeastlike cell immediately before or the newly formed hyphal cell after the critical period of transformation. However, both the parent yeastlike cell as well as the intermediate conversional cell shows a furrowing of the external cell surface which is due possibly to changes in internal cell pressure resulting from the migration of cell contents into the newly forming hyphal cell.     

Spontaneous feline sporotrichosis: A fine structural study

Fine structural details of the parasitic yeastlike phase of Sporothrix schenckii contained in biopsy tissue from a naturally-occurring case of disseminated feline sporotrichosis are described and illustrated by electron microscopy. Both free and phagocytosed fungal cells were observed. The fungal cells were contained within an extracellular, electron transparent vacuolar area which was bounded by a limiting membrane of probable host origin. The yeastlike cells were characterized by a conspicuous layer of osmiophilic microfilaments which occurred along the outermost surface of the cell wall. In many yeastlike cells, scattered, membranebound vacuoles containing electron opaque material were observed in the cytoplasm. Asteroid bodies were not observed.     

Drug—induced alterations in the ultrastructural organization of Histoplasma capsulatum and Blastomyces dermatitidis

Aspects of the fine structure as seen in thin section of yeastlike cells ofHistoplasma capsulatum andBlastomyces dermatitidis exposed to polyenic antibiotics are described and illustrated by electron micrographs. The exposure of log phase yeastlike cells to minimal fungicidal concentrations of both amphotericin B (Fungizone) and hamycin resulted in detectable alterations of the plasma membrane, and, to a lesser extent, the mitochondria. WithH. capsulatum, ultrastructural changes were observed to occur within 1 h exposure to amphotericin B. Marked degenerative changes and plasmolysis were observed to occur within 6 hrs exposure of the yeastlike cells to both polyenes. The observed changes in ultrastructural appearance are compatible with the concept of binding of the polyene with membrane sterol and subsequent damage due to alterations of permeability.     

A case of pseudoparacoccidioidomycosis: Detection of the yeast phase of Mucor circinelloides in a clinical specimen

A case is presented in which yeastlike cells resembling the yeast phase of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis were observed by microscopic examination of a urine sample. A mold identified as Mucor circinelloides was isolated from the specimen. It was converted to the yeast form by cultivation on Sabouraud agar incubated in a GasPak jar at 37 ° C. The isolate was eventually shown not to be related to the patient's illness; however, the superficial resemblance of the yeast phase to P. brasiliensis caused some confusion in making a correct diagnosis.     

Control of dimorphism in a biochemical variant of Candida albicans

The cellular morphology of a biochemical variant of Candida albicans could be controlled by the ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen in the culture system or by individual amino acids. Predominantly pseudohyphal morphology was observed (i) at a CO(2) to O(2) ratio of 2:1 and (ii) without the addition of carbon dioxide, when either glycine, d- or l-ornithine, l-serine, l-methionine, l-phenylalanine, or l-tyrosine was the sole nitrogen source in the culture medium. When ammonium chloride, ammonium sulfate, l-glutamic acid, l-glutamine, or l-proline was the nitrogen source, yeastlike growth was observed in the presence or absence of CO(2). More adenosylmethionine was present in pseudohyphal than in yeastlike cells, and pseudohyphal cell wall preparations contained less methionine than cell walls from the yeastlike form. These results suggest a correlation between sulfur amino acid metabolism and dimorphism.     

Ultrastructure of Dimorphic Transformation in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

The fine structure of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis undergoing temperature-dependent transformation from mycelium to yeast and vice versa (M right harpoon over left harpoon Y) was studied. The transitional form to mycelium from the yeast appears as an elongated bud that extends from the yeast and which has a mixture of characteristics from both the yeast and the mycelium. The transitional form to yeast from the mycelium starts with enlargement of the interseptal spaces and cracking of the outer electron-dense layer of the cell wall of the hypha. Later the interseptal spaces tend to become round and separate. In M --> Y only few interseptal spaces seem to transform. The yeast is produced by self-transformation of the hypha. In Y --> M a new structure is formed and the yeast dies. Intrahyphal hyphae are observed during the transformation from M --> Y, and intrayeast hyphae during the Y --> M. Due to the high mortality and breakage observed in both types of transformations, we believe that wound of the yeast or the mycelium could elicit this phenomenon.     

Ultrastructural Studies on the Yeastlike and Mycelial Phases of Sporotrichum schenckii

Fine details of the internal and external morphology of the yeastlike and mycelial phases of the dimorphic fungal pathogen Sporotrichum schenckii as seen in ultrathin sections are described and illustrated by electronphotomicrography. Comparisons of yeastlike phase ultrastructure were made using two different methods of fixation and embedding. The internal morphology of the two forms of yeastlike S. schenckii was in many ways similar to that of similarly dimorphic fungi and yeasts studied by other authors. However, the use of the glutaraldehyde-osmium in agar fixation technique suggests the presence of an electron transparent capsular or slime layer with associated electron dense microfibrils to be present external to the cell wall of the yeastlike phase but not the mycelial phase. Mycelial phase S. schenckii was found to contain many of the internal microstructures reported for other filamentous dimorphic fungi. Conidia production in agitated liquid culture was found to be restricted since only rare sessile conidia were observed.     

Microfibrillar structure of growing cell wall in a coenocytic green alga,Boergesenia forbesii

A fine structure of cell wall lamellae in a coenocytic green algaBoergesenia forbesii was examined by electron microscopy. The wall has a polylamellate structure containing cellulose microfibrils 25 to 30 nm in diameter. The outer surface of the cell was covered by a thin structureless lamella, underneath which existed a lamella containing randomly-oriented microfibrils. The major part of the wall consisted of two types of lamellae, multifibrillar lamella and a transitional, matrix-rich one. In the former, microfibrils were densely arranged more or less parallel with each other. In the transitional lamella, existing between the multifibrillar ones, the microfibril orientation shifted about 30° within the layer. The fibril orientation also shifted 30° between adjacent transitional and multifibrillar layers, and consequently the microfibril orientation in the neighboring multifibrillar layers shifted 90°. It was concluded that the orientation rotated counterclockwise when observed from inside the cell. Each lamella in the thallus wall become thinner with cell expansion, but no reorientation of microfibrils in the outer old layers was observed. In the rhizoid, the outer lamellae sloughed off with the tip growth.     

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis: Conversion of Yeastlike Forms into Mycelia in Submerged Culture

Details of the sequential morphological changes occurring during yeastlike to mycelial-form conversion of the dimorphic pathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis are described and illustrated by photomicrographs. Conversion of yeastlike to hyphal morphology was initiated by changing the temperature of incubation from 37 to 23 C. Production by the parent yeastlike cells of elongated buds developing into hyphae started to be conspicuous after 24 hr of incubation at 23 C. After 120 hr of incubation, growth was almost exclusively filamentous. Direct transformation of parent yeastlike cells into hyphae was not observed. Dry weight increased continuously during the conversion process in spite of the gradual disappearance of the parent yeastlike cells. Concurrent studies showed that changes in ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid content per unit dry weight are about the same whether the yeastlike cells are undergoing conversion at 23 C or growing normally at 37 C, and that deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis is apparently required for bud formation in both cases.     

Investigation on dimorphism of Blastomyces dermatitidis by agar-implantation method

By the agar-implantation developed by the authors the process of conversion on Blastomyces dermatitidis from mycelial phase to yeast phase was observed.First of all slide cultures of the fungus were prepared at room temperature, Upon confirmation of good hyphal growth, a cover glass was removed and a part of medium was cut out in a square of about 3 mm a side.After mice were laparotomied, each agar block cut out was implanted in the peritoneal cavity of mouse. The mice implanted with the agar blocks were killed, two each, every day for 14 days, and thereafter at intervals of a week for 2 months. Therefore, the implanted agar blocks were all recovered. They were examined directly by a light microscope with histopathological and electron microscopic examinations carried out at the same time.Within the peritoneal cavity of mouse, the intercalary and terminal chlamydospores were formed from hyphae. These subsequently swelled to become yeastlike cells and proliferated thereafter by budding.     

Cyclic Guanosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate in the Dimorphic Fungus Mucor racemosus

The dimorphic fungus Mucor racemosus was found to contain the cyclic nucleotide guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cGMP). Approximately equivalent amounts of the compound were found in ungerminated spores, yeastlike cells, and mycelia. Germinating spores contained severalfold higher amounts of cGMP than the other cell forms. cGMP levels did not change significantly during the morphogenetic conversion of yeast to mycelia. Added exogenous cGMP or the dibutyryl derivative did not influence cell morphology in any way and did not alter the effect that cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate has upon cell morphology.     

Reconstruction of de novo pathway for synthesis of UDP-glucuronic acid and UDP-xylose from intrinsic UDP-glucose in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

UDP-D-glucuronic acid and UDP-D-xylose are required for the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycan in mammals and of cell wall polysaccharides in plants. Given the importance of these glycans to some organisms, the development of a system for production of UDP-D-glucuronic acid and UDP-D-xylose from a common precursor could prove useful for a number of applications. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacks an endogenous ability to synthesize or consume UDP-D-glucuronic acid and UDP-D-xylose. However, yeast have a large cytoplasmic pool of UDP-D-glucose that could be used to synthesize cell wall beta-glucan, as a precursor of UDP-D-glucuronic acid and UDP-D-xylose. Thus, if a mechanism for converting the precursors into the end-products can be identified, yeast may be harnessed as a system for production of glycans. Here we report a novel S. cerevisiae strain that coexpresses the Arabidopsis thaliana genes UGD1 and UXS3, which encode a UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (AtUGD1) and a UDP-glucuronic acid decarboxylase (AtUXS3), respectively, which are required for the conversion of UDP-D-glucose to UDP-D-xylose in plants. The recombinant yeast strain was capable of converting UDP-D-glucose to UDP-D-glucuronic acid, and UDP-D-glucuronic acid to UDP-D-xylose, in the cytoplasm, demonstrating the usefulness of this yeast system for the synthesis of glycans. Furthermore, we observed that overexpression of AtUGD1 caused a reduction in the UDP-D-glucose pool, whereas coexpression of AtUXS3 and AtUGD1 did not result in reduction of the UDP-D-glucose pool. Enzymatic analysis of the purified hexamer His-AtUGD1 revealed that AtUGD1 activity is strongly inhibited by UDP-D-xylose, suggesting that AtUGD1 maintains intracellular levels of UDP-D-glucose in cooperation with AtUXS3 via the inhibition of AtUGD1 by UDP-D-xylose.     

Electron microscopy of spore germination and cell wall formation in Mucor rouxii

Summary The fine structure of ungerminated and aerobically germinated sporangiospores of Mucor rouxii was compared. The germination process may be divided into two stages: I, spherical growth; II, emergence of a germ tube. In both stages, germination is growth in its strictest sense with overall increases in cell organelles; e.g., the increase in mitochondria is commensurate with the overall increase in protoplasmic mass. Noticeable changes occurring during germination are the disappearance of electron-dense lipoid bodies, formation of a large central vacuole and, most strikingly, formation of a new cell wall. Unlike many other fungi, M. rouxii does not germinate by converting the spore wall into a vegetative wall. Instead, as in other Mucorales, a vegetative wall is formed de novo under the spore wall during germination stage I. This new wall grows out, rupturing the spore wall, to become the germ tube wall. Associated with the apical wall of the germ tube is an apical corpuscle previously described. The vegetative wall exhibits a nonlayered, uniformly microfibrillar appearance in marked distinction to the spore wall which is triple-layered, with two thin electron dense outer layers, and a thick transparent inner stratum. The lack of continuity between the spore and vegetative walls is correlated with marked differences in wall chemistry previously reported. A separate new wall is also formed under the spore wall during anaerobic germination leading to yeast cell formation. On the other hand, in the development of one vegetative cell from another, such as in the formation of hyphae from yeast cells, the cell wall is structurally continuous. This continuity is correlated with a similarity in chemical composition of the cell wall reported earlier.     

不同传代次数的酿酒酵母细胞壁蛋白组学分析

【目的】探讨酿酒酵母衰老过程中细胞壁蛋白变化, 从蛋白水平上解释酿酒酵母衰老的原因。【方法】以酿酒酵母FFC2146为研究对象, 采用显微镜观察法比较了经2、10、15次连续传代酿酒酵母的细胞形态; 用计算细胞沉降速率的方法考查酵母凝絮性; 通过3,5-二硝基水杨酸法测定降糖速率来表征酵母代谢活力; 采用二硫苏糖醇溶解法结合苯酚萃取法抽提不同传代次数的酿酒酵母细胞壁蛋白; 并且通过双向电泳进行差异性分析。【结果】结果显示随着传代次数的增加酿酒细胞个体表面变得粗糙, 凝絮能力明显增强, 降糖能力明显减弱, 表明多次传代后的酵母体现出衰老现象。双向电泳结果共得到309个胞壁蛋白点, 其中11个蛋白质点存在明显差异。6个蛋白质点在第15代丰度小于第2代丰度2倍以上, 4个蛋白质点只在第15代酵母细胞壁中出现, 1个蛋白质点只在第2代酵母细胞壁中出现。【结论】酿酒酵母FFC2146经过15次连续传代培养后11个细胞壁蛋白丰度发生明显变化, 此11个细胞壁蛋白的表达水平与酿酒酵母衰老相关。     

Factors affecting mycelial to yeast phase conversion and growth of the yeast phase ofHistoplasma capsulatum

A procedure for rapid induction of mycelial to yeast phase (M→Y) conversion ofHistoplasma capsulatum has been devised. Exposure of mycelial fragments to low oxidation-reduction (O/R) potentials (+5 to+65 mv) either aerobically (ascorbic acid treatment) or anaerobically (nitrogen atmosphere) for 18 to 24 hours at 37° C resulted in induction of the M→Y conversion process whether or not an organic sulfur source was available. However, aerobic conditions and a suitable organic sulfur source, such as cysteine, cystine or lanthionine were found essential for outgrowth and maintenance in the yeastlike phase.     

Immunocytochemical staining of Histoplasma capsulatum at the electron microscopic level

Summary Rabbits were immunized with histoplasmin emulsified in Freund's complete adjuvant. Antibody raised in these rabbits was exposed to Histoplasma capsulatum yeast cells, either in tissue culture medium, or after in vitro or in vivo phagocytosis by mouse macrophages. The sites of antibody binding were identified using an immunoperoxidase technique. At least two sites of antibody binding were identified, one to the fungal cell wall and the other to the outer cell membrane. Within 6 h after phagocytosis by macrophages, fungal cell walls appeared roughened, with what appeared to be cell wall antigen released into the phagolysosome, appearing associated with the phagolysosome membrane, and possibly adjacent macrophage cytoplasm. Similar staining of fungal antigen was noted in alveolar macrophages which had ingested Histoplasma capsulatum after a respiratory challenge. This method may be useful in detailing the host/pathogen interactions which occur in human pulmonary histoplasmosis.