On the morphology of trichophyton quinckeanum

Summary The cultivation of four old non-sporulating strains ofTrichophyton quinckeanum on solid nutrient medium with 15% CO₂ (Sabouraud dextrose agar) gave an increased production of macroconidia. The macroconidia are multilocular with smooth walls. It is believed that the polymorphism of the macroconidia — some with pointed tip and other with round terminal cell — is characteristic of the species and has a taxonomic significance. Macroconidia with a pointed end cell are not of theMicrosporon type, since they have smooth walls and are not pointed on both ends Filiform appendages from the terminal cell occur regularly. Small and large macroconidia were seen. The microconidia are pyriform or elongated. No rounded microconidia withBotrytis type of arrangement were observed. The so-calledT. niveum is probably identical withT. quinckeannum.Together with the characteristics of the species as a parasite it is to be concluded thatT. quinckeanum is a peculiar dermatophyte species, corresponding toQuincke's -Pilz, but cannot be assimilated by the group ofT. mentagrophytes (Ctenomyces s. microides).     

Morphological and cytological observations on conidial formation of the genera Epidermophyton and Microsporon

Some morphological and cytological aspects ofEpidermophyton andMicrosporon were studied according to the classification of the Fungi Imperfecti suggested byHughes.It was found that origin of macroconidia in the genusEpidermophyton is quite different from that of the genusMicrosporon. The macroconidia of the speciesMicrosporon gypseum, M. fulvum andM. canis presented only pseudosepta; true septa were present inM. cookei, M. audouinii andM. vanbreuseghemii. On the basis of the morphological features of macroconidia a simple analytical key for the species ofMicrosporon most frequently isolated in Italy is proposed.These studies were supported by grant of the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche of Italy under contract n.69.01074/115.2798.     

Morphological changes of trichophyton mentagrophytes under the influence of increased carbon dioxide tension

Summary Growth pigment production as well as macroconidia and arthrospore formation ofTrichophyton mentagrophytes are stimulated under the influence of increased carbon dioxide tension. Macroconidia with spirals and pistol forms of macroconidia are observed.The granular form ofT. mentagrophytes displays an asteroid growth (Dextrose agar of Sabouraud) with an ingrowth and elongation of the ray branches in the agar and a decrease of the air-mycelium. The culture completely resembles to those ofT. mentagrophytes varasteroides. The macroconidia appear elongated and they acquire an asteroid arrangement. The less granular strains ofT. mentagrophytes take the appearance ofT. interdigitale type.An analogy is made between these morphogenetic changes under the effect of increased CO₂ tension in vitro and the influence of the animal organism in the evolution of the growth forms of dermatophytes in vivo in the process of their parasitic adaptation.     

Enzymes of Trichophyton rubrum

Jensen, Altschuler &Bard (1957) have surveyed the respiratory enzymes ofTrichophyton mentagrophytes. Enzymes of the hexosediphosphate, hexosemonophosphate, and tricarboxylic acid pathways were found plus a group of miscellaneous enzymes. In view of the close morphological, immunological, and nutritional similarities ofT. mentagrophytes toTrichophyton rubrum, we felt that a study of the enzymology of the latter organism had potential value in forming a basis for the comparison of the two dermatophytes. Our results showed that cell-free extracts ofT. rubrum contain glucokinase, TPN-dependent glucose and fructose dehydrogenases and separate TPN- and DPN-linked glycerol dehydrogenases. These results are in accord with findings of other investigators. ATPase activity was minimal, and shikimic acid kinase, and shikimic and quinic acid dehydrohydrogenases were not detected.     

Differentiation of trichophyton rubrum from trichophyton mentagrophytes

Conclusions Of the several morphological and physiological criteria that have been proposed to identifyTrichophyton rubrum andTrichophyton mentagrophytes differentially, only the hair invasion test agrees with the immunological results reported here.A typical strain ofT. rubrum andT. mentagrophytes was obtained from the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (Netherlands) and was used as reference strain. All isolates that did not invade hair shafts (in vitro) and that produced three precipitate lines in agargel diffusion tests against anti-T. rubrum serum (refence strain, Tr-1) were placed in one group. These isolates all also produced a red undersurface pigment and macroconidia with long parallel sides. They were labledT. rubrum.Other isolates that did invade hair shafts, and produced only two precipitate lines against anti-T. rubrum serum were placed in another group and were labeledT. mentagrophytes. These isolates had variable characteristics of pigment production, colony and conidial morphology.The antigenic studies thus corroborate the validity of the hair invasion test. The hair invasion test will probably remain in wider use because of its simplicity.     

The surface structure of saprophytic and parasitic dermatophyte spores

The surface structure of conidia and arthrospores ofMicrosporon ²)racemosum andTrichophyton winacei is described. Apart fromMicrosporon macroconidia, the spore surfaces displayed little or no ornamentation. The arrangement of verrucae on the surface ofMicrosporon conidia appears to be variable, but may be of little taxonomic importance other than as a characteristic of the genus.

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Zusammenfassung Die Oberflächenstruktur der Konidien und Arthrosporen vonMicrosporon racemosum undTrichophyton erinacei sind beschrieben. Abgesehen von den Makrokonidien vonMicrosporon zeigten die Oberflächen der Sporen geringe oder keine Ornamentation. Die Anordnung der Warzen an der Oberfläche von Makrosporenkonidien erscheint wechselvoll und sie mag von geringer Wichtigkelt sein, außer der Charakterisierung der Gattung.

     

l- andd-alanine transport in brush border membrane vesicles from lepidopteran midgut: Evidence for two transport systems

Summary In brush border membrane vesicles from the midgut ofPhilosamia cynthia larvae (Lepidoptera) thel- andd-alanine uptake is dependent on a potassium gradient and on transmembrane electrical potential difference. Each isomer inhibits the uptake of the other form: inhibition ofl-alanine uptake byd-alanine is competitive, whereas inhibition ofd-alanine uptake byl-alanine is noncompetitive. Transstimulation experiments as well as the different pattern of specificity to cations suggest the existence of two transport systems. Kinetic parameters for the two transporters have been calculated both when K_out>K_in and K_out=K_in.d-alanine is actively transported also by the whole midgut, but it is not metabolized by the intestinal tissue.     

Considérations sur l'ubiquité duTrichophyton terrestre—Durié & Frey 1957—saprophyte du sol. Son inoculabilité

Résumé Les auteurs ont isolé 11 souches deTrichophyton terrestre—Durie &Frey 1957. Une de ces souches a été isolée d'un échantillon de terre qui leur avait été envoyé de Hanoi (Vietnam). Les 10 autres souches ont été isolées en Roumanie, à savoir 4 à Bucarest et 6 en province. Ces 10 souches ont été isolées des portions très limitées de terrain et—9 fois même—chacune d'un seul échantillon de terre, minutieusement exploré par le procédé deVanbreuseghem (mise en contact de la terre avec les cheveux). Les terrains, d'où l'on avait prélevé les échantillons de terre, ont été des jardins, des terrains rocheux, marécageux, steppes, abris pour le bois etc. LeTrichophyton terrestre a été trouvé toutes les fois qu'il a été cherché, sans aucune exception. Selon les auteurs, certains perfectionnements apportés au procédé deVanbreuseghem ont contribué largement à la réussite constante de cet isolement. Ils sont parvenus à provoquer, à la souris blanche, avec l'une des 11 souches mentionnées, une mycose expérimentale qui a envahi l'épiderme ainsi que les poils. La trichophytine produite par ces souches a été tout aussi active que la trichophytine produite par leTrichophyton mentagrophytes, et, en même temps, tout aussi spécifique. Les auteurs arrivent à la conclusion que leTrichophyton terrestre est probablement ubiquitaire dans le sol et qu'il n'est pas dépourvu de pouvoir pathogène. Au contraire, il est en voie d'adaptation à la vie parasitaire et peut être inclus dans le groupe des dermatophytes.

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Summary UsingVanbreuseghem's procedure (baiting moistened soil samples with filaments of hair), the authors were able to isolate 11 strains ofTrichophyton terrestre—Durie &Frey 1957. One of them has been recovered from a sample of soil sent from Hanoi (Vietnam), whereas the other strains have been recovered from different Rumanian soil samples. Four strains have been recovered from Bucarest and the other six ones from the province. Each strain has been isolated from a very small piece of ground and even, except for one strain, it was not necessary to control more than one sample of soil for each of them. The Rumanian soil samples were collected from gardens, rocky and marshy grounds, waste-lands, woodsheds and so on.Trichophyton terrestre has been recovered everywhere it was looked for, without any exception. The authors believe that the constantly positive results of their investigations concerning the presence ofTrichophyton terrestre in the soil, may be partially explained by some improvements they added toVanbreuseghem's method. The inoculation in white mice, guinea pigs and men were positive only in one case, a white mouse, in which the causative fungus has been found also in the hair. From the cultures of the isolated strains, the authors obtained a trichophytin, as active as the trichophytin produced byTrichophyton mentagrophytes, and not less specific. They conclude thatTrichophyton terrestre, as saprophyte of the soil, is probably an ubiquitous (cosmopolitan) mold and, moreover, it is not completely without pathogenity. On the contrary, it is on the way to become a parasite and, therefore, it may be included in the group of dermatophytes.

     

Tinea corporis caused by trichophyton mentagrophytes var. Granulosum

Summary A small outbreak of human ringworm caused byTrichophyton mentagrophytes var.granulosum is described. The clinical morphology of some of the inflammatory lesions was more suggestive of nummular eczema or psoriasis than of tinea corporis. The isolation of a granular strain ofTrichophyton mentagrophytes indicated an animal source of these infections. The same organism was isolated from a pet white rat which apparently transmitted the disease.These investigations were supported by a grant from the John. A. Hartford Foundation, Inc., New York, New York and the U.S. Public Health Service Training Grant No. 2A-5289.We wish to thank DoctorErnest Oehl of Philadelphia for referring these patients to the Skin and Cancer Hospital of Philadelphia.     

Quelques champignons pathogènes,isolés du sol roumain,par la méthode de l'inoculation intrapéritonéale à la souris

Resumé En injectant, selon le procédé d'Ajello et al., dans la cavité péritonéale de la souris blanche, une suspension de terre prélevée de divers endroits et en ensemençant après un délai de 6 à 8 semaines des fragments du foie, de la rate, des poumons et des reins de l'animal inoculé, les auteurs ont décelé dans le sol roumain la présence des champignons suivants:Geotrichum candidum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Keratinomyces ajelloi (une souche pathogène) etCoccidioides immitis. Selon les auteurs, cette méthode d'isolement est capable de compléter la méthode deVanbreuseghem pour l'isolement des dermatophytes du sol. La présence duCoccidioides immitis dans le sol roumain mérite une mention spéciale, la coccidioidomicose étant, jusqu'en 1961, inconnue en Roumanie.

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Summary By injecting the supernatant from aqueous suspensions of different rumanian soil specimens intraperitoneally into white mice and subsequent culture of their livers and spleens, according to the procedure ofAjello et al., the authors were able to recover the following fungi:Geotrichum candidum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Keratinomyces ajelloi (a pathogenic strain) andCoccidioides immitis (two strains). In the author's opinion, this indirect isolation procedure may complete the method developed byVanbreuseghem for isolating dermatophytes from soil. The presence ofCoccidioides immitis in the rumanian soils needs special mention owing to the fact that coccidioidomycosis was unknown in Rumania until 1961.

     

T. Mentagrophytes with macroconidia and spirals in the peridium of abortive cleistothecia of the type Arthroderma in soils in Bulgaria

Summary In two soil isolates ofT. mentagrophytes we observed an ornament of macroconidia with spirals in the peridium of the cleistothecia of the typeArthroderma. These strains grow more rapidly and are less pigmented thanT. mentagrophytes isolated from pathological lesions. The problem of the phylogenetical importance of this morphogenetic changes in connection with the transition ofT. mentagrophytes from saprophytism into parasitism is discussed.     

Catabolism of arginine byCarnobacterium spp. isolated from vacuum-packed sugar-salted fish

The ability ofCarnobacterium spp. originally isolated from vacuum-packed, sugar-salted fish to catabolize arginine was examined. All strains were able to produce citrulline, ornithine, and NH₃ from arginine, presumably by the arginine deiminase pathway. The metabolism of arginine was concurrent with acid production from glucose for one strain ofCarnobacterium sp. but delayed for one strain ofCarnobacterium piscicola. The arginine catabolism was not inhibited in the presence of 2% glucose for three strains of carnobacteria during growth in test broth and/or shrimp extract. Growth as well as arginine catabolism was delayed for two strains of carnobacteria by lowering the temperature from 9°C to 4°C. A similar result was obtained by incubating one strain ofC. piscicola in CO₂. None of the compoundsl-citrulline,l-ornithine hydrochloride, and (NH₄)₂SO₄ had any effect on growth or arginine catabolism of this strain. Neither did pH of the medium affect the time for initiation of arginine catabolism.     

Fusarium javanicum Koorders in Israel

Fusarium javanicum Kds. has been isolated from wilted vegetable marrows and melons and from the soil of a citrus grove in Israel. The morphology of the species is described, and measurements and drawings of macroconidia are presented.In vitro tests showed thatF. javanicum failed to develop at either 12 or 40° C, and developed better at 24° C than 18 or 30° C. Mycelial growth on potato dextrose agar was always better at pH 7 than at pH 4.2. Darkness favored such growth to a marked extent only at 18° C and pH 4.2. In glasshouse inoculation tests one isolate ofF. javanicum from vegetable marrow proved clearly pathogenic to cucumber, melon, watermelon and marrow. Measurements of macroconidia have been made, for comparative purposes, on isolates ofF. javanicum var.ensiforme and ofF. solani f.cucurbitae furnished from abroad, and on isolates ofF. solani from cucurbits in Israel. Comparing the data for 3-septate macroconidia with those given in literature forF. solani and forF. javanicum and its var.radicicola and var.ensiforme, it is concluded that two groups can be distinguished: One group comprises, with one exception, all isolates ofF. javanicum and its varieties as well asF. solani f.cucurbitae, and is characterized by slender macroconidia. The other group is represented byF. solani with its typically sausage shaped conidia. It is concluded thatF. javanicum should be maintained as a species distinct fromF. solani. It is further suggested that what has been calledF. solani f.cucurbitae may have closer affinity toF. javanicum than toF. solani.

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Zusammenfassung Fusarium javanicum Koorders wurde in Israel von verwelkten Cucurbitaceen(Cucurbita pepo Kussa andCucumis melo) sowie von dem Boden einer Citruspflanzung isoliert. Die Morphologie des Pilzes wird hier beschreiben. Inin vitro Versuchen entwickelte sichF. javanicum auf Kartoffel-Dextrose Agar weder bei 12 noch bei 40° C, und wuchs besser bei 24 als bei 18 oder 30° C. Das Wachstum des Myzeliums war stets besser bei pH 7 als bei pH 4.2. Dunkelheit förderte dieses Wachstum erheblich nur bei 18° C und pH 4.2. In Impfungsversuchen im Glasshaus wirkte ein Isolat desF. javanicum vonC. pepo stark pathogenisch auf Gurken, Melonen, Wassermelonen undC. pepo. Zwecks taxonomischer Vergleiche wurden Makrokonidien aus dem Ausland erhaltener Isolate vonF. javanicum var.ensiforme undF. solani f.cucurbitae gemessen, sowie solche desF. solani von Cucurbitaceen in Israel. Die Resultate dieser Messungen wurden mit den in der Literatur angegebenen Werten fürF. solani, F. javanicum und dessen var.radicicola und var.ensiforme verglichen. Dieser Vergleich zeigte 2 klar getrennte Gruppen: Die erste enthält, mit einer Ausnahme, alle Isolate desF. javanicum und desF. solani f.cucurbitae, und besitzt typisch schlanke Makrokonidien. Die zweite Gruppe besteht ausF. solani mit seinen typisch dickeren, Würstchenartigen Sporen. Dies führt zu dem Schluß daßF. javanicum weiterhin als eine vonF. solani getrennte Spezies zu betrachten ist.

     

The classification of luminescent bacteria

Summary The luminescent bacteria are logically placed in two genera. The common coccoid and frequently non-motile species placed byBeije-rinck first in his genusPhotobacterium, 1889 under the namePhotobacterium phosphorescens syn.Bacterium phosphorescens Fischer, should be recognized as the type species ofPhotobacterium. Other characters indicate that this genus should be placed in the FamilyPseudomonadaceae Winslowet al.. and should include other straight, rod-shaped, luminescent, polar flagellate bacteria that ferment glucose without, however, necessarily producing gas (H₂ and CO₂) as does the type species. The species that have the form of vibrios should be accepted as members of the genusVibrio as suggested by several previous investigators. They have characters much like those ofVibrio comma, the type species of the genusVibrio.     

Electrophysiological investigation of the amino acid carrier selectivity in epithelial cells fromXenopus embryo

Summary The electrical responses induced by external applications of neutral amino acids were used to determine whether different carriers are expressed in the membrane of embryonic epithelial cells ofXenopus laevis. Competition experiments were performed under voltage-clamp conditions at constant membrane potential.Gly,l-Ala,l-Pro,l-Ser,l-Asn andl-Gln generate electrical responses with similar apparent kinetic constants and compete for the same carrier. They are [Na] _o and voltage-dependent, insensitive to variations in [Cl] _o and [HCO₃] _o , inhibited by pH _o changes, by amiloride and, for a large fraction of the current, by MeAIB. The increase in [K] _o at constant and negative membrane potential reduces the response, whereas lowering [K] _o augments it. l-Leu,l-Phe andl-Pro appear to compete for another carrier. They generate electrogenic responses insensitive to amiloride and MeAIB, as well as to alterations of membrane potential, [Na] _o and [K] _o . Lowering [Cl] _o decreases their size, whereas increasing [HCO₃] _o at neutral pH _o increases it.It is concluded that at least two and possibly three transport systems (A, ASC and L) are expressed in the membrane of the embryonic cells studied. An unexpected electrogenic character of the L system is revealed by the present study and seems to be indirectly linked to the transport function. l-Pro seems to be transported by system A or ASC in the presence of Na and by system L in the absence of Na. MeAIB induces an inward current.     

Fungi causing plant diseases at jabalpur (madhya pradesh)-IX

Summary The present paper describes 6 foliicolous fungi from Jabalpur (India). These includeAsterina lawsoniae Syd. on leaves ofLawsonia alba, Diplocarpon rosae Wolf. onRosa sp.,Cercospora jujubae Chowdhury onZizyphus jujuba andCercospora subsessilis Henn. &Nym. onAzadirachta indica, new fungus records for Madhya Pradesh;Asterostomella strophanti Henn. on leaves ofFlacourtia ramontchii, a new fungus for the country andCorynespora cassiicola (Berk. &Curt.)Wei. onClerodendron inerme, a new host record.     

Ornithine dissimilation byTreponema denticola

Treponema denticola convertedl-ornithine, a product ofl-arginine catabolism, to putrescine via a decarboxylation reaction and to proline via a deamination reaction. Ornithine decarboxylation byT. denticola extracts was stimulated by pyridoxal 5′-phosphate. In the absence of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, (NH₄)₂SO₄-fractionated extracts converted ornithine to proline and ammonia. This activity was not stimulated by α-keto acids, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or ADP. Neither ornithine δ-transaminase (l-ornithine: 2-oxoacid aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.13) nor Δ¹ reductase [l-proline: NAD(P) 5-oxidoreductase, EC 1.5.1.2.] activity was detectable in cell extracts. These results indicate that formation of proline from ornithine inT. denticola is catalyzed by an enzyme system analogous to the ornithine cyclase (deaminating) ofClostridium sporogenes. Exogenous ornithine inhibited the growth ofT. denticola. Thus, in addition to generating putrescine and proline, the ornithine dissimilatory pathways may serve to prevent accumulation of inhibitory concentrations of ornithine in the spirochete's environment.     

A significant variant of Microsporon gypseum

Summary Detailed morphological characteristics of a variant ofMicrosporon gypseum, which evolved spontaneously in a pure culture of a soil strain, have been described. The outstanding characteristics of this variant includes the production of macroconidia resembling more closely the macroconidia ofTrichophyton than those ofMicrosporon.     

Acidiphilium aminolytica sp. nov.: An acidophilic chemoorganotrophic bacterium isolated from acidic mineral environment

Acidiphilium aminolytica is proposed for a species of the genusAcidiphilium. Acidiphilium aminolytica can be phenotypically differentiated from all other species of the genusAcidiphilium. The seven strains of this species that have been studied are Gram-negative, aerobic, mesophilic, non-sporeforming, motile, and rod-shaped bacteria. They grow between pH 3.0 and 6.0, but not at pH 6.5. They yield positive results in tests for hippuric acid hydrolysis, catalase and urease production. Oxidase, esculin hydrolysis, and -galactosidase tests are negative. They can used-glucose,d-galactose, inositol, sorbitol,l-lysine,l-glutamate,l-arginine, -alanine,dl-4-aminobutyrate,dl-5-aminovalerate, sperimine, or diaminobutane as a sole carbon source, but cannot use elemental sulfur and ferrous iron as an energy source. The DNA base composition is 58.7–59.2 G+C mol%. The major isoprenoid quinone is ubiquinone with ten isoprene unit (Q-10). The major fatty acid is the C_18:1 fatty acid. Two ornithine amide lipids, the C_18:1 fatty acid esters of -N-3-hydroxystearylornithyltaurine and -N-3-hydroxystearylornithine, are detected as the polar aminolipid. DNA relatedness between this species and the other species ofAcidiphilium, the generaAcidomonas, andAcidobacterium was 29 to 2%. These results indicate, that this new species should be placed in the genusAcidiphilium. The type strain (strain 101) ofA. aminolytica is JCM 8796.     

Considérations systématiques et biologiques sur quelques espèces d'Entomophthora du groupeSphaerosperma pathogènes d'insectes [Phycomycètes:Entomophthoraceae]

Résumé Des souches d'Entomophthora du groupesphaerosperma isolées respectivement de chenilles deTortrix viridana L., d'imagos d'Agriotes sputator L. et de nombreuses espèces d'Aphididae doivent être classées dans trois espèces distinctes:E. sphaerosperma Fres.,E. elateridiphaga Turian etE. phalloides Batko. Les différences essentielles concernent la dimension et la forme des conidies primaires et celles des conidies formées à l'extrémité de tubes capillaires ainsi que les exigences nutritives.

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Summary Entomophthora strains belonging to thesphaerosperma group were isolated from caterpillars ofTortrix viridana L., from adults ofAgriotes sputator L. and from various Aphid species. They respectively belong to 3 separated species ofEntomophthora: E. sphaerosperma Fres. s.str., E. elateridiphaga Turian (originally described as subspecies ofsphaerosperma), E. phalloides Batko. The shape of the secondary conidia which are formed at the top of capillary tubes furnish the best character for discrimination.E. sphaerosperma grows very fast on various media including Sabouraud;E. elateridiphaga grows slowly on Sabouraud andE. phalloides requires adjunction of egg yolk.