Evaluation of industrial yeasts for pathogenicity.

Eleven yeasts representative of species of industrial interest were compared with Candida albicans for their potential pathogenicity for untreated and cortisone-treated mice. Only C. tropicalis produced a progressive infection similar to that produced by C. albicans. Candida lipolytica, Torulopsis spp., and Hansenula polymorpha were not recovered from mice 6 days after inoculation. Kluyveromyces fragilis, C. pseudotropicalis, C. utilis, C. guilliermondii and C. maltosa were recovered from mice but did not produce evidence of infection.     

Activity and substrate specificity of the alcohol dehydrogenases of n-alkane oxidizing yeasts

The activity and substrate specificity of alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) in the fractions of cytosol and membrane particles were compared in the yeasts Torulopsis candida, Candida lipolytica and Candida tropicalis grown in media with glucose and hexadecane. In all studied yeast cultures growing in the medium with hexadecane, NAD-dependent ADH specifically dehydrogenating only medium and higher alcohols are induced in the membrane structures of the cells. Soluble ADH are found in the cytosol of the cultures grown either on glucose or on hexadecane. These ADH oxidize all alcohols with the carbon chain length from C2 to C16. As was found by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel, the number of ADH molecular forms in the cytosol fraction of the cultures depends on the carbon growth substrate being used and the peculiarities of yeast culture.     

Physiological and DNA characterization of Candida maltosa, a hydrocarbon-utilizing yeast.

Selected yeast classified as Candida sake van Uden et Buckley were examined for their physiological, morphological and immunological properties and their DNA relatedness. Candida maltosa Komagata, Nakase et Katsuya is herein recognized as a species separate from C. sake, Candida maltosa was distinguished from C. sake and from C. tropicalis by insignificant DNA reassociation. In addition, C. maltosa was distinguished from C. sake by its higher maximal growth temperature and lower guanine plus cytosine content of its DNA and from C. tropicalis by its failure to utilize soluble starch for growth and its resistance to cycloheximide. The species C. cloacae and C. subtropicalis are placed in synonymy with C. maltosa.     

Phylogenetic identification of n-alkane assimilating Candida yeasts based on nucleotide divergence in the 59 end of LSU rDNA gene

Phylogenetic relationships of several species within the n-alkane assimilating Candida yeasts were investigated by using characters from the nucleotide sequence of the variable D1/D2 region at the 5' end of a large-subunit (26S) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene. First the nucleotide sequences of D1/D2 domain of Candida sp. 1098 (formerly identified as C. tropicalis 1098) and its dicarboxylic acid-producing-mutant strain M1210 were investigated. These two nucleotide sequences were identical and lacked only one base pair compared with that of C. maltosa CBS 5611 (type strain), and they were identified as C. maltosa. We then showed that C. maltosa IFO 1978 (formerly identified as C. cloacae) and C. maltosa IFO 1975 (formerly identified as C. subtropicalis) had the same nucleotide sequence and had only one base pair substitution compared with C. maltosa CBS 5611 (type strain), which is consistent with conventional classification. We also found that another widely studied n-alkane assimilating Candida yeast, C. tropicalis pk233, to be C. viswanathii.     

Cr(VI) reduction in a chromate-resistant strain of Candida maltosa isolated from the leather industry

A Cr(VI)-resistant yeast was isolated from tanning liquors from a leather factory in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. Based on morphological and physiological analyses and the D1/D2 domain sequence of the 26S rDNA, the yeast was identified as Candida maltosa. Resistance of the strain to high Cr(VI) concentrations and its ability to chemically reduce chromium was studied. When compared to the three laboratory yeasts Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Yarrowia lipolytica, the C. maltosa strain was found to tolerate chromate concentrations as high as 100 micro g/ml. In addition to this phenotypic trait, the C. maltosa strain showed ability to reduce Cr(VI). Chromate reduction occurred both in intact cells (grown in culture medium or in soil containing chromate) as well as in cell-free extracts. NADH-dependent chromate reductase activity was found associated with soluble protein and, to a lesser extent, with the membrane fraction.     

A comparative immunological investigation of the alkane hydroxylating cytochrome P-450 from the yeast Candida maltosa

The immunological relations of the cytochrome P-450 from the n-alkane utilizing yeast Candida maltosa to cytochrome P-450 forms of other organisms - yeasts, bacteria and mammalia - were investigated using a solid-phase double-antibody radioimmunoassay. Only the microsomal fraction of other n-alkane utilizing yeasts shows a distinct cross-reaction with an antiserum against cytochrome P-450 from Candida maltosa. Neither the tested bacterial nor the mammalian cytochromes P-450 cross-react with the antiserum.     

Antimicrobial activity of Wedelia trilobata crude extracts.

A biological screening of activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and fungi of crude extracts from Wedelia trilobata is reported. The n-hexane extract showed antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis (Gram-positive bacteria); along with Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella group C, Salmonella paratyphi, and Shigella sonnei (Gram-negative bacteria). The ethyl acetate extract was active only against Salmonella group C; and the aqueous extract was inactive against the tested bacteria. None of the tested extracts showed biological activity against the yeasts (Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Rhodotorula rubra) or the fungi (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Mucor sp., Trichophyton rubrum).     

表型相似的热带假丝酵母和麦芽糖假丝酵母在脉冲电泳核型上的差异

热带假丝酵母Ｃａｎｄｉｄａ ｔｒｏｐｉｃａｌｉｓ （Ｃａｓｔｅｌｌａｎｉ ）Ｂｅｒｋｈｏｕｔ和麦芽糖假丝酵母Ｃ． ｍａｌｔｏｓａＫｏｍａｇａｔａ, Ｎａｋａｓｅ ＆ Ｋａｔｓｕｙａ是两种可利用烃类作为碳和能量来源的酵母菌,前者还是一种条件致病菌,可引起系统感染。这两种假丝酵母菌在形态和生理生化性状上非常相似,用常规分类方法不易准确地鉴别。本研究对Ｃ． Ｔｒｏｐｉｃａｌｉｓ和Ｃ ｍａｌｔｏｓａ的模式菌株以及中国普通微生物菌种保藏中心（ＣＧＭＣＣ）保藏的归于这两个种名下的其它菌株进行了脉冲电泳核型比较分析。发现这两个表型相似的种具有明显不同的染色体ＤＮＡ分子带型,而同一种内的不同菌株却具有相同或相似的分子核型。Ｃ．Ｔｒｏｐｉｃａｌｉｓ的特异染色体ＤＮＡ分子带谱为２条８．５—１．２ Ｍｂ的带, ４条２．３－３．４ Ｍｂ的带。 Ｃ ｍａｌｔｏｓａ的特异带谱为： ３～４条分子量在１．１－１．３Ｍｂ范围内的带, １条约为２．２Ｍｂ的带以及２－３条大小为３．２－３．５Ｍｂ的带。 Ｃ ｔｒｏｐｉｃａｌｉｓ与Ｃ ｍａｌｔｏｓａ在染色体ＤＮＡ分子带型上的差异与二者在可溶性淀粉的同化能力和４０℃下的生长能力上的差异具有明显的相关性…     

The Identification of Wild Yeast Colonies on Lysine Agar

The most common wild yeasts infecting pressed baker's yeast in Great Britain are Candida tropicalis, C. krusei, C. mycoderma, Trichosporon cutaneum, Torulopsis candida and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. Wild yeasts are readily detected and quantitatively estimated by plating infected baker's yeast on lysine agar, which permits of only limited growth of baker's yeast.
Morphology of wild yeast colonies on lysine agar is affected by duration of incubation, location in the agar plate, and sometimes by temperature of incubation, density of infection and numbers of baker's yeast cells present. It is therefore possible to identify each species by at least one characteristic type of colony produced under specified conditions. Ability to grow at 30° and 37° serves to distinguish further between certain species.     

Mixed cultures of different yeasts species and yeasts with filamentous fungi in the SCP production. I. Production of single cell protein by mixed cultures Candida lipolytica and Candida tropicalis.

The aim of this study was to determine the application of mixed cultures Candida lipolytica and Candida tropicalis in the SCP production. N-paraffin fraction of crude oil and individual n-alkanes C:7--C:17 and glucose were used as carbon sources. The cultures were grown on laboratory scale in shaking flasks and in a 7 1 fermentor. It was found that the mixed cultures gave about 18% higher yield of biomass than the individual cultures.     

Effect of yeast growth limitation on the respiratory chain, the economic coefficient and the critical oxygen concentration for respiration

The effect of the yeast growth limitation by oxygen on the economical coefficient (EC), the operation of the cyanide resistant electron transport pathway (CrETP), and the critical for respiration oxygen concentration concentration ([O2]cr) was studied. The operation of CrETP was found to differ among various yeasts growing on glucose: it could function during both the exponential phase and limitation of growth (Torulopsis candida), or only in the conditions of growth limitation (Candida tropicalis, C. mycoderma, C. lipolytica), sometimes for a very long period (Endomyces geotrichum); in certain cases (C. utilis), it cannot be detected at all. If the main respiratory chain is inhibited by cyanide (i. e. if only CrETP operates), the value of [O2]cr sharply increases; such an increase can be also found in the absence of cyanide but in the conditions of active operation of CrETP. Apparently, the value of [O2]cr is higher for cyanide resistant oxydase of the studied organisms than for cytochrome oxydase. A decrease in EC observed upon the limitation of yeast growth by oxygen (Lozinov et al., 1974) correlates with the appearance or intensification of CrETP. Therefore, the decrease of EC can be attributed to the operation of non-phosphorylating CrETP which occurs in all the studied yeasts (with an exception of C. utilis) when their growth is limited by oxygen.     

A mutated hygromycin resistance gene is functional in the n-alkane-assimilating yeast Candida tropicalis

Development of a transformation system in the n-alkane-assimilating diploid yeast Candida tropicalis requires an antibiotic resistance gene in order to establish a selectable marker. The resistance gene for hygromycin B has often been used as a selectable marker in yeast transformation. However, C. tropicalis harboring the hygromycin resistance gene (HYG) was as sensitive to hygromycin B as the wild-type strain. Nine CTG codons were found in the ORF of the HYG gene. This codon has been reported to be translated as serine rather than leucine in Candida species. Analysis of the tRNA gene in C. tropicalis with the anticodon CAG [tRNA(CAG) gene], which is complementary to the codon CTG, showed that the sequence was highly similar to that of the C. maltosa tRNA(CAG) gene. In C. maltosa, the codon CTG is read as serine and not leucine. These results suggested that the HYG gene was not functional due to the nonuniversal usage of the CTG codon. Each of the nine CTG codons in the ORF of the HYG gene was changed to a CTC codon, which is read as leucine, by site-directed mutagenesis. When a plasmid containing the mutated HYG gene (HYG#) was constructed and introduced into C. tropicalis, hygromycin-resistant transformants were successfully obtained. This mutated hygromycin resistance gene may be useful for direct selection of C. tropicalis transformants.     

临床分离161株念珠菌菌种鉴定及氟康唑药敏试验分析

目的调查临床分离的念珠菌种类及其对氟康唑的敏感性。方法采用科玛嘉念珠菌显色培养基和YBC平板对山东大学齐鲁医院细菌室分离到的161株念珠菌进行鉴定,并对分离出的白念珠菌分别采用NCCLS推荐的微量稀释法和ROSCO药敏纸片法对氟康唑进行药物敏感性试验。结果在161株念珠菌中白念珠菌为69．57％,热带念珠菌为19．88％,近平滑念珠菌为4．97％,克柔念珠菌为2．48％,光滑念珠菌为1．86％,其他念珠菌为1．24％。两种方法药敏结果显示：112株白念珠菌对氟康唑的敏感率分别为96．43％和97．32％,仅有2株耐药。结论白念珠菌仍然是我院分离率最高的念珠菌,其次是热带念珠菌和近平滑念珠菌。白念珠菌对氟康唑仍敏感,耐药菌株极少。     

Yeasts isolated from plant-associated beetles and other insects: seven novel Candida species near Candida albicans

Yeasts related to Candida albicans were isolated from the digestive tracts of beetles in eight families and various orders of insects such as earwigs, crickets, and roaches, most of which were caught at light traps or in a few cases directly from plant materials. Based on comparisons of DNA sequences and other taxonomic characteristics, a total of 41 isolates were identified as Candida orthopsilosis, Candida pseudorhagii, Candida maltosa, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Candida neerlandica, Lodderomyces elongisporus, and seven new Candida species. The new species and type strains are designated as Candida gigantensis NRRL Y-27736T, Candida bohiensis NRRL Y-27737T, Candida alai NRRL Y-27739T, Candida buenavistaensis NRRL Y-27734T, Candida frijolesensis NRRL Y-48060T, Candida labiduridarum NRRL Y-27940T, and Candida tetrigidarum NRRL Y-48142T. A phylogeny based on SSU and LSU rRNA gene sequences indicated that most of the new species were closely related to members of the C. albicans/L. elongisporus clade, such as C. albicans, Candida dulbliniensis, C. neerlandica, Candida chauliodes, and Candida corydali. Candida alai was placed near this clade, but no closely related sister taxon was identified. The ecology of the insect-associated yeasts is discussed and compared with the results from other studies.     

Presence of pathogenic yeasts in the feces of the semi-domesticated pigeon (Columba livia, Gmelin 1789, urban type) from the city of Turin

The results of a survey on the presence of pathogenic yeasts in pigeon droppings collected in Turin, are shown. The study was carried out in 8 densely populated areas, where human-animal contact is highest. A total of 427 pigeon dropping samples, most of which fresh, were collected. 550 yeast colonies, clinically interesting or at least pathologically significant, were isolated by the identification routine methods. The yeasts belong to the following species: Candida albicans, C. humicola, C. krusei, C. guillermondii, C. lypolitica, C. lambica, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. rugosa, C. zeylanoides, Cryptococcus albidus, C. laurentii, C. neoformans, Hansenula anomala, Geotrichum sp., Kloekera apiculata, Rhodotorula glutinis, R. rubra, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Torulopsis candida, T. glabrata, Trichosporon beigelii, T. capitatum, T. cutaneum, T. pullulans.     

Esterase activity of Candida species isolated from immunocompromised hosts

A total of 149 clinical isolates of Candida species isolated from immunocompromised patients were examined to ascertain their esterase activity by the Tween 80 opacity test, which is a biochemical test used mainly to differentiate between Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis. Our results showed that C. albicans (92.3%), Candida tropicalis (92.3%), Candida parapsilosis (25%), C. dubliniensis (16.6%), Candida inconspicua (100%), and Candida lipolytica (100%) produced opacity halos through the 10-day post-inoculation period. The remaining Candida species did not produce a positive test response. These findings indicate that Tween 80 opacity test cannot be used as the sole phenotypic trait in the differentiation of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis.     

Isolation of proteolytic psychrotrophic yeasts from fresh raw seafoods

A total of 103 cultures of yeasts were isolated from seven kinds of fresh raw seafoods. The isolates comprised six genera, Candida, Cryptococcus, Debaryomyces, Rhodotorula, Sterigmatomyces and Trichosporon , and included 21 different species. All the isolates were psychrotrophic yeasts. Proteolytic activities of 50 psychrotrophic strains were studied by use of skim milk within the temperature range of 0–42°C. All the strains showed various degrees of proteolysis. In particular, Candida lipolytica. Trichosporon pullulans and Candida scottii were active species at low temperatures. Sensory spoilage due to the proteolytic yeasts were observed in mackerel homogenates stored at 10°C. C. lipolytica -inoculated homogenates caused spoilage with ammoniacal odours after 1 week of storage. Values of total volatile basic nitrogen at 10°C were highest with C. lipolytica among 35 strains tested, followed by Tr. pullans. Trichosporon cutaneum, C. scottii, Rhodotorula glutinis and Cryptococcus luteolus. Proteolytic psychrotrophic yeasts were widely distributed in raw seafoods.     

Selenium tolerance of yeasts

Selenium tolerance of yeasts widely varies: the growth of some yeasts can be inhibited by a selenium concentration as low as 10(-4) M, whereas others can grow in the presence of 10(-1) M selenium. Homogeneous yeast taxa are characterized by a certain level of selenium tolerance, and heterogeneous taxa show a variable level of tolerance to selenium. In general, ascomycetous yeasts are more tolerant to selenium than basidiomycetous yeasts. Among the ascomycetous yeasts, the genera Dekkera and Schizosaccharomyces exhibited the lowest and the species Candida maltosa, Hanseniaspora valbyensis, Kluyveromyces marxianus, and Yarrowia lipolytica the highest tolerance to selenium. Among the basidiomycetous yeasts, the genera Bullera, Cryptococcus, and Holtermannia showed the lowest and the species Cryptococcus curvatus, Cr. humicola, and Trichosporon spp. the highest tolerance to selenium. The selenium tolerance of yeasts depends on the composition of the growth medium, in particular, on the presence of sulfate, sulfur-containing amino acids, and glutamine in the medium.     

Bioactivity studies of extracts from Tridax procumbens.

An updated review on the biological activity of Tridax procumbens is presented. A detailed biological screening comprised of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, yeasts and fungi using crude extracts of this plant was undertaken. The n-hexane extract of the flowers showed activity against Escherichia coli. The same extract of the whole aerial parts was active against Mycobacterium smegmatis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella group C and Salmonella paratyphi. The ethyl-acetate extract of the flowers was active against Bacillus cereus and Klebsiella sp. The aerial parts extract also showed activity only against Mycobacterium smegmatis and Staphylococcus aureus, while the aqueous extract showed no antimicrobial activity. None of the tested extracts was active against the yeasts, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Rhodotorula rubra; or the fungi: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Mucor sp. and Trichophyton rubrum.     

BD Phoenix^TM酵母菌鉴定板对临床分离酵母菌鉴定能力的评估

目的 评估BD Phoenix^TM酵母菌鉴定板对酵母菌的鉴定能力.方法 选取白念珠菌18株,热带念珠菌22株,光滑念珠菌19株,克柔念珠菌8株,近平滑念珠菌20株,新生隐球菌14株,季也蒙念珠菌4株,平常念珠菌1株,葡萄牙念珠菌1株,头状地霉2株,挪威念珠菌1株,链状念珠菌1株,乳酒念珠菌1株,希木龙念珠菌1株,解脂念珠菌3株,皱褶念珠菌1株,菌膜念珠菌3株,共计120株.借助Phoenix^TM 100全自动微生物鉴定仪,使用BD Phoenix^TM酵母菌鉴定板鉴定上述菌株.用真菌通用引物ITS1与ITS4对所有受试菌株的rDNA进行PCR扩增,对PCR产物进行序列测定、分析并作为金标准与BD Phoenix^TM酵母菌鉴定板的结果比较,同时使用MALDI-TOF MS质谱分析对试验菌株进行菌种鉴定.结果 BDPhoenix^TM酵母菌鉴定板除了对1株挪威念珠菌、1株平常念珠菌、1株解脂念珠菌、1株皱褶念珠菌未能鉴定以及1株链状念珠菌、1株克柔念珠菌、2株菌膜念珠菌、1株解脂念珠菌鉴定错误外其余试验菌株鉴定均正确,鉴定准确率为92.5％.所有鉴定结果均在17 h内获得,而白念珠菌、热带念珠菌、近平滑念珠菌的鉴定时间均小于6h,并且不受推荐培养基的限制.所有菌株MALDI-TOF MS的鉴定结果与其rDNA ITS序列分析的结果完全一致.结论 BD Phoenix^TM酵母菌鉴定板对多数酵母菌能够快速准确地鉴定到种,但对某些少见酵母菌的鉴定能力有待进一步考证.