Studies on the molecular ecology of Blastomyces dermatitidis |
| |
Authors: | Baumgardner Dennis J Laundre Bryan |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Family Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Milwaukee, WI, USA;(2) University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI, USA |
| |
Abstract: | The microecology of Blastomyces dermatitidis, the dimorphic etiologic agentof the potentially fatal systemic fungal infection, blastomycosis, is not well defined.Blastomyces dermatitidis may occur periodically at natural sites, perhaps aided by rotting organic material, animal droppings and physical changes.
Semi-quantitative growth studies of B. dermatitidis on 2% agar plates determined the ability toutilize or tolerate a variety of substrates including simple and complex molecules
as carbon source, and organic and inorganic nitrogen sources. Allantoin, creatinine, quanidoacetic acid, guanidine and cysteine
may be used as sole nitrogen source. Allantoin in combination with dextrose, glycerol, lichenen, celloboise and other wood
by-products support growth of B. dermatitidis at room temperature. The nutritional conversion of the fungus to the yeast form at room temperature, well demonstrated on
allantoin/glycerol/yeast extract media, appears to be affected by certain inorganic compounds. The organism tolerates low
to moderate levels of alpha-pinene, tannic acid, shikimic acid, veratryl alcohol, vanillic acid, and polyethyleneglycol-200.
There are significant differences among isolates regarding growth on various substances at 20° and 37° centigrade. It appears
that a variety of wood by-products and animal waste substrates, in combination, support the growth of B. dermatitidis. Their role in the ecological niche of B. dermatitidis, and the importance of nutritional dimorphism in the natural environment warrants further investigation.
This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
| |
Keywords: | blastomycosis Blastomyces dermatitidis dimorphism ecology |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|