J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Sep, 14(3), 313 - 7 Serotyping Cryptococcus neoformans by immunofluorescence; Kaplan W et al.; Four serotypes of Cryptococcus neoformans designated A, B, C, and D are currently recognized . Although an agglutination test is most often used to serotype C . neoformans in cultures, this test is not appropriate for typing the fungus in fixed tissues . A study to prepare fluorescent-antibody reagents for typing C . neoformans in cultures and to determine whether they can be used to type this fungus in fixed tissues was carried out . Antisera to one strain belonging to each of the four serotypes were prepared in rabbits by intravenous injection of whole Formalin-killed cryptococci . Each antiserum was labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate and then adsorbed with cells of each of the heterologous serotypes . The adsorbed conjugates were then tested against six serotype A isolates and five isolates of each of the other three serotypes . Labeled serotype A or D antiserum adsorbed with either B or C cells stained the A and D, but not the B or C, isolates . Labeled serotype B antiserum adsorbed with A cells stained the B and C, but not the A or D, isolates . Labeled A antiserum absorbed with D cells differentiated A from D; labeled C antiserum absorbed with B cells differentiated C from B . Of the 21 test isolates, 17 could be serotyped in paraffin sections of tissues of experimentally infected mice. Arch Pathol Lab Med, 1981 Sep, 105(9), 456 - 9 Opportunistic Trichosporon pneumonia . Association with invasive aspergillosis; Saul SH et al.; Two severely immunocompromised patients suffered extensive pulmonary infection with Trichosporon cutaneum (T beigelii) and Aspergillus species . In one patient, the T cutaneum demonstrated yeast forms in tissue sections . The other patient had T cutaneum fungemia prior to death, and examination of lung tissue demonstrated both yeast and hyphal forms . To our knowledge, these patients are the first described with polymycotic infection involving T cutaneum and Aspergillus species . Trichosporon cutaneum must be added to Candida, Torulopsis, and Cryptococcus species as a cause of visceral opportunistic yeast infection. Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 1981 Aug 14, 106(33), 1035 - 7 {Chronic pulmonary cryptococcosis . A case contribution for diagnosis of cryptococcosis in man from a pathologic-anatomic viewpoint}; Grosse G et al.; Routine use of differential nutrients for isolating cryptococcus neoformans (Staib-Agar) during post-mortem examination revealed previously unsuspected chronic pulmonary cryptococcosis in a 64-year-old woman . Cause of recurrent pleural effusions over three years were probably sub-pleural cryptococcomas . In on-target and specific search for the cryptococcosis pathogen, the lung deserves special attention as a probable gateway. Arch Ophthalmol, 1981 Aug, 99(8), 1424 - 9 Lymphocyte transformation in presumed ocular histoplasmosis; Ganley JP et al.; Lymphocytes from individuals with inactive macular disciform lesions of presumed ocular histoplasmosis challenged with three histoplasmin antigens incorporated tritiated thymidine at a significantly higher rate than histoplasmin-stimulated lymphocytes of matched control and peripheral scar groups . This finding is consistent with the etiologic association of the disciform ocular syndrome and previous systemic infection with Histoplasma capsulatum . The disciform group had a higher mean response than the other two groups to pokeweed mitogen but not to phytohemagglutinin and had higher mean counts per minute to the specific antigens Toxoplasma gondii, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M battery, and M gaus, but not to Candida albicans . These data would suggest that individuals with the disciform lesion of presumed ocular histoplasmosis have a hyperreactive cellular immune response; this response may play an important role in the development of the disciform. J Am Acad Dermatol, 1981 Jul, 5(1), 32 - 6 Cutaneous cryptococcosis simulating pyoderma gangrenosum; Massa MC et al.; A 33-year-old white man with a history of chronic ulcerative colitis presented with multiple cutaneous ulcers and an indurated cellulitic area on his right thigh . Clinically, the ulcers were considered to represent pyoderma gangrenosum . However, tissue biopsy revealed copious yeast forms that were identified as Cryptococcus neoformans . The indurated area on the right thigh later ulcerated, and tissue culture of this area also revealed Cryptococcus . This case illustrates that when pyoderma gangrenosum is diagnosed, the possibility of deep fungal infection should be considered and excluded by appropriate studies. Clin Orthop, 1981 Jul-Aug, (158), 219 - 23 Cryptococcal bone disease: a manifestation of disseminated cryptococcosis; Fialk MA et al.; In three patients with cryptococcal bone infection, skeletal involvement was sometimes occult, localized (offering a clinically accessible area for the diagnosis of disseminated) or part of a disseminated disease . Cryptococcal bone infection may clinically imitate neoplastic disease . Cryptococcal antigen determinations on bone curettings or serum may be helpful for rapid diagnosis . Although bony disease has been cured with local curettage, systemic amphotericin B is prescribed to eliminate inapparent disseminated disease. Arch Intern Med, 1981 Jul, 141(8), 1076 - 9 Invasive fungal infections in patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis; Kauffman CA et al.; Patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis have persistent Candida infection of nails, skin, and mucous membranes, but rarely, if ever, does an invasive fungal infection develop . We describe two patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis who died of fungal infection; one had C albicans meningitis and the second had Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis . The cases of four other patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and invasive fungal infection, three with crytococcosis and one with histoplasmosis, have been reported previously . Immunological profiles on these six patients revealed no differences from those of other patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis without invasive fungal infection . Three of the four patients who received amphotericin B were cured of their infection; three patients died, including one patient with overwhelming cryptococcosis who had received intensive antifungal therapy and transfer factor. Immun Infekt, 1981 Jul, 9(4), 131 - 5 {Internal mycoses of exogenous origin (author's transl)}; Seeliger HP; The increase of both visceral mycoses and designations used for them requires, among other matters an accord on a better non-ambiguous terminology . The disease designation "blastomycosis" is quite obsolete and should be replaced by proper terms such as candida mycosis, cryptococcus mycosis, histoplasma mycosis etc . The frequently used term "systemic mycosis" should be restricted to exogenous mycotic infections of internal organs caused by obligatory pathogenic fungi such as Coccidioides immitis, Histoplasma capsulatum and others . The common term "endomycosis" is considered appropriate for fungal infections provoked by secondary disease provoking fungi of opportunistic pathogenicity especially by species of the form genus Candida . Other mycotic infections of visceral organs, mainly of the respiratory tract f.i . by species of Aspergillus and other molds, are likewise mostly of secondary nature and should not be considered as systemic mycosis in the restricted meaning of the word because of their lacking tendency to dissemination. Hum Pathol, 1981 Jul, 12(7), 660 - 3 Cryptococcal peritonitis complicating a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in unsuspected cryptococcal meningitis; Crum CP et al.; A 34 year old male was hospitalized because of the probability of a posterior fossa lesion that had increased intracranial pressure . A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was implanted, resulting in partial resolution of symptoms . Subsequently Cryptococcus neoformans was cultured from the cerebrospinal fluid and a diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis was made . Despite amphotericin B therapy, the patient continued to deteriorate and died on the eighty-fifth day of hospitalization . Autopsy demonstrated cryptococcal meningitis and cerebral edema . An unexpected finding was cryptococcal peritonitis, which was not associated with disseminated disease . The case is unique because cryptococcal peritonitis is rare, and the spread of the organism occurred through a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. J Clin Microbiol, 1981 Jul, 14(1), 106 - 7 Serotypes of Cryptococcus neoformans strains isolated in Germany; Mishra SK et al.; An examination of 21 strains of Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from environmental and clinical sources in Germany revealed only serotypes A, D, and AD . Of these, 13 isolates were serotype A, 5 isolates were serotype D, and 3 isolates were identified as serotype AD . The absence of serotypes B or C confirms earlier reports from other European countries. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1981 Jul, 124(1), 88 - 9 Asymptomatic cryptococcal meningitis; Liss HP et al.; Two cases of asymptomatic cryptococcal meningitis are described . The disease was diagnosed only after Cryptococcus neoformans was cultured from lung tissue and urine . These cases represent 2 of 11 meningitis cases seen in a 10-yr period at this hospital . Of 11 cases of extraneural cryptococcosis, 6 had lumbar punctures and these 2 had positive culture results . Asymptomatic cryptococcal meningitis is not rare . Our experience suggested that lumbar punctures should be performed routinely in patients with cultures yielding Cryptococcus neoformans from extraneural sites. Mycopathologia, 1981 Jun 5, 74(3), 143 - 8 A DL-DOPA drop test for the identification of Cryptococcus neoformans; Chaskes S et al.; A simple melanin assay using DL.DOPA as the substrate was developed to aid in the identification of Cryptococcus neoformans . The DL-DOPA drop test was simple and efficient . The best results (100% of the C . neoformans isolates were positive) occurred when C . neoformans was grown for two days at room temperature on Sabouraud agar modified . One to three loopfuls of yeast cells were then transferred to a starvation medium for 18-24 hours . Two of three drops of 0.3% DL-DOPA solution was applied to the transferred yeast cells . Only C . neoformans produced a brown or blackgrey pigment within 24 hrs, with 85% of the isolates becoming brown or black-grey within thirty minutes. Aust Vet J, 1981 Jun, 57(6), 287 - 91 A protracted case of cryptococcal nasal granuloma in a stallion; Roberts MC et al.; A 13-year-old Standardbred stallion presented with a unilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge and airway obstruction was found to have an extensive cryptococcal nasal granuloma . Treatment was not attempted . The stallion was destroyed 26 months later having completed 2 successful breeding seasons . The granuloma had gradually increased in size and almost completely occupied the left nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses . It was characterised histologically by fibrous and myxomatous tissue and masses of yeasts . A cryptococcal granuloma found within the wall of the jejunum could represent evidence of dissemination, and organisms were seen within alveoli, bronchioles and the intestinal lumen. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1981 Jun, 123(6), 636 - 9 Serum from patients with invasive fungal infections inhibits the adherence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and alveolar macrophages; Rasp FL et al.; Adherence of various combinations of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) or alveolar macrophages (AM) and serum from nonimmunosuppressed patients wit culture-proved, invasive fungal infections or control subjects was evaluated in vitro using the standard nylon fiber pipette technique . In autologous serum, adherence of PMN from patients with wide variety of untreated fungal infections, including blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, coccidiodomycosis, and spirotrichosis, was significantly (p less than 0.001) decreased when compared with PMN from uninfected control subjects or patients with untreated bacterial infections . Studies using various combinations of PMN and serums from patients with blastomycosis suggested that the adherence defect was due to a serum disorder rather than an intrinsic cellular abnormality . Preincubation in serum from patients with blastomycosis decreased the adherence of control PMN . Preincubation in control serum corrected the decreased adherence of PMN from patients with blastomycosis . Additional studies revealed that the inhibitor was heat-stable and reversible, being present before, but not after, treatment or spontaneous resolution of the patient's infections . Adherence of AM from patients with fungal infection was also normal except when AM were preincubated in serum from patients with untreated fungal infections . We concluded that the intrinsic adherence of PMN and AM from patients with untreated fungal infections is normal, but that these patients do have an extrinsic heat-labile serum factor that can decrease the adherence of PMN and AM. J Reprod Med, 1981 Jun, 26(6), 317 - 9 Cryptococcal meningitis in pregnancy; Curole DN; Two cases of crytococcal meningitis occurred in pregnancy . Amphotericin B was administered in the first trimester in one case, and amphotericin B and flucytosine (5-fluorocytosine) were administered in the second trimester in the second . Both cases had good fetal and maternal outcome . Combined therapy for cryptococcal infections in pregnancy is discussed. Infect Immun, 1981 Jun, 32(3), 1073 - 8 Effect of uremia on lymphocyte transformation and chemiluminescence by spleen cells of normal and Cryptococcus neoformans-infected mice; Fromtling RA et al.; The effect of uremia on immune incompetence was studied . BALB/c mice were infected with a minimally virulent strain of Cryptococcus neoformans 6 weeks before immune assay . Uremia was induced by intramuscular injection of 0.15 ml of glycerol . Pooled spleen cells from four experimental groups (normal, uremic, infected, and infected and uremic) were assayed by lymphocyte transformation (LT) and luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) 24 h after induction of uremia . A greater response to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A stimulation in tests of LT and CL was exhibited by uremic cells than by nonuremic cells; however, the presence of BALB/c uremic serum resulted in lower responses by both LT and CL . Infected mice showed a greater response to mitogens than did noninfected mice, but no significant stimulation in response to heat-killed whole cells of C . neoformans . Spleen cell populations of uremic mice had a lower viability and a different composition of spleen cell subpopulations than did cell preparations from nonuremic mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1981 Jun, 78(6), 3853 - 7 Roles of macrophage Fc and C3b receptors in phagocytosis of immunologically coated Cryptococcus neoformans; Griffin FM Jr; I have studied the roles of macrophage Fc and C3b receptors in the cell's interaction with encapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans and have defined the effects of a lymphokine that enhances macrophage complement receptor function, the effects of ingestion of soluble immune complexes, and the effects of corticosteroid treatment upon the ability of macrophages to phagocytize cryptococci via these receptors . Neither uncoated nor C3-coated cryptococci were phagocytized, whereas IgG-coated cryptococci were avidly phagocytized by mouse peritoneal macrophages . Treatment of macrophages with the lymphokine enabled them to ingest C3-coated cryptococci . Prior ingestion of soluble immune complexes severely compromised macrophages' ability to phagocytize cryptococci via their Fc receptors but did not affect their ability to ingest cryptococci via their complement receptors . Corticosteroid treatment severely impaired the ability of macrophages to respond to the lymphokine . Based upon these experimental observations, I have constructed a model for normal host defense mechanisms against disease due to C . neoformans. Infect Immun, 1981 Jun, 32(3), 975 - 8 Role of macrophages in resistance of mice to experimental cryptococcosis; Monga DP; Mice with either a stimulated or depressed reticuloendothelial system were used to study the role of macrophages in resistance to experimental Cryptococcus neoformans infection . Silica, administered intravenously to destroy macrophages, considerably decreased the phagocytic index of the reticuloendothelial system as determined by a carbon clearance test . Silica given 1 day before intravenous challenge with 5 X 10(3) (1 50% lethal dose) of C . neoformans markedly decreased the resistance of mice to cryptococcal infection . Mice given repeated doses of BCG to nonspecifically activate their macrophages could withstand a challenge of 100 50% lethal doses of C . neoformans . These results provide evidence that macrophages play an essential role in natural or nonspecific cell-mediated immunity to murine cryptococcosis. Med J Aust, 1981 May 16, 1(10), 525 - 6 Cryptococcal meningitis: treatment of three patients with miconazole; de Wytt CN; Three patients with cryptococcal meningitis who were treated with miconazole are reported . All patients had previously received combination therapy with amphotericin B and flucytosine which was unsuccessful . All patients showed clinical improvement, and one obtained a mycological remission . Miconazole was well tolerated, and would appear to be a relatively non-toxic and effective drug in the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis which is refractory to conventional chemotherapy. Infect Immun, 1981 May, 32(2), 897 - 907 Human sex hormones stimulate the growth and maturation of Coccidioides immitis; Drutz DJ et al.; Because men and pregnant women show increased susceptibility to extrapulmonary dissemination of coccidioidomycosis, studies were conducted to determine the direct effect of human sex hormones and related compounds on the growth and maturation of Coccidioides immitis in vitro . 17 beta-Estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone were highly stimulatory for the parasitic phase of C . immitis growth whereas cholesterol, ergosterol, and 17 alpha-estradiol (a physiologically inactive stereoisomer of 17 beta-estradiol) lacked such effects . Rates of spherule maturation and endospore release were accelerated, in a dose-dependent fashion, by concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol occurring in normal women, with the most striking effects seen at levels encountered in advanced pregnancy . A stimulatory effect of 17 beta-estradiol on the saprobic phase of fungal growth was also detected . The nonsteroidal "antiestrogens" tamoxifen and nafoxidine had either stimulatory or inhibitory effects, depending on fungal strain and experimental conditions . Diverse strains of Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida sp, and Petriellidium boydii were unaffected by hormones that had distinct effects on C . immitis . These studies suggest that direct stimulation of C . immitis by human sex hormones may help to account for sex- and pregnancy-related predisposition to dissemination of coccidioidomycosis. Arch Intern Med, 1981 May, 141(6), 796 - 7 Disseminated cryptococcosis in an asymptomatic alcoholic man; Pincus MR et al.; Widely disseminated cryptococcosis was found on autopsy in a 50-year-old alcoholic man . The spleen, lungs, CNS, liver, kidney, and lymph nodes were all involved . In his clinical course, the patient showed no signs of immunologic anergy . His terminal hospital course resulted directly from end-stage liver disease and renal failure . The cryptococcal infection was of the nongranulomatous, diffuse type with little or no inflammatory response, which probably explains the lack of symptoms. Ann Intern Med, 1981 May, 94(5), 611 - 6 The evolution of pulmonary cryptococcosis: clinical implications from a study of 41 patients with and without compromising host factors; Kerkering TM et al.; Over 14 years 41 patients were diagnosed as having pulmonary cryptococcosis . Cryptococcus neoformans remained localized to the lung in 12 cases and disseminated in the remaining 29 . Thirty-four patients were compromised hosts . Disseminated disease developed in 28 of these 34, and four of these 28 patients with disseminated disease presented with concomitant pulmonary and meningeal infections . In all the remaining 24 central nervous system involvement developed 2 to 20 weeks after the finding of an abnormal chest roentgenogram . Seven patients were normal hosts, and in six of these cases disease remained localized to the lung . Four important conclusions were drawn from this study: pulmonary cryptococcosis is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis of an abnormal chest roentgenogram, thereby leading to missed diagnoses and therapeutic errors; the natural history of untreated pulmonary cryptococcosis in compromised hosts is extrapulmonic dissemination; compromised hosts with pulmonary cryptococcosis should receive antifungal therapy because of a high propensity for dissemination; and normal hosts in whom dissemination has been excluded generally do not need antifungal therapy. Arch Dermatol, 1981 May, 117(5), 290 - 1 A case of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis successfully treated with miconazole; Bee OB et al.; An 81-year-old man with primary cutaneous cryptococcosis of the left forearm was treated with intravenous and oral miconazole nitrate . Culture for Cryptococcus became negative within three weeks . The ulcer healed within 25 days after treatment was started . Follow-up examination 1 1/2 years later showed no evidence of recurrent infection. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1981 May, 41(5), 1225 - 9 Particle size of airborn Cryptococcus neoformans in a tower; Ruiz A et al.; Nearly 10(6) cells of Cryptococcus neoformans were cultured per g of pigeon droppings in a vacant tower . The air in the tower contained an average of 45 viable cells of C . neoformans per 100 liters: 60% of the cells were less than 4.7 micron in diameter . It is estimated that a human exposed to this atmosphere for 1 h would have 41 cells of c . neoformans deposited in the lungs . Sweeping resulted in the aerosolization of large numbers of cells of C . neoformans from 4.7 to 11 micron in diameter, the number of cells less than 4.7 micron remained relatively constant . One minute after sweeping, 4.4% of viable airborne cells of C . neoformans were less than 1.1 micron in diameter . We believe that this is the first report of isolating such small cells of C . neoformans from a natural site. J Clin Microbiol, 1981 May, 13(5), 828 - 32 Rapid presumptive identification of Cryptococcus neoformans by staphylococcal coagglutination; Maccani JE; A coagglutination reagent was prepared by sensitizing the Cowan I strain of Staphylococcus aureus with rabbit immune globulin directed against Cryptococcus neofromans A15 and absorbed with C . laurentii . This reagent was evaluated for its usefulness in differentiating C . neoformans from other yeast colonies rapidly . Antigen-containing extracts were prepared form Sabouraud dextrose agar cultures of 48 C . neoformans, 33 other Cryptococcus species, 21 Candida, 4 Torulopsis, 3 Saccharomyces, and 2 Rhodotorula strains . This was done by suspending a 0.001-ml loopful of colony growth in 0.5 ml of phenolized saline, mixing for 30 s, and then centrifuging . Equal volumes (50 microliters) of coagglutination reagent and yeast extract were mixed within marked circles on a glass slide and then mechanically rotated at 180 rpm for 8 min . Forty-five of the 48 strains of C . neoformans produced strong (3+ to 4+) agglutination, and 3 strains of serotype C produced weak (1+ to 2+) agglutination with the reagent . Other Cryptococcus species which reacted positively were 4 C . albidus subsp . diffluens, 7 C . albidus subsp . albidus, and 2 C . terreus strains; however, false-positive errors in identification were circumvented by performing a supplemental rapid test for nitrate utilization which differentiated these yeasts from C . neoformans . None of the other yeasts tested (including 14 C . laurentii, 2 C . luteolus, and 2 C . uniguttulatus strains) produced any degree of agglutination with the reagent . A commercial cryptococcal latex agglutination reagent (Crypto-Test, Microbiological Associates, Walkersville, Md.) proved less reliable for identifying C . neoformans yeast colonies because of cross-reactions which occurred with all other species of Cryptococcus tested. Jpn Circ J, 1981 May, 45(5), 539 - 46 Experimental cryptococcal-induced myocarditis; Nagai T et al.; Rabbits and Wistar rats developed myocarditis after intracardiac inoculation with Cryptococcus neoformans . Myocardial lesions were observed on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th weeks after this inoculation in all animals . The cardiac lesions consisted of focal necrosis with mononuclear inflammatory cells infiltration in the myocardium . Cryptococcus neoformans itself was found by PAS stain and indirect immunofluorescence stain by the 2nd week after the inoculation . Maximal cardiac lesions were observed in the 2nd week and thereafter, the lesions showed progressive scarring . In the 9th week, there were fibrotic lesions and we were not able to demonstrate cryptococcal antigens in these lesions . Fungemia and antibody for Cryptococcus neoformans were not found over the entire period . Cryptococcal meningeal lesions were observed in all animals . In the animals given an intracardiac administration of saline . Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Serratia marcescens, there were no myocardial lesions . The relationship of this experimental fungal myocarditis and fungal endocarditis in human is discussed. Ann Ophthalmol, 1981 Apr, 13(4), 433 - 5 Cryptococcosis in a phthisical eye; Vogiatzis KV et al.; A case of an enucleated phthisical eye was examined pathologically and was diagnosed as uveitis, subretinal granuloma, detached retina, phthisis bulbi . Twenty years later a more detailed study of multiple sections with differential stains revealed the existence of yeast-like bodies morphologically compatible with Cryptococcus neoformans . Systemic involvement was not found in this case, and the patient died 17 years later from an unrelated disease of the cardiovascular system . However an autopsy was not performed . Indirect fluorescent antibody staining technique on unstained deparaffinized sections of the eye tissue was positive for C . neoformans. Arch Intern Med, 1981 Apr, 141(5), 676 - 9 Radiotherapy as a cause of complete atrioventricular block in Hodgkin's disease . An electrophysiological-pathological correlation; Cohen SI et al.; A 20-year-old man contracted Hodgkin's disease and was treated with mantle radiotherapy . Heart block developed 11 years later . Electrocardiograms revealed predominant atrioventricular (AV) block and occasional AV conduction . Intracardiac electrograms demonstrated that the site of AV block was above the level of the His bundle . A permanent transvenous pacemaker was implanted . Seven months later the patient died of complications from cryptococcal meningitis . Pathological study of the heart revealed marked arteriosclerosis with fibrosis of the epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium . Examination of the conduction system revealed extensive arteriolosclerosis of the sinoatrial node and its approaches . In addition, there was marked fibrosis of the approaches to the AV node, the AV bundle, and both bundle branches . There was no evidence of Hodgkin's disease . This case documents the rare occurrence of AV block due to tissue destruction by radiotherapy . There was a good correlation between block proximal to the His bundle recording site and fibrosis of the approaches to the AV node. South Med J, 1981 Apr, 74(4), 482 - 3 Endogenous cryptococcal endophthalmitis; Weis RF et al.; We have described a case of Cryptococcus neoformans endophthalmitis, especially rare in the absence of simultaneous CNS involvement . The key to management appears to lie in early diagnosis, which is difficult because there are multiple causes of uveitis; clinical examination will not establish the specific cause . If clinical improvement is not apparent after several days of nonspecific therapy and other studies have failed to yield a diagnosis, appropriate stains and cultures of vitreal aspirate should be done for fungi and other organisms . Amphotericin B plus 5-fluorocytosine is the treatment of choice, possibly with intravitreal instillation of amphotericin B and vitrectomy. Infect Immun, 1981 Apr, 32(1), 373 - 80 Cryptococcal skin test antigen: preparation variables and characterization; Bennett JE; Antigen capable of eliciting delayed hypersensitivity reactions in the skin of sensitized guinea pigs could be extracted from Cryptococcus neoformans cells by stirring the cells from 3 to 5 days in concentrated urea or guanidine . Hydrolysis of urea to ammonia by cryptococcal urease accompanied urea extraction, but alkalinity appeared neither necessary nor sufficient for extraction . Antigen from live cells gave larger delayed skin reactions than did antigen from Formalin-killed cells . Peak skin test reactivity appeared to reside in protein-rich fraction having an elution volume on Sephadex G50 corresponding to a molecular weight of 10(4) . Activity precipitated with half-saturated ammonium sulfate and could be detected in a single, narrow, rapidly migrating band on disc electrophoresis . Dialyzable proteinaceous antigen and high-molecular-weight, serologically active polysaccharide were present in the antigen, but not active in the delayed hypersensitivity reactions. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1981 Mar, 47(1), 65 - 72 Cryptococcus mollis Kützing, type species of the genus Cryptococcus: investigation of the type material; Rodrigues de Miranda L et al.; The legitimacy of the name Cryptococcus mollis for the type of the genus Cryptococcus is shown . The type material, available in the Rijksherbarium at Leiden University was investigated by transmission electron microscopy . The cell wall of most of the cells showed a structure, similar to that of basidiomycetous yeasts . Bud scars were also found. Infect Immun, 1981 Mar, 31(3), 911 - 8 Extracellular glycoprotein from virulent and avirulent Cryptococcus species; Ross A et al.; Two virulent strains of Cryptococcus neoformans and two nonvirulent forms (C . albidus and C . laurentii) were grown in liquid culture to produce maximal capsule formation . A glycoprotein was isolated from the culture medium and was homogeneous as determined by cellulose acetate electrophoresis and anion-exchange chromatography . The amino acid, neutral sugar, amino sugar, uronic acid, and O-acetyl compositions and the infrared spectra of the glycoprotein were determined . The product of the C . neoformans strains contained more mannose and uronic acid than did that from the nonpathogenic strains . O-acetyl groups were absent from glycoprotein of the two nonpathogens. Ann Intern Med, 1981 Mar, 94(3), 382 - 8 Cryptococcal intracerebral mass lesions: the role of computed tomography and nonsurgical management; Fujita NK et al.; Cephalic computed tomography (CT) is a sensitive technique for defining certain intracerebral diseases . Four patients with cryptococcosis were evaluated with cephalic computed tomography over 3 years . All had focal, intracerebral "contrast-enhanced" lesions consistent with cryptococcal mass lesions, confirmed histopathologically in two . An analysis of 55 cases of cryptococcal intracerebral mass lesions from the literature showed that 18% of patients with these lesions associated with cryptococcal meningitis did not have specific symptoms or signs of focal intracerebral disease or increased intracranial pressure . We therefore recommend that patients with cryptococcal meningitis, regardless of localizing symptoms or signs, be considered for cephalic CT evaluation to ascertain the presence of mass lesions . Three patients in this report were treated with systemic antifungal medication without surgery . Decreased size or disappearance of these lesions was seen on sequential CT scan in all patients . We conclude that selected patients with cryptococcal intracerebral mass lesions may be managed successfully with systemic antifungal therapy alone. J Bacteriol, 1981 Mar, 145(3), 1410 - 2 Ultrastructure of the septal complex in hyphae of Cryptococcus laurentii; Rhodes JC et al.; Electron microscopy of hyphae produced by Cryptococcus laurentii revealed typical basidiomycetous dolipore septa between the cells . Parenthesomes were not observed. Infect Immun, 1981 Mar, 31(3), 978 - 84 Opsonization of encapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans by specific anticapsular antibody; Kozel TR et al.; Antisera prepared in rabbits against either whole encapsulated cells of Cryptococcus neoformans or purified cryptococcal polysaccharide were opsonic for the encapsulated yeast . The opsonic activity was removed by absorption with whole cryptococci and was inhibited by free polysaccharide . As little as 0.13 microgram of cryptococcal polysaccharide produced a 50% inhibition of opsonization . Various degrees of neutralization by polysaccharides from the four cryptococcal serotypes suggested that the opsonins were type specific . Fractionation of antiserum on Bio-Gel A-5m (Bio-Rad Laboratories) and diethylaminoethyl cellulose showed that the opsonins were antibodies of the immunoglobulin G class . These opsonizing antibodies did not require heat-labile serum components for optimal phagocytosis of the yeast . Inhibition studies using 2-deoxy-D-glucose demonstrated that ingestion of encapsulated cryptococci opsonized with anticapsular antibody was a 2-deoxy-D-glucose-inhibitable process . This result differed from similar studies with non-encapsulated cryptococci which showed that ingestion of non-encapsulated cryptococci opsonized with normal serum was not inhibited by 2-deoxy-D-glucose. Urology, 1981 Mar, 17(3), 284 - 5 Cryptococcosis (torulosis) of prostate; Braman RT; Cryptococcus infection is probably more frequent than is commonly supposed; in fact, it has been estimated that there are 2,000 undiagnosed cases for every proved case of infection due to Cryptococcus neoformans . Prostatic involvement with cryptococcus is not commonplace, but it should be kept in mind when granulomatous changes are noted microscopically in the proper clinical setting . Presented here is the sixth case reported to date presenting with prostatic obstruction. Rev Rhum Mal Osteoartic, 1981 Feb, 48(2), 153 - 61 {Fungal osteoarthritis}; Drouhet E et al.; Two large groups of bone and joint mycoses should be recognised: fungal osteoarthritis due to blood spread and osteoarthritis due to traumatic inoculation . The authors report data in the literature and the experience of the Mycology unit of the Pasteur Institute . In the first group, one may recognise a category of cosmopolitan, opportunist fungi (Candida, cryptococcus) becoming grafted on a background of iatrogenic factors, in particular, Candida albicans arthritis of the newborn (2 new cases have been added to 12 already described in the literature) and osteoarthritis (17 cases) and candida spondylodiscitis (1 recent case out of 8 described in the literature) . Out of 39 cases of cryptococcosis at various levels, in 7 cases we observed bony localisations in recent years . Another category consisted of mycoses due to dimorphic exotic fungi in the first place, african histoplasmosis due to H . Duboisii (73 cases of osteitis out of 179) . The group of osteoarthritis by traumatic inoculation consists mainly of fungal mycetomas and actinomycoses, occasionally sporotrichosis; recently we have observed for the first time in the literature an arthritis due to a black fungus similar to Beauveria sp . The immunological reactions (immunoelectrophoresis) may be useful for the diagnosis and assessment of the efficacy of treatment . Present treatment is based on the routine use of antifungal agents: e.g . amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, imidazole derivatives (Ketoconazole) according to the sensitivity of the fungi. Ann Neurol, 1981 Feb, 9(2), 107 - 19 Intracranial infection in cardiac transplant recipients; Britt RH et al.; Infections have produced most of the deaths in the Stanford cardiac transplant program . Of the first 182 transplant recipients, 27 developed nonviral intracranial infections: meningoencephalitis/abscess in 16 patients, meningitis in 9, and rhinocerebral phycomycoses in 2 . The responsible organisms included aspergillus, toxoplasma, candida, klebsiella, cryptococcus, coccidioides, listeria, mucor, and rhizopus . Characteristically, the areas of meningoencephalitis and abscesses were multiple and deep seated . Intracranial infections were invariably associated with pulmonary or disseminated infection with same organism . Computed tomographic (CT) brain scans in patients with meningoencephalitis often showed minimal, nonspecific, low-density lesions which usually did not exhibit contrast enhancement . At surgery the lesions were found to differ from typical pyogenic abscesses in that capsules were not well developed, and the aspirate consisted of necrotic fragments of edematous white matter and inflammatory cells rather than liquefied pus . Aspergillus infections of the central nervous system usually developed within the first three months after transplantation . Cases of meningitis occurred at variable times after transplantation, but approximately half appeared within 30 days after immunosuppressive therapy for treatment of rejection was increased . The prognosis for brain abscess depended on the causative organism . All patients with aspergillus infection died despite treatment with amphotericin B . The toxoplasma abscess responded to a combination of sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine . Meningitis was successfully suppressed or cured with appropriate treatment except for 1 patient with disseminated cryptococcosis. Zentralbl Bakteriol A, 1981 Feb, 248(4), 575 - 8 The perfect state of Cryptococcus neoformans, Filobasidiella neoformans, on pigeon manure filtrate agar; Staib F; To enable studies of the dependence of Cryptococcus neoformans and its perfect and imperfect states upon bird manure as a habitat of this pathogen, a nutrient medium closely resembling natural conditions was prepared . As sole nutrient, the water soluble ingredients of manure from pigeons (Columbia livia) were used . There was no heat sterilization of the manure filtrate . Using a standard pair of C . neoformans strains for mating, it could be demonstrated that the perfect state of the fungus developed on this so called pigeon manure filtrate agar within 48 h at 26 degrees C . This medium is supposed to help in the elucidation of the epidemiological significance of the perfect and imperfect states of this pathogen. Infect Immun, 1981 Feb, 31(2), 842 - 4 Immediate hypersensitivity to Cryptococcus neoformans; Tang YJ et al.; The role of the capsular polysaccharide in anaphylactic reactions to Cryptococcus neoformans was investigated . Groups of mice were sensitized with viable cells of either a moderately encapsulated strain of C . neoformans or a non-encapsulated variant . Anaphylactic reactions were observed in both groups of mice to a similar extent when challenged with whole cells . Mice sensitized with the encapsulated strain and challenged with homologous polysaccharide showed only mild hypersensitivity symptoms . Mice sensitized with either the encapsulated or the nonencapsulated strain showed cross-reactivity when challenged with killed cells of the heterologous strain . These data indicate that the capsular polysaccharide plays a minor role in anaphylactic reactions to C . neoformans and that the sensitizing antigen is probably located in the cell wall of the yeast. Infect Immun, 1981 Feb, 31(2), 560 - 3 Distribution of Cryptococcus neoformans in a natural site; Ruiz A et al.; Pigeon droppings in a vacant tower were assayed for the number and size of viable cells of Cryptococcus neoformans . The dry, thinly scattered floor debris contained 2.6 x 10(6) viable cells per g--300 times more cells than were cultured from a large, compact pile of pigeon droppings (7.4 x 10(3) cells per g) . Aerosols generated from floor debris containing pigeon droppings had an average of 360 viable cells in 31 liters of air; 27 of these cells (7.5%) were 1.1 to 3.3 micrometers in diameter and, therefore, capable of human lung deposition . Environmental factors which may influence the distribution, survival, and proliferation of C . neoformans in nature are discussed. J Urol, 1981 Feb, 125(2), 241 - 2 Cryptococcal septicemia associated with urologic instrumentation in a renal allograft recipient; Plunkett JM et al.; A case is presented of a renal allograft recipient with 2 episodes of cryptococcal septicemia temporally related to genitourinary manipulation, which preceded the usual signs of meningeal or cutaneous infection . A review of the literature suggests that cryptococcal disease may, occasionally, manifest itself initially in the genitourinary tract . Therefore, we suggest that cryptococcal infection be suspected in the compromised host who has symptoms of cystitis or bladder outlet obstruction during a short period. Am J Clin Pathol, 1981 Feb, 75(2), 257 - 60 Cryptococcal prostatitis; Hinchey WW et al.; A case of granulomatous prostatitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans is reported . The patient, who had a history of diabetes mellitus and chronic active hepatitis, had symptoms of prostatic hypertrophy . Tissue obtained from surgery showed granulomatous prostatitis, and a cryptococcal organism was identified by special stains . Postoperative cultures grew Cryptococcus neoformans, and the patient was treated successfully with surgery and a short course of amphotericin B . After nine months of follow-up, there is no evidence of systemic infection. Mycopathologia, 1981 Jan 30, 73(1), 43 - 8 First case of human protothecosis in Canada: laboratory aspects; Kapica L; A case of bursitis due to Prototheca wickerhamii is briefly reported . In histological sections the organism stained well with fungal stains, grey with silver methanamine and red with periodic acid Schiff reagent . This unicellular achlorophyllous alga was studied on common laboratory media . The characterization of the Prototheca sp . depends largely on wet mount microscopic examination from broth or agar cultures which ensures the observation of endosporulation and a consistent absence of budding . Otherwise the growth rate and the pasty white colonies may lead to an erroneous identification, most likely as a Cryptococcus sp . P . wickerhamii lends itself very well to standard physiological tests used for the identification of yeasts . The strain was found insensitive to 5-fluorocytosine . The MIC of amphotericin B was 0.15 microgram/ml. Mycopathologia, 1981 Jan 30, 73(1), 57 - 9 Pseudohyphal forms of Cryptococcus neoformans: decreased survival in vivo; Neilson JB et al.; Three pseudohyphal isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans were inoculated intracranially into mice . Four weeks post-inoculation the animals showed no symptoms of disease and the number of viable cells per brain decreased to zero . Possible roles of pseudohyphal forms of C . neoformans in the immunology and pathogenesis of cryptococcosis are discussed. Cancer, 1981 Jan 15, 47(2), 291 - 5 Cryptococcosis with multiple squamous cell tumors associated with a T-cell defect; Heenan PJ et al.; A 54-year-old male with multiple squamous cell tumors was shown to have capsule deficient cryptococcosis confined to bone . Further investigations revealed a severe defect of cell-mediated immunity and the presence of serum antinuclear factor . An underlying T-cell defect might explain the unusual cryptococcal infection and the extremely aggressive behavior of the skin tumors. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1981 Jan, 123(1), 135 - 8 Cryptococcus laurentii lung abscess; Lynch JP 3rd et al.; Pulmonary infection with Cryptococcus laurentii occurred in a patient with dermatomyositis receiving corticosteroid therapy . Infections with cryptococci other than C . neoformans are rare, and pulmonary involvement with C . laurentii has not been reported previously . The isolate was susceptible to amphotericin B but resistant to 5-fluorocytosine, and synergism could not be demonstrated with these 2 drugs . Amphotericin B without surgical resection, concurrent with reduction in the dosage of corticosteroids, resulted in clinical and roentgenogrphic resolution of the infection. Am J Clin Pathol, 1981 Jan, 75(1), 106 - 9 Detection of cryptococcal antigen . Comparison of two latex agglutination tests; Kauffman CA et al.; The detection of cryptococcal antigen by means of the agglutination of antibody-coated latex particles is an important aid in the diagnosis of cryptococcosis . A commercially available latex agglutination test (IBL kit) was compared with the latex agglutination test from the Center for Disease Control in regard to sensitivity, specificity, and height of antigen titer . Over a 13-month period, 335 specimens were tested with both kits . There was one false-positive reaction with both kits (0.4%) and one false-negative reaction only with the CDC kit, among 18 patients who had meningitis or disseminated infection due to Cryptococcus neoformans . Sera from patients who had localized pulmonary cryptococcosis showed negative results with both kits . The antigen titers measured by the two kits were the same or within two dilutions in 22 of 26 specimens of cerebrospinal fluid or serum from patients who had proved cryptococcosis . Overall, the IBL kit compared favorably with the CDC kit for the detection of cryptococcal antigen in cerebrospinal fluid or serum. Cancer Detect Prev, 1981, 4(1-4), 347 - 50 Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy in the diagnosis of pulmonary complication of lymphoma; Chuang MT et al.; Patients with known lymphoma frequently present with pulmonary abnormalities that require prompt diagnosis . The usual chest radiograph and bacteriologic studies often fail to be of diagnostic value . Since February 1973, we have performed flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopies on 76 patients with Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma who presented with pulmonary abnormalities . Biopsy specimens revealed lymphoma in 21 of these 76 patients, pneumocystic carinii infection in six, aspergillus infection in three, and cryptococcus, herpes simplex, and squamous cell carcinoma, respectively, in the remaining three . In all, specific diagnosis was obtained in 33 patients (43%) . One death from bleeding occurred in a patient with marked thrombocytopenia and respiratory failure . Flexible bronchoscopy is recommended as a valuable, relatively risk-free procedure in the diagnosis of the pulmonary manifestations, or complications, of lymphoma. Ann Parasitol Hum Comp, 1981, 56(4), 449 - 58 {Morpho-biochemical differences observed on two wild strains groups of Cryptococcus albidus: V . albidus and V . diffluens (author's transl)}; Saez H et al.; The morpho-biochemical characteristics were studied on 115 wild strains of Cryptococcus albidus: 61 isolates of the variety albidus and 54 of the variety diffluens . The mucous aspect of the colony, the pigmentation, the development on liquid medium, the cells' form and the filamentation were the morphological characters observed . As for the physiology, were reported the results concerning: the fermentation, the assimilation of 24 carbohydrates and the potassium nitrate, the development according: the temperature, two rates of actidione (cycloheximide) and four rates of tetrazolium . Were discussed: the atypicity and the intra-specific variations, the differenciation of the varieties and the taxonomic value of the two entities. J Hyg Epidemiol Microbiol Immunol, 1981, 25(4), 465 - 76 To the problem of secondary mycotic infections and their etiological agents; Otcenasek M et al.; Modern therapeutic procedures that are based on advanced chemotherapy and modern medical technique have led to a prolongation of chronic patient's survival, but have also created conditions for the development of till now little known infectious complications . Among these are, no doubt, mycotic diseases caused by opportunistic microorganisms . Primarily apathogenic fungi, living as a rule in the external environment as saprophytes or colonizing as harmless epiphytes the integumental localizations of healthy humans, start to behave in the subjects with reduced resistance as invasive pathogens . The authors summarize pertinent information of most important systemic mycotic infections of this nature, which occur on the territory of Czechoslovakia: candidiasis, aspergillosis, phycomycosis, cryptococcosis and nocardiosis . Considering the mycological, ecological and pathophysiological aspects of these infections, the authors try to elucidate not only theoretical principles of the etiological agents' opportunism, but also practical impacts of the sustained increase in the number of these diseases . Apart from data on the extrahuman existence of these microorganisms, the authors provide characteristics of the most important pathogenetic mechanisms facilitating their paratrophic propagation . Since the basic conditions of the onset of complications caused by the opportunistic mycotic agents are in principle complied with in almost every hospitalized patient, emphasis is put particularly on factors leading to iatrogenic lesions . Constant close cooperation between the attending physician and microbiologist is considered as one of the basic preconditions for a successful therapeutical control of these pathological conditions. Folia Microbiol (Praha), 1981, 26(2), 95 - 102 Anomeric specificity of the monosaccharide carrier in yeasts and yeast-like organisms; Ehwald R et al.; The anomeric specificity of monosaccharide uptake was investigated in 42 species of yeasts and related mycelium-forming fungi . Differences in the uptake of anomers were determined by the following methods . (1) Shift of anomeric equilibrium in the outer medium caused by preferential uptake of one of the anomeric forms was monitored polarimetrically as induced mutarotation . (2) The uptake of 14C-D-glucose by cells was examined after addition of freshly prepared solutions of alpha- or beta-D-glucose . Most of the organisms examined display the Saccharomyces-type preference for the alpha-anomers of glucose and xylose which is caused by the higher affinity of the monosaccharide carrier for the alpha-pyranose configuration . The following genera show this type of preference (the number of species is given in parenthesis): Saccharomyces (5), Schizosaccharomyces (1), Endomycopsis (2), Eremascus (1), Endomyces (1), Pichia (1), Hansenula (1), Debaryomyces (2), Lipomyces (1), Willia (1), Nematospora (1), Kluyveromyces (2), Candida (5), Torulopsis (5), Cryptococcus (1) . No anomeric specificity was shown by the following genera: Nadsonia (1), Dipodascus (2), Rhodotorula (5), Sporobolomyces (2), Bullera (1), Rhodosporidium (1) . A parallel investigation of the concentration dependence of glucose uptake indicates that most yeasts possess a constitutive monosaccharide carrier characterized by the following features: a high maximum rate of uptake, a relatively low affinity, and preference for alpha-anomers . Besides this carrier the majority of these microorganisms possess a glucose-transporting carrier with a higher affinity and a lower capacity. Clin Orthop, 1981 Jan-Feb, (154), 197 - 200 Torulopsis glabrata osteomyelitis: report of a case; Gustke KA et al.; This is possibly the first documented case of Torulopsis glabrata osteomyelitis . Torulopis glabrata is a common fungus similar to Cryptococcus . It is though to largely represent a contaminant in routine cultures . The patient was a 58-year-old severely debilitated woman with diabetes . To establish a definitive diagnosis, careful culture and positive identification of the causative pathogen from the fresh bone biopsy were required . Treatment with amphotericin B was successful; however, optimally amphotericin B combined with local surgical excision would be the treatment of choice. Med Cutan Ibero Lat Am, 1981, 9(4), 289 - 92 {Pure cutaneous cryptococcosis}; Nazare IP et al.; The authors present one case of cutaneous cryptococcosis, which diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic and mycologic procedures . As there has not been systemic dissemination, this case must be considered uncommon . The lesions healed completely after treatment by amphotericin-B. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1981 Jan, 19(1), 196 - 8 Combined in vitro effect of amphotericin B and rifampin on Cryptococcus neoformans; Fujita NK et al.; The combination of amphotericin B and rifampin was synergistic in vitro in both inhibiting and killing seven strains of Cryptococcus neoformans by the checkerboard microtitration technique. Arch Intern Med, 1981 Jan, 141(1), 128 - 30 Cryptococcal pyelonephritis and disseminated cryptococcosis in a renal transplant recipient; Hellman RN et al.; Symptomatic cryptococcal pyelonephritis, meningitis, and disseminated cryptococcosis are described in a renal cadaver transplant recipient who subsequently died of Klebsiella pneumoniae sepsis . The presence of cryptococcuria and a subsequent positive CSF India ink stain led to the initial diagnosis of disseminated cryptococcosis . Therapy with 0.511 g of amphotericin B and 112.5 g of flucytosine for four weeks did not eradicate Cryptococcus from the kidney and was associated with hepatotoxicity . The importance of urinary examination and culture for C neoformans is emphasized . Cryptococcal pyelonephritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of allograft rejection in the renal transplant patient. Scan Electron Microsc, 1981, (Pt 2), 115 - 22 Comparison of selective staining of fungi in paraffin sections by light microscopy, SEM and BEI; Berman EL et al.; Paraffin-embedded sections from human tissues with fungi or organisms classified with fungi were studied by light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the backscatter electron imaging (BEI) mode of the SEM . The fungal organisms selected for study were those familiar to the pathologist on the basis of their appearance in paraffin-embedded material stained with the Gomori-Grocott Chromic Acid Methenamine Silver Stain (GMS) . The organisms were Actinomyces, Rhizopus, Cryptococcus, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Coccidia imitis . Sections were stained with the GMS Stain and/or the Becker modification of the GMS Stain (BGMS) and examined in the secondary electron imaging mode (SEI) and BEI mode with an annular backscatter electron detector . This silver staining technique accentuated the wall of fungal organisms, in the backscatter mode . Depending on the fungal organism and type of silver stain employed, the GMS seemed the preferable stain . The advantages of SEM over LM were greater depth of focus and potential range of magnifications . BEI may also be used in conjunction with LM stain for microorganisms to establish their presence. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek, 1981, 47(3), 217 - 30 Changes in free amino acid content and activities of amination and transamination enzymes in yeasts grown on different inorganic nitrogen sources, including hydroxylamine; Norkrans B et al.; This study concerns inter- and intraspecific differences between yeasts at assimilation of different nitrogen sources . Alterations in the content of free amino acids in cells and media as well as in the related enzyme activities during growth were studied . The hydroxylamine (HA)-tolerant Endomycopsis lipolytica was examined and compared with the nitrate-reducing Cryptococcus albidus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, requiring fully reduced nitrogen for growth . Special attention was paid to alanine, aspartic acid, and glutamic acid, the amino acids closely related to the Krebs cycle keto acids . The amino acids were analyzed as their n-propyl N-acetyl esters by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) . The composition of the amino acid pool was similar for the three yeasts . Glutamic acid was predominant; in early log-phase cells of E . lipolytica contents of 200-234 micromol . g(-1) dry weight were found . A positive correlation between the specific growth rate and the size of the amino acid pool was observed . The assimilation of ammonia was mediated by glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) . The NADP-GDH was the dominating enzyme in all three yeasts showing the highest specific activity in Cr . albidus grown on nitrate (6980 nmol . (min(-1)).(mg protein(-1)) . Glutamine synthetase (GS) displayed a high specific activity in S . cerevisiae, which also had a high amount of glutamine . The assimilation of HA did not differ greatly from the assimilation of ammonium in E . lipolytica . The existing differences could rather be explained as provoked by the concentration of available nitrogen. J Comput Assist Tomogr, 1980 Dec, 4(6), 766 - 9 Cerebral mass lesions in torulosis demonstrated by computed tomography; Long JA Jr et al.; Cryptococcus neoformans is an ubiquitous yeast . As a budding type of fungus, it is also known as Torula histolytica and is a common cause of infection of the central nervous system (CNS), particularly in debilitated and immunodeficient patients . We have examined 12 patients with computed tomography who had well documented cryptococcal CNS infection and will review our findings in this paper . Three of these patients had mass lesions, while nine others had a variety of changes such as ventricular dilatation, cortical atrophy, and focal ischemic changes. Am J Vet Res, 1980 Dec, 41(12), 1991 - 4 Identification of yeasts from infected bovine mammary glands and their experimental infectivity in cattle; Richard JL et al.; Cultures of yeast (n = 91) were obtained from infected mammary glands of cows in New York and Iowa . Of the isolants, 78% belonged to the genus Candida . Eleven Candida species were found, with C tropicalis being the most frequently isolated species and C rugosa being the 2nd most frequently isolated species . Five species of Candida and an isolant of Cryptococcus lactativorus were used for experimental inoculation of mammary glands of healthy cows . Of glands inoculated with C tropicalis, C rugosa, C parapsilosis, and Crypt lactativorus, 100% became infected . Only 3 of 8 glands inoculated with C krusei and 1 of 5 glands inoculated with C albicans became infected . Recovery of organisms from infected glands occurred on an average of 7.4 days after inoculation, and infections were eliminated spontaneously from 10 to 30 days after inoculation . Clinical differences were not noticed in the cows or glands regardless of the species of yeast used for establishing infection. J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Dec, 12(6), 790 - 1 Cryptococcus neoformans: pitfalls in diagnosis through evaluation of gram-stained smears of purulent exudates; Bottone EJ; The recognition of Cryptococcus neoformans in Gram-stained smears of purulent exudates may be hampered by the presence of the large gelatinous capsule which apparently prevents definitive staining of the yeast-like cells . In such stained preparations, C . neoformans may appear either as round cells with gram-positive granular inclusions impressed upon a pale lavender cytoplasmic background or as gram-negative lipoid bodies. Med Clin (Barc), 1980 Nov 25, 75(9), 384 - 6 {Contribution to the rapid diagnosis of yeast-forming fungi of clinical and hospital interest (author's transl)}; Casal M et al.; Because the chlamydospore formation test for the identification of C . albicans is frequently utilized in most clinical Mycology laboratories, a comparative study of the different methods employed for the test was carried out . A total of 108 strains of yeast forming organisms belonging to C . albicans, C . tropicalis, C . stellatoidea, C . pseudotropicalis, C . parakrusei, C . guillermondii, C . neoformans, C . laurentii, C . albidus, C . candidum, T . glabrata, R . rubra, T . cutaneum, and S . carlsbergensis was used . The following culture media were compared: corn meal agar, rice agar, chlamydospore agar, PCB, and the recently described TOC medium (tween 80, oxgall and caffeic acid) . Chlamydospore formation was positive, respectively, in 54.2%, 66.6%, 71.4%, 82.8%, and 91.4% and pseudomycelia formation, in 85.7%, 80%, 71.4%, 94.2%, and 91.4% . Only Cryptococcus neoformans produced in the TOC medium a characteristic coffee brown pigmentation which distinguished it from the other fungi . The results demonstrate the usefulness of the TOC medium in comparison with other culture media for the chlamydospore formation test for the diagnosis of C . albicans, and for the diagnosis of C . neoformans because of the characteristic pigmentation it produces. Eur J Biochem, 1980 Nov, 112(2), 375 - 81 Complex reaction pathway of aryl beta-xyloside degradation by beta-xylanase of Cryptococcus albidus; Biely P et al.; The extracellular endo-1,4-beta-xylanase of the yeast Cryptococcus albidus catalyzes degradation of aryl beta-xylosides by other reactions than simple hydrolytic cleavage . Liberation of phenol or p-nitrophenol from the corresponding beta-xylosides is accompanied by formation of xylose oligosaccharides and only small amounts of xylose . With the aid of phenyl beta-{U-14C}xyloside synthesized from {U-14C}xylose, it was established that the reaction followed a complex pattern with the rate of phenyl beta-xyloside digestion and appearance of various products varying markedly with time . The reaction involves multiple transglycosylic reaction leading first to phenyl glycosides of xylooligosaccharides, which are subsequently hydrolyzed mainly to xylobiose and xylotriose . At concentrations of phenyl beta-xyloside lower than 100 mM the reaction exhibited a significant lag phase, which was followed by period during which the rate of the degradation of the substrate could be determined . The rate showed a strong sigmoidal dependence on phenyl-beta-xyloside concentration . The lag phase could be eliminated and the initial rate accelerated by addition of xylose oligosaccharides, which are hydrolyzed by beta-xylanase . After disappearance of the added oligosaccharides, the reaction transitionally ceased and then resumed again at a rate comparable to the control without added oligosaccharides . It is proposed that beta-xylanase utilizes for degradation of phenyl beta-xyloside two reaction pathways differing in the nature of glycosyl donors. J Gen Microbiol, 1980 Nov, 121(1), 273 - 6 Yeasts in the rumen contents of musk oxen; Lund A; The yeast flora of 16 samples of rumen contents of musk oxen (ovibos moschatus) from East Greenland was examined . Variable numbers of yeast colonies developed on agar plates incubated at 25 degrees C, the counts being up to 136000 per g (wet wt) . Of the 41 strains isolated, the majority belonged to Candida and Cryptococcus; others were species of Trichosporon, Rhodotorula, Torulopsis and Pichia . Very few colonies appeared on plates incubated at 37 degrees C, and only one species of Candida was isolated . Samples of rumen contents kept at about 5 degrees C for about 3 years contained a much greater number of yeasts, up to several million per g (wet wt) being counted on agar plates incubated at 25, 15 and 5 degrees C . The 30 strains isolated were of only three species of Candida, and none were obligate psychrophils. Am J Gastroenterol, 1980 Nov, 74(5), 428 - 32 Systemic mycosis complicating high dose corticosteroid treatment of chronic active liver disease; Wright SH et al.; Four patients with severe chronic active liver disease, treated with 30-200 mg . of prednisone daily for one-half month to seven months because of lack of response to smaller doses, developed systemic mycosis . Presentation was variable, consisting of cryptococcal meningitis, cryptococcal pneumonia, aspergillus cerebral vasculitis and disseminated histoplasmosis originating from a histoplasma pneumonia . None of 114 patients in the Mayo Clinic trials on conventional treatment for at least six months, but only one of 25 patients (4%) on high dose prednisone, developed systemic mycosis . Low dose prednisone or its equivalent can be maintained to control hepatic inflammation during vigorous antifungal therapy without jeopardizing cure of the fungal infection . We conclude that systemic mycosis is infrequently associated with corticosteroid therapy for severe chronic active liver disease but can occur on high dose regimens as a subtle, progressively debilitating and potentially fatal complication that justifies prompt recognition and aggressive treatment with amphotericin-B alone or in combination with 5-fluorocytosine. Can J Microbiol, 1980 Nov, 26(11), 1284 - 8 Catabolism of 3-O-methyl-D-glucopyranose by Cryptococcus laurentii; Bhanot P et al.; When Cryptococcus laurentii is grown on 3-O-methyl-D-glucopyranose (3-O-MeGlc), two metabolic products are methanol and an extracellular mannan . Hydrolysis of the mannan produced during growth on 3-O-MeGlc labelled with 14C in the 1 or 6 position yields mannose with retention of the labelling pattern in the carbon chain . O-Methyl-labelled substrate yields radioactive methanol . Three possible mechanisms of O-demethylation are ether cleavage, peroxidatic attack, and beta-elimination . The latter mechanism was shown to be the most likely through the use of double-labelled (3H and 14C) 3-O-MeGlc. Zentralbl Bakteriol A, 1980 Nov, 248(2), 274 - 80 Effect of purines on the formation of the perfect state of Cryptococcus neoformans, Filobasidiella neoformans; Schwartz D et al.; A comparative study of growth and mating behaviour of C . neoformans strains grown on nutrient media containing a variety of organic nitrogen sources revealed striking differences of both parameters . Although growth was sparse on an adenine-containing medium, mating was excellent . Attention is drawn to the possible role of adenine in the morphogenesis of F . neoformans. Zentralbl Bakteriol A, 1980 Nov, 248(2), 268 - 73 Auxanographic detection of experimental murine uremia with Cryptococcus neoformans; Fromtling RA et al.; A modified blood residual nitrogen plate auxanographic method was applied to the detection of experimental uremia in a murine model . The yeast-like fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans, was used as the indicator . Transient uremia was induced by injection of 0.2 ml glycerol intramuscularly . The low molecular weight nitrogen levels were estimated by measuring the diameter of the auxanogram at intervals of 2 hr for 24 hr and at 32 hr after the glycerol injection . After 4 hr, elevated levels of low molecular weight nitrogen were found . Maximum levels occurred 20 hr post glycerol injection . This method requires only 5 microliter of whole blood per assay . The results can be read after an incubation time of 24 hr at 26 degree C . The stability of the prepared plates was determined to be at least 96 hr at 4 degree C . The ease of use, reliability and versatility of the modified auxanographic method are discussed. Eur J Biochem, 1980 Nov, 112(2), 367 - 73 Inducible beta-xyloside permease as a constituent of the xylan-degrading enzyme system of the yeast Cryptococcus albidus; Kratky Z et al.; The yeast, Cryptococcus albidus, depending on whether it is grown on xylan or glucose, differs remarkably in the ability to take up inducers of extracellular endo-1,4-beta-xylanase synthesis . In washed, glucose-grown cells the initially low ability to take up xylobiose or methyl beta-D-xylopyranoside, increases during incubation with these compounds after a lag-phase shorter than the induction time of the extracellular beta-xylanase . Using of methyl beta-D-{U-14C}xylopyranoside as a very slowly metabolizable inducer of beta-xylanase it has been established that the increase of the rate of xylobiose or methyl xyloside uptake is due to induction of an active transport system for methyl beta-D-xyloside and beta-1,4-xylooligosaccharides . The system is called beta-xyloside permease . The permease activity of induced cells decreases in the absence of beta-xylanase inducers . The induction of permease as well as its inactivation (degradation) can be prevented with cycloheximide, thus both events appear to be dependent on de novo protein synthesis . In analogy with other active transport systems, beta-xyloside permease function can be effectively blocked by inhibitors of energy metabolism in the cells . The demonstrated example of induction of a permease, for inducers and products of hydrolysis of an extracellular polysaccharide hydrolase, points to a new feature of induction of extracellular enzymes in eucaryotic microorganisms. Can J Microbiol, 1980 Nov, 26(11), 1289 - 95 Effect of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose on the production of glycosidases by Cryptococcus laurentii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Bhanot P et al.; 3-O-Methyl-D-glucose (3-O-MeGlc) or a mixture of 3-O-MeGlc and glucose stimulate invertase, beta-glucosidase, alpha-glucosidase, and alpha-galactosidase production by Cryptococcus laurentii . They also increase invertase and alpha-glucosidase production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The stimulatory effect of 3-O-MeGlc is not caused by competition with glucose for transport nor by a direct action on glycosidases . It is proposed that 3-O-MeGlc acts as a structural rather than as a functional analogue of glucose displacing it from regulatory sites to relieve catabolite repression . Evidence is presented suggesting that intracellular cAMP levels may be related to the effect of 3-O-MeGlc. Ann Intern Med, 1980 Oct, 93(4), 569 - 71 Successful treatment of cerebral cryptococcoma and meningitis with miconazole; Weinstein L et al.; Cryptococcal meningitis and a cerebral cryptococcoma developed in a patient with pulmonary cryptococcosis ("coin lesion") shortly after infected area of lung was removed . Treatment with amphotericin B and flucytosine failed to clear the organisms and antigen from the spinal fluid or alter the neurologic manifestations related to the cerebral lesion . Therapy with miconazole cured the meningitis and led to disappearance of the lesion in the brain (serial computed tomographic scan) . Study of the patient over the next 5 years disclosed no evidence of relapse of infection and completely normal findings on neurologic examination. Am J Clin Pathol, 1980 Oct, 74(4), 410 - 6 Present state of fungal infections in autopsy cases in Japan; Hotchi M et al.; In order to clarify the present state of opportunistic fungal infections increasing in incidence in autopsy cases, all autopsy cases from 1966 to 1975 reported in the Annual of Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan were reviewed . Of the total 233,130 autopsy cases, mycoses were present in 4,340 (1.86%) . The incidence of mycoses has strikingly increased during the recent five-year period . In Japan, the mycoses most frequently occurring in autopsy cases were candidiasis (32.28%), aspergillosis (23.08%), cryptococcosis (9.63%), and mucormycosis (2.90%) . These occurred more frequently in younger persons and were most commonly secondary and deep-seated infections (95.78%) . Among the primary diseases associated with mycoses, aplastic anemia (14.36%), leukemia (9.89%), malignant lymphoma (5.73%), multiple myeloma (4.68%), and systemic lupus erythematosus (4.62%) were most frequent . The incidence of the primary diseases associated with mycoses is increasing extraordinarily, and this seems to be strongly related to the modern therapy of using high doses of anticancer or immunosuppressive agents. Am J Pathol, 1980 Oct, 101(1), 177 - 94 Chronic cryptococcal meningitis: a new experimental model in rabbits; Perfect JR et al.; This paper describes the salient features of a new model for chronic cryptococcal meningitis in cortisone-treated rabbits . Normal rabbits soon recovered after intracisternal inoculation of Cryptococcus neoformans, but cortisone-treated animals developed chronic progressive meningitis that was fatal in 2-12 weeks . Incidence and severity of infection was related to cortisone dose, not to inoculum size . The number of mononuclear cells that migrated into the subarachnoid spaces and cerebrospinal fluid of infected rabbits was strikingly reduced by cortisone treatment . Rabbits with cryptococcal meningitis were febrile; their high body temperature did not confer resistance to this infection . Cortisone-treated rabbits provide a new and expedient laboratory model for cryptococcal disease . Potential applications include study of the pathogenesis of cryptococcosis, investigation of the immunobiology of the CNS in chronic meningitis, and in vivo evaluation of newer anticryptococcal treatment regimens. Infect Immun, 1980 Oct, 30(1), 5 - 11 Transfer of immunity to cryptococcosis by T-enriched splenic lymphocytes from Cryptococcus neoformans-sensitized mice; Lim TS et al.; Splenic enriched T-cells and sera were obtained from inbred CBA/J mice injected 7 or 35 days earlier with either 10(3) viable Cryptococcus neoformans or sterile physiological saline . The transfer of enriched T-cells collected 7 days after immunization or of normal enriched T-cells did not transfer immunity to C . neoformans or delayed-type hypersensitivity responsiveness to cryptococcal culture filtrate (CneF) antigen to the recipients . However, enriched T-cells harvested 35 days after immunization, when transferred to recipient mice, were able to confer immunity as indicated by the reduction in numbers of C . neoformans cells in the tissues, and they also transferred delayed-type hypersensitivity responsiveness to CneF antigens . Sera from either sensitized or normal mice were unable to transfer immunity to recipient animals . These results suggested that there was a time requirement for development of the immune response in the donor mice and that T-cells were crucial in the host defense against a cryptococcal infection . Culturing of day-35 C . neoformans-sensitized T-cells in the presence of homologous antigen (CneF) but not in the presence of heterologous antigen (purified protein derivative or 2, 4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene) induced the production of migration inhibition factor, thus indicating that lymphocytes from C . neoformans-injected mice were specifically sensitized to CneF antigen. Am Fam Physician, 1980 Oct, 22(4), 145 - 50 Drugs for fungal infections; Yoshikawa TT; The type of fungal infection and the immunologic status of the patient determine whether drug therapy should be used . Amphotericin B is the single most important antifungal agent for the treatment of systemic mycoses . Flucytosine is given adjunctively with amphotericin B . Miconazole, a new parenteral agent, may be useful in treating candidiasis, cryptococcosis, paracoccidioidomycosis and coccidioidomycosis . Potassium iodide is used to treat lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis, bronchopulmonary geotrichosis and chromoblastomycosis . Nystatin, tolnaftate, clotrimazole and haloprogin are used for mucocutaneous infections . Griseofulvin is limited to the treatment of skin and nail infections caused by dermatophytes. Arch Dermatol, 1980 Oct, 116(10), 1137 - 41 Ketoconazole treatment of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis; Graybill JR et al.; Five patients received ketoconazole treatment of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis . One also had disseminated histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis . Ketoconazole was well absorbed after an oral dose of 200 mg and produced detectable antifungal blood levels for more than eight hours after each dose . Thrush cleared in less than two weeks in all patients . Cutaneous lesions cleared slowly during several months of treatment . A patient with polymycotic infection had a rapid clearing of candidiasis, but her histoplasmosis did not respond to three weeks of treatment . Adverse drug effects were minimal . Ketoconazole is a promising new agent for treatment of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Cancer, 1980 Sep 15, 46(6), 1476 - 8 Fiberoptic bronchoscopy in patient with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas; Gribetz AR et al.; Sixty-four fiberoptic bronchoscopic examinations were performed for 58 patients with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and radiographically evident pulmonary abnormalities . Diagnoses were obtained in 23 cases (36%) . Examination of 12 lung biopsy specimens showed lymphoma and one, squamous cell carcinoma . Six patients had pneumocystis carinii; 2, aspergillosis; 1 cryptococcosis; and 1, herpes simplex infection . It is recommended that fiberoptic bronchoscopy be the first invasive procedure employed in the evaluation of pulmonary parenchymal abnormalities in patients with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Sep, 12(3), 332 - 5 Esculin-based medium for isolation and identification of Cryptococcus neoformans; Edberg SC et al.; A simple medium was developed, using esculin as the substrate, for the isolation and identification of Cryptococcus neoformans . C . neoformans produced a brown-black pigment on the medium; all other yeasts produced no pigment or were light yellow . Esculin is beta-glucose-6,7-dihydroxycoumarin . C . neoformans produced pigment because the 6,7-dihydroxycoumarin component of the esculin molecule was converted to a melanin-like pigment . We think the reaction was similar to the conversion of diphenols, aminophenols, and diaminobenzenes to melanin . Laboratory studies with isolates of C . neoformans, C . albidus, C . luteolus, and C . terreus and representatives of the genera Candida, Torulopsis, Geotrichum, and Rhodotorula, plus environmental field studies, demonstrated that over 95% of C . neoformans isolates were correctly identified, whereas all other fungi were excluded . Esculin agar was a sensitive, specific medium for the isolation and identification of C . neoformans . It was inexpensive and had a long storage life. P N G Med J, 1980 Sep, 23(3), 111 - 6 Cryptococcal meningitis in the central province of Papua New Guinea; Slobodniuk R et al.; A retrospective review of cryptococcal meningitis in Papua New Guinea adults showed that the condition is at least as common as tuberculous meningitis . The majority of the patients were young and all were previously healthy . A mortality rate of more than 50% was observed despite amphotericin B therapy . Cryptococcal aetiology should be suspected and looked for in every patient with chronic meningitis in Papua New Guinea . Examining the cerebrospinal fluid for cryptococcal antigen is of value when Indian ink smear and culture are negative. J Dairy Sci, 1980 Sep, 63(9), 1397 - 402 Partial purification and characterization of a yeast extracellular acid protease; Alessandro M et al.; During screening of 143 yeasts for proteolytic milk coagulating activity, a strain belonging to the species Cryptococcus albidus var . aerius was found which produced extracellular protease in shake culture . An enzyme preparation was obtained from the cell-free broth by ammonium sulphate precipitation . It possessed an optimum pH for milk-clotting at 5.5 to 5.7 at 35 degrees C . Maximum stability occurred between pH 3.5 and 5.5 . The optimum temperature for the enzyme was 45 degrees C . Activity of the enzyme was inhibited by copper+2, iron+2, and mercury+2 ions. Mayo Clin Proc, 1980 Aug, 55(8), 513 - 5 Massive antigenemia during disseminated cryptococcosis; Wold LE et al.; Three cases of disseminated cryptococcosis associated with massive levels of cryptococcal antigen in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid are presented . These patients had antigen titers of at least 1:32,768 . Titers of this magnitude have not previously been reported. J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Aug, 12(2), 180 - 4 Automated detection of microbial growth in blood cultures by using stainless-steel electrodes; Holland RL et al.; Sterile stainless-steel electrodes implanted in blood culture bottles and monitored electronically were used to detect growth of microorganisms . Each blood culture bottle contained 100 ml of medium and was inoculated with 10 ml of blood seeded with either 300 or 50 colony-forming units of one of several bacterial or yeast species that are commonly isolated from clinical blood cultures . Growth was indicated by a voltage change of at least 0.1 mV/min with an increasing slope over at least three consecutive 15-min intervals . This method was compared to the conventional visual method for detecting microbial growth in broth . Growth detection by both techniques was confirmed by subculture to solid media . Of the 163 cultures seeded with the high inoculum (300 colony-forming units) and confirmed as being positive, 148 (90.8%) were positive by the electronic detection system (EDS) . At the lower inoculum (50 colony-forming units), 47 of 53 (88.7%) positive cultures were detected by EDS . Twelve of the 21 false-negatives by the EDS were cultures seeded with Cryptococcus neoformans . Excluding C . neoformans, the rate of detection of growth was 96.0% . Microbial growth was detected an average of 18 h earlier by EDS than by the conventional system in 176 (90.2%) of the cultures . Also examined were 156 patient blood cultures: 13 were positive both by EDS and by conventional methods. S Afr Med J, 1980 Jul 19, 58(3), 137 - 8 Intrathecal cryptococcal lesion of the cauda equina successfully treated with intrathecal amphotericin B: A case report; van Dellen JR et al.; A case of an intrathecal cryptococcal granuloma in the cauda equina is reported . Successful and minimally toxic therapy with intrathecal amphotericin B and oral 5-fluorocytosine, preceded by surgery, is described. Br J Dermatol, 1980 Jul, 103(1), 95 - 100 Cutaneous cryptococcosis; Chu AC et al.; A 31-year-old woman with long-standing renal disease, treated with systemic steroids and azathioprine, developed progressive skin ulceration and subcutaneous nodules . A diagnosis of cryptococcosis was established after histological examination of a cutaneous lesion and confirmed by culture of the organism from the biopsy specimen . A detailed description of the histology and ultrastructure of the cutaneous lesion is presented . Treatment with parenteral amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine resulted in dramatic resolution of the skin lesions. Mikrobiologiia, 1980 Jul-Aug, 49(4), 599 - 603 {Variability of Cryptococcus species in the capacity to form pseudomycelia}; Golubev VI; Treatment of the type strains of Cryptococcus flavus, Cr . gastricus, Cr . magnus and Cr . hungaricus with nitrosoguanidine yielded mutants which were capable of producing the pseudomycelium . The mutants almost did not differ from the parent cultures in other diagnostic characteristics . Certain species of Candida and Cryptococcus were found to be very similar in taxonomic properties . Apparently, pseudomycelial saprophytic cryptococci might exist in nature . The conclusion has been drawn that the ability for pseudomycelium formation (its absence) should not be used as a generic criterion for Cryptococcus spp. Arch Pathol Lab Med, 1980 Jul, 104(7), 384 - 7 Cytological diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis; Gleason TH et al.; In six cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis cytological studies helped to establish the correct diagnosis . With the introduction of new diagnostic techniques, such as fine-needle aspiration and fiberoptic bronchoscopy, preoperative and antemortem diagnoses of pulmonary cryptococcosis will be made more frequently . It is important to be familiar with the cytological appearance of the organism and its importance in sputum or aspirated material. Am J Epidemiol, 1980 Jul, 112(1), 32 - 8 Cryptococcus neoformans serotype groups encountered in Oklahoma; Muchmore HG et al.; Eighty clinical and 28 soil isolates of C . neoformans obtained in Oklahoma were separated into A-D and B-C serotype groups utilizing creatinine-dextrose agar with bromthymol blue . Previously, serotype B-C clinical isolates have been frequent only in patients from Southern California where as many as 50% of the isolates are of this type . In contrast, in patients from the rest of the United States the B-C frequency has been only 6% . Of the 80 C . neoformans isolates from Oklahoma patients, 12 (15%) were serotype B-C . One-half of these 12 Oklahoma patients with serotype B-C isolates had no history of any travel to California, and were long-time residents of Oklahoma . All 28 soil isolates of C . neformans from Oklahoma in this study were serotype A-D . Since serotype B-C recovery from a soil sample has never been reported, attempts are in progress to isolate serotype B-C from the environments of these patients from Oklahoma. Rev Infect Dis, 1980 Jul-Aug, 2(4), 625 - 32 Chemotherapy for the systemic mycoses: the prelude to ketoconazole; Utz JP; Successful chemotherapy of the systemic mycoses now covers a span of more than 75 years and dates to the first reported use of potassium iodide for treatment of sporotrichosis . The second drug with efficacy was stilbamidine, and its currently available successor, hydroxystilbamidine isethionate, still has a role in therapy of some patients with nonprogressive blastomycosis of the skin . The introduction in 1957 of amphotericin B marked the first time there was an effective agent for such diseases as cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, candidosis, and with lesser success, for coccidioidomycosis, mucormycosis, and aspergillosis . However, amphotericin B is nephrotoxic, depresses bone marrow (especially erythropoeisis), and, if patients are not monitored and controlled closely, the drug produces hypokalemic muscle weakness and cardiotoxicity . Flucytosine has a narrower spectrum of activity (cryptococcosis, candidosis, cladosporiosis, and chromomycosis) but a preferable route of administration (oral) . Newer agents presently available are miconazole and clotrimazole; the latter is for topical use only. Rev Infect Dis, 1980 Jul-Aug, 2(4), 551 - 58 Combination therapy of experimental histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis with amphotericin B and ketoconazole; Graybill JR et al.; Combinations of amphotericin B and ketoconazole had an additive effect in vitro against Histoplasma capsulatum and Cryptococcus neoformans; ketoconazole combined with flucytosine exerted an indifferent effect against C . neoformans . In vivo studies in athymic nude (nu/nu) mice and their heterozygous (nu/+) littermates demonstrated that treatment with the ketoconazole-amphotericin B combination resulted in longer survival of mice with cryptococcosis than did treatment with ketoconazole plus flucytosine . However, mice given ketoconazole plus amphotericin B did not survive significantly longer than those given amphotericin B alone (cryptococcosis) or ketoconazole alone (histoplasmosis) . Combination chemotherapy with ketoconazole and amphotericin B may offer a modest therapeutic advantage over therapy with either drug alone. S Afr Med J, 1980 Jun 14, 57(24), 1011 - 2 Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis: a case report; Yalaburgi SB et al.; A 4-year-old Motswana boy suffered from cryptococcal meningitis; in addition to the signs of meningeal irritation, he had cortical blindness and seventh cranial nerve palsy . The child improved after treatment with amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine . It is suggested that this combination may be better than either drug used alone. Arq Neuropsiquiatr, 1980 Jun, 38(2), 177 - 81 {Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis functioning as expansive process . Report of a case}; Da Silva JA et al.; A case of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis occurrying in a 26-year-old white man disclosing clinical as well radiological features of a expanding process localized in the right cerebral hemisphere is reported . A definitive diagnosis was established through histopathologic examination following right fronto-temporo-parietal exploratory and decompressive craniotomy . Cryptococcus neoformans was easily demonstrated in the leptomeninges as well as in cystic spaces in the brain substance. J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Jun, 11(6), 672 - 4 Clinical laboratory evaluation of a screening medium (CN screen) for Cryptococcus neoformans; Cooper BH; Results obtained with 433 yeast isolates indicated that the CN screen medium could be used with confidence for presumptive identification of Cryptococcus neoformans . Of 49 C . neoformans isolates tested, only four stock isolates yielded false-negative results upon initial testing . After repeated subculturing on Sabouraud agar and retesting, these four isolates yielded correct results . Essentially, no false-positive results were obtained, and the data suggested that false-negative results could be eliminated by using fresh isolates of C . neoformans preincubated at 25 degrees C on Sabouraud glucose agar. Sabouraudia, 1980 Jun, 18(2), 137 - 44 Treatment of murine cryptococcosis with minocycline and amphotericin B; Graybill JR et al.; Minocycline has an additive anticryptococcal effect when combined with amphotericin B in vitro, and the combination lowers tissue counts of fungi . However, minocycline offers no survival benefit to amphotericin B therapy in murine cryptococcosis. Am J Clin Pathol, 1980 Jun, 73(6), 790 - 4 Comparison of enzyme immunoassay and latex agglutination methods for detection of Cryptococcus neoformans antigen; Scott EN et al.; An enzyme immunoassay for the measurement of cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide in human body fluids is described . The enzyme immunoassay detects cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide at a concentration of 6 ng/ml, compared with 35 ng/ml detectable by the latex agglutination test . The enzyme immunoassay detects cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide in body-fluid specimens that are negative by the latex agglutination test . Titers by enzyme immunoassay are generally higher and persist longer into the treatment period than those determined by latex agglutination . No cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide is detected by the enzyme immunoassay procedure in fluids from subjects not known to have cryptococcosis . The enzyme immunoassay procedure presented here provides earlier detection of cryptococcal material in body fluids, and thereby diagnosis and treatment of cryptococcosis can be made earlier in the course of disease. Carbohydr Res, 1980 Jun, 82(1), 103 - 11 Structural studies on the major, capsular polysaccharide from Cryptococcus bacillisporus serotype B; Bhattacharjee AK et al.; The capsular material from Cryptococcus bacillisporus serotype B has been separated into essentially two fractions . One of these (60% of the total) has been studied by the methods usual for the structural elucidation of polysaccharides . The results are consistent with a structure having nonreducing D-xylosyl as well as D-glucosyluronic acid groups attached to O-2 of D-mannosyl residues linked alpha-(1 leads to 3) in a linear backbone . Every third D-mannosyl residue is doubly substituted with a D-xylosyl group at O-2 and a D-glucosyluronic acid group at O-4. N Z Med J, 1980 Apr 23, 91(658), 291 - 3 Ocular cryptococcosis in New Zealand; Chapman-Smith JS et al.; A patient with unexplained lung abscess six years previously, developed chronic meningitis, and later, bilateral chorioretinitis . The organism found was Cryptococcus neoformans . The patient was successfully treated with amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine. Sem Hop, 1980 Apr 8-15, 56(13-14), 613 - 8 {Neurosurgical observations of central nervous system parasitic diseases}; Le Beau J et al.; Two main diseases are met, though seldom, in France (mostly in African patients): 1) hydatic cyst, the outcome of which is good after ablation; 2) multiple cysticercosis, often fatal . Furthermore two very rare cases are reported, one is a cerebral cryptococcosis, the other is an extra-dural spinal filariosis. J Clin Microbiol, 1980 Apr, 11(4), 324 - 7 Evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid lactic acid levels as an aid in differential diagnosis of bacterial and viral meningitis in adults; Lannigan R et al.; The level of lactic acid in cerebrospinal fluid has been suggested as a useful diagnostic parameter to differentiate between bacterial and viral meningitis, especially in patients partially treated before admission to hospital . A concentration of greater than or equal to 35 mg/dl, determined by either gas-liquid chromatography or an enzymatic method, has been considered in several studies to provide definite evidence of meningitis of bacterial origin, whereas a lower level indicates no bacterial involvement . Over the past 18 months, we have analyzed by the enzymatic method the lactate level in 493 spinal fluids submitted from 434 adult patients with various conditions involving the central nervous system . Fifty fluids had a lactate level of greater than 35 mg/dl, of which 19 were cases of infective meningitis of varying etiology . The 435 specimens with lactate levels within the range considered normal included three cases of infective meningitis, of which two were cryptococcal and one was bacterial . In this adult study, the lactate level in the cerebrospinal fluid did not provide unequivocal evidence of bacterial infection and did not provide assistance to any greater degree than the standard parameters of leukocyte count, protein, and glucose contents in the differential diagnosis of bacterial meningitis from that of any other etiology. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1980 Apr, 121(4), 743 - 7 Pleural effusions due to Cryptococcus neoformans: a review of the literature and report of two cases with cryptococcal antigen determinations; Young EJ et al.; Pleural effusions due to Cryptococcus neoformans occurred in 2 patients, 1 with localized pulmonary infection and 1 with disseminated cryptococcosis . Cryptococcal antigen was present in the pleural fluid from both patients and it was present also in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of the patient with disseminated infection . The cryptococcal antigen test is a sensitive and specific indicator of cryptococcoal infection, and it was not positive in pleural fluid samples from a variety of other conditions including bacterial and mycobacterial infections and primary or metastatic malignancies . Twenty-eight additional cases of cryptococcal pleural effusions have been reported in the English literature, equally divided between patients with infection localized to the thorax and those with disseminated disease . Cryptococcal infection must be considered in the differential diagnosis of patiients with pleural effusion, especially patients with serious underlying diseases treated with corticosteroids . The cryptococcal antigen test appears to be a useful adjunct in diagnosis, and serial determinations may be helpful in assessing response to treatment. J Bacteriol, 1980 Apr, 142(1), 15 - 20 Creatinine metabolism in Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus bacillisporus; Polacheck I et al.; The pathogenic species of Cryptococcus, C . neoformans and C . bacillisporus, utilized creatinine as a source of nitrogen but not of carbon . Chromatographic and autoradiographic studies suggest that creatinine metabolism in both species involves a single step resulting in the production of methylhydantoin and ammonia . The enzyme responsible for this step, creatinine deiminase, was produced by the cells only in the presence of creatinine in both species . The synthesis of creatinine deiminase was repressed by ammonia in C . neoformans, but not in C . bacillisporus . A possible explanation for this variation, based on the ecological differences between the two species, is discussed . A novel method for measuring creatinine deiminase activity is also described. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Mar, 17(3), 350 - 4 High incidence of sensitivity to yeast killer toxins among Candida and Torulopsis isolates of human origin; Middelbeek EJ et al.; Among yeast strains of human origin belonging to the genera Candida, Cryptococcus, Torulopsis, and Rhodotorula which were examined for killer and sensitive characteristics with killer and sensitive strains of Cryptococcus, Hansenula, Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Saccharomyces, and Torulopsis as screening organisms, a high incidence of sensitivity to killer toxins was observed within the genera Candida and Torulopsis . Of 142 strains tested, 116 strains distributed over all Candida and Torulopsis species examined were sensitive to one or more killers . Several new intergeneric killer-sensitive relationships are described . Furthermore, killing activity was exhibited by six strains of Candida (C . krusei, C . guilliermondii) and three strains of Torulopsis (T . glabrata). Infect Immun, 1980 Mar, 27(3), 910 - 4 Isolation and characterization of arginine auxotrophs of Cryptococcus neoformans; Rhodes JC et al.; Arginine auxotrophs were isolated in both mating types of Cryptococcus neoformans . In both mutants, the auxotrophy was due to the lack of active argininosuccinate lyase . The virulence in mice of the mutants was compared with that of the wild type . One auxotroph displayed a loss of virulence which appeared to be related to the presence of another mutation, one which prevented normal cell separation after budding . The other auxotroph had reduced virulence compared with the wild type, but a variant isolated from it by mouse passage had virulence equivalent to that of the wild type while maintaining the auxotrophic requirements. Mycopathologia, 1980 Feb 29, 70(1), 55 - 9 Development of an enzyme immunoassay for cryptococcal antibody; Scott EN et al.; An enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) for measurement of cryptococcal IgG antibody in human serum is described . Clinical studies indicate that the assay is a useful addition to the currently available techniques for measuring antibodies in cryptococcosis . IgG-specific antibody (titers 4 to 1,024) was detected in the serum of 78% of the cryptococcosis patients tested and in 61% of the serum from healthy individuals with positive delayed skin hypersensitivity to cryptococcin . The micro-ELISA for cryptococcal antibody is of potential value in patient management, and in epidemiological studies. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1980 Feb, 17(2), 120 - 3 Susceptibility of zoopathogenic fungi to phytoalexins; Gordon MA et al.; Phytoalexins are a group of low-molecular-weight antibiotics produced by higher plants in response to infection by relatively avirulent microorganisms . They are of relatively low toxicity for mammalian cells and have been reported to possess a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against bacteria and phytopathogenic fungi . Employing a broth dilution technique, we have found the zoopathogens Petriellidium boydii, Aspergillus flavus, A . fumigatus, Candida albicans, Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, Rhizopus oryzae, Sporothrix schenckii, and Trichophyton rubrum to be inhibited by one or more of the phytoalexins maackiain, medicarpin, phaseollin, phaseollin isoflavan, pisatin, sativan, and vestitol in concentrations of from 12.5 to 50 microgram/ml . Phaseollin isofalvan was the most effective of these . In agar cup diffusion tests growth of the yeast form of Blastomyces dermatitidis was inhibited by phaseollin at 50 microgram/ml and by phaseollin isoflavan at 25 microgram/ml . Susceptibility of the mycelial form of B . dermatitidis to these two compounds was demonstrated by inhibition of radial extension on agar plates. Pathol Biol (Paris), 1980 Feb, 28(2), 107 - 11 {The thermotolerance of the Cryptococcus . Investigation on 208 wild and type cultures strains (author's transl)}; Saez H et al.; The maximal temperature for growth was investigated on 208 Cryptococcus, 2 type cultures and 206 wild strains, belonging to 11 species or varieties . According to the results, which spread from 25 degrees to 42 degrees, the Cryptococcus were separated in three groups . The differentiation of C . neoformans from other Cryptococcus developing at 37 degrees, and particularly from two species with near bio-chemical characteristics, was discussed. Am J Ophthalmol, 1980 Feb, 89(2), 210 - 7 Cryptococcal chorioretinitis; Shields JA et al.; A 40-year-old man developed obstructive hydrocephalus of uncertain cause followed by bilateral intraocular inflammation, which was initially diagnosed as toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis . When visual acuity in the left eye decreased to no light perception and vision in the right eye was failing, a diagnostic enucleation of the blind left eye was performed . A diagnosis of cryptococcal endophthalmitis was established and the remaining right eye showed improvement after systemic anticryptococcal therapy. Ann Anat Pathol (Paris), 1980, 25(2), 125 - 38 {Infectious pulmonary and neurologic complications of Kaposi's sarcoma . Anatomo-clinical correlation with an ultrastructural study}; Rutsaert J et al.; The authors report a case of generalised Kaposi sarcoma complicated by pulmonary cryptococcosis and cerebral toxoplasmosis . Clinical features were dominated by the cerebral condition . The infectious pathogenesis could be related to disturbances in immune defences . Ultrastructural study revealed the presence of several types of tumour cells . Endothelial cells formed vascular lumens and contained Weibel-Palade granules and reticulo-tubular inclusions. Dermatologica, 1980, 161(5), 327 - 33 Cryptococcosis with cutaneous manifestations treated with 5-fluorocytosine; Lee S et al.; A 3-year-old girl in poor general condition was admitted with a diagnosis of cryptococcosis and treated with 5-fluorocytosine . This case is characterized by its occurrence at a young age with no underlying disease, with involvement of the central nervous system, lung, skin, liver, spleen and lymph nodes, with typical cutaneous papules and nodules with ulceration and crushing, gelatinous appearance on biopsy of the skin, severe peripheral eosinophilia, and a remarkable response to 5-fluorocytosine therapy monitored by follow-up skin biopsies. Folia Parasitol (Praha), 1980, 27(3), 269 - 79 Fungi from interior organs of free-living small mammals in Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia; Hubalek Z et al.; A total of 308 fungi was isolated from interior organs (lungs, spleen, liver) of 529 small mammals belonging to 21 species, 7 families and 3 orders (Insectivora, Chiroptera, Rodentia), some of these being potentially pathogenic to vertebrates (e.g . Aspergillus flavus, A . fumigatus, Geotrichum candidum, Mucor pusillus, Rhizopus arrhizus) . In one vole (Microtus arvalis) captured in South Moravia, adiaspiromycosis (Emmonsia crescens) was demonstrated . Comparison of mycoflora of hair and that of interior organs of wild small mammals revealed that out of the total number of isolates the following fungi were represented in a higher proportion from visceral organs than from the hair: Aspergillus (A . amstelodami, A . flavus, A . repens), Aureobasidium (A . pullulans), Candida, Cladosporium (C . herbarum), Cryptococcus, Fusarium, Gliocladium (G . deliquescens), Helminthosporium, Kloeckera, Mucor (M . fragilis, M . hiemalis, M . pusillus), Paecilomyces marquandii, Penicillium (P . purpurogenum), Phoma, Rhizopus arrhizus, Scopulariopsis (S . candida, S . koningii) and Torulopsis. Dermatologica, 1980, 161(4), 280 - 4 Cutaneous cryptococcosis in a patient receiving immunosuppressive drugs for systemic lupus erythematosus; Kruyswijk MR et al.; A case of systemic lupus erythematosus, complicated by a systemic cryptococcal infection with involvement of the skin is described. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1980 Jan, 19(1), 21 - 30 Experimental ocular cryptococcosis . Preliminary studies in cats and mice; Blouin P et al.; Ocular cryptococcosis was produced in cats by the intracarotid injection of Cryptococcus neoformans . Infected eyes developed a progressive, multifocal chorioretinitis which was comparable to that found in the naturally occurring feline disease . The severity of the ocular disease, the development of infection in the fellow eye, and the degree of systemic involvement were shown to be related to the number of organisms inoculated . Mice infected intracerebrally with the same organism developed optic nerve meningitis . The pathogenesis of the ocular lesions thus produced is discussed. Zentralbl Bakteriol A, 1980, 248(3), 422 - 9 Pathogenic yeast-like fungi in meat products; Staib F et al.; 100 samples of sausage and ham (cut in fine slices) were examined to find out whether meat products can harbour yeast-like fungi pathogenic for man . Pieces of the test material were placed in a sterile Petri dish containing 1 ml distilled water and incubated at 26 degrees C for 2 days . The colonies grown on the material were identified by international standard methods, tested for extracellular proteolytic activity and serotypes . Experimentally infected meat products were studied culturally and histologically (PAS stain) . 14 out of the 100 samples examined were found to contain Candida parapsilosis and 1 C . tropicalis . In vitro, extracellular proteolytic activity was found in 54.5% of the C . parapsilosis isolates . By serotyping, 2 of the isolates wree found to be related with serotype A and 8 with serotype B of C . albicans . The strains isolated from the blood of 27 patients, in part of them, identity of serotype and proteolysing activity was established . In the experimentally infected meat products, C . albicans showed a scarce growth preferably in the pseudomycelium form . C . tropicalis grew very well on the boiled sausage of salami type but mostly in the pseudomycelium form . C . parapsilosis on the other hand, showed a strong growth preferably as round blastospores on all 3 meat products and Cryptococcus neoformans a moderate growth as round blastospores in all the 3 meat products (Bologna type sausage, boiled sausage of salami type and smoke ham) . The findings are discussed with a view of their implications for Medical Mycology, epidemiology and the practice of food control. Res Exp Med (Berl), 1980, 178(1), 11 - 9 Experimental cryptococcal myocarditis; Nagai T et al.; Rabbits and Wistar rats developed myocarditis after intramyocardial inoculation with Cryptococcus neoformans . Myocardial lesions were observed on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th week after the inoculation in all animals . The cardiac lesion consisted of focal necrosis with accompanying lymphocytes, macrophages, and rare fibroblasts in the myocardium . Cryptococcus neoformans itself was found by PAS stain and indirect immunofluorescence stain by the 2nd week after the inoculation . Maximal cardiac lesions were observed in the 2nd week and thereafter, the lesions showed progressive scarring . In the 9th week there were fibrotic lesions, and we were not able to demonstrated cryptococcal antigens in these lesions . Fungemia and antibody for Cryptococcus neoformans were not found over the entire period . Cryptococcal meningeal lesions were observed in all animals . In the animals given an intramyocardial inoculation of saline, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Serratia marcescens there were no myocardial lesions . The relationship of this experimental cryptococcal myocarditis and fungal endocarditis in humans is discussed. J Infect Dis, 1980 Jan, 141(1), 76 - 80 Suppression of cryptococcosis and histoplasmosis by ketoconazole in athymic nude mice; Williams DM et al.; Congenitally athymic nude (nu/nu) mice are more susceptible to disseminated cryptococcosis and histoplasmosis than their heterozygous (nu/ + ) thymus-bearing litter-mates . The therapeutic efficacy of ketoconazole, an orally absorbable antifungal agent, was evaluated in nu/nu and nu/ + mice infected intraperitoneally with Cryptococcus neoformans and Histoplasma capsulatum . Two- to five-week courses of ketoconazole significantly prolonged the survival of nu/nu mice infected with either fungus in dose-dependent fashion, but death eventually followed discontinuance of therapy . More significant protection was seen in nu/ + mice infected with C . neoformans, and markedly lower fungal counts in organs, with some negative cultures, were seen in ketoconazole-treated nu/ + mice infected with H . capsulatum . These studies indicate that ketoconazole is effective against both fungi, although results of treatment are much better in the immunologically intact nu/ + host. Neurology, 1980 Jan, 30(1), 102 - 5 Diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis by cytologic methods: an old technique revisited; Bernad PG et al.; In six patients with cryptococcal meningitis, diagnosis was made by routine cytologic examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) . A seventh patient had a false-positive cryptococcal antigen titer, and no organism was seen on SCF examination . The patient had herpes simplex encephalitis on brain biopsy . Cytologic examination is recommended whenever cryptococcal meningitis is suspected. Scand J Infect Dis, 1980, 12(2), 155 - 7 Cryptococcal meningitis: complications due to intrathecal treatment; Schonheyder H et al.; A 50-year-old woman with cryptococcal meningitis was treated with amphotericin B intrathecally through a Rickham reservoir and intravenously, together with flucytosine orally . After 4 months of treatment cryptococci and cryptococcal antigen were still present in cerebrospinal fluid from time to time . After removal of the Rickham reservoir the patient recovered completely within 6 weeks . The persistent infection was thus found to be due to the presence of the Rickham reservoir, a complication to intrathecal therapy which has not been reported before. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz), 1980, 28(3), 377 - 87 Effect of Listeria monocytogenes lipids on the immunity of mice against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Trichomonas vaginalis; Jakoniuk P et al.; The effect of Listeria monocytogenes lipids (Lm lipids) on immunity against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Trichomonas vaginalis was studied in mice . The administration of Lm lipids did not affect significantly the course of T . vaginalis infection . On the other hand, single Lm lipids injection markedly decreased the mortality rate of mice with mycotic infections, and significantly accelerated the elimination of fungal cells from liver, spleen and blood circulation of animals . It is suggested that enhanced resistance of mice conferred by Lm lipids may be related to observed increase in activity of macrophages . The study demonstrated a very low toxicity of Lm lipids preparation. Eur J Biochem, 1980, 108(1), 323 - 9 Induction and inducers of endo-1,4-beta-xylanase in the yeast Cryptococcus albidus; Biely P et al.; Extracellular endo-1,4-beta-xylanase synthesis in the yeast Cryptococcus albidus is largely inducible . During growth on wood xylans the yeast produces the enzyme in amounts two orders of