Carbohydr Res, 1991 Jul 18, 214(1), 131 - 45 Structural determination of D-mannans of pathogenic yeasts Candida stellatoidea type I strains: TIMM 0310 and ATCC 11006 compared to IFO 1397; Kobayashi H et al.; The structures of the cell-wall D-mannans of pathogenic yeasts of Candida stellatoidea Type I strains, IFO 1397, TIMM 0310, and ATCC 11006, were investigated by mild acid and, alkaline hydrolysis, by digestion with the Arthrobacter GJM-1 strain exo-alpha-D-mannosidase, and by acetolysis . The modified D-mannans and their degradation products were studied by 1H- and 13C-n.m.r . analyses . D-Manno-oligosaccharides released by acid treatment from the parent D-mannans were identified as the homologous beta-(1----2)-linked D-manno-oligosaccharides from biose to hexaose, whereas those obtained by alkaline degradation were the homologous alpha-(1----2)-linked D-mannobiose and D-mannotriose . The acid- and alkali-modified D-mannans lacking 1H-n.m.r . signals above 4.900 p.p.m . {corresponding to beta-(1----2)-linked D-mannopyranose units} were acetolyzed with 10:10:1 (v/v) Ac2O-AcOH-H2SO4, and the resultant D-manno-oligosaccharides were also analyzed . It was found that the longest branches of these D-mannans, corresponding to hexaosyl residues, had the following structures: alpha-D-Manp-(1----3)-alpha-D-Manp-(1----2)-alpha-D-Manp+ ++-(1----2)-alpha-D-Manp- (1----2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1----2)-D-Man and alpha-D-Manp-(1----2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1----3)-alpha-D-Manp+ ++-(1----2)-alpha-D-Manp- (1----2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1----2)-D-Man . These results indicate that the D-mannans of C . stellatoidea Type I strains possess structures in common with the D-mannans of Candida albicans serotype B strain (see ref . 4) containing phosphate-bound beta-(1----2)-linked oligo-D-mannosyl residues. Chest, 1991 Jul, 100(1), 164 - 7 Excess mortality in critically ill patients with nosocomial bloodstream infections; Smith RL et al.; To determine the excess mortality attributable to hospital-acquired bloodstream infections, we applied the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II classification to 34 critically ill patients with this complication . The study included primary bloodstream infections, defined by a positive blood culture at least three days after hospitalization, in the absence of any other apparent source of infection . The most frequent blood isolates included Staphylococcus aureus (39 percent), Gram-negative rods (24 percent), and Candida albicans (15 percent); the spectrum of blood isolates suggested that most infections were related to intravascular catheters . In a control group of intensive care unit patients (n = 384), the death rate predicted by APACHE II was similar to the observed death rate (35.3 vs 37.8 percent) . In a subgroup of control patients (n = 34), chosen for APACHE II scores that matched the patients with bloodstream infections, predicted and observed death rates were also similar (53.1 vs 52.9 percent) . For patients with bloodstream infections, however, observed mortality (82.4 percent) significantly exceeded the predicted value (54.1 percent, p = 0.025) . We conclude that critically ill patients who develop nosocomial bloodstream infections are at greater risk of death than patients with comparable severity of illness without this complication . The difference between the observed and predicted death rates, 28 percent, represents the excess mortality associated with bloodstream infection in critically ill patients. J Infect Dis, 1991 Jul, 164(1), 158 - 62 Fungistatic activity of human neutrophils against Histoplasma capsulatum: correlation with phagocytosis; Brummer E et al.; The interaction of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) and Histoplasma capsulatum was studied . In limiting dilution assays and in a 2-h coculture system, PMNL were ineffective in killing H . capsulatum whereas Candida albicans was readily killed . Although PMNL could not reduce inoculum colony-forming units of H . capsulatum in short-term assays, they were highly fungistatic in 24- (47%-55%) and 72-h (65%-75%) cocultures . Phagocytosis of yeast cells by PMNL was 81.3% +/- 3.7% . Fungistasis persisted even though PMNL viability decreased with time . Fungistatic activity of PMNL was dose dependent . Fungistasis was verified by direct hemocytometer counts of fungal units . In transwell experiments, PMNL contact with H . capsulatum was required for fungistatic activity . Lymphocytes, PMNL lysates, or PMNL supernatants were not fungistatic in this system. J Infect Dis, 1991 Jul, 164(1), 137 - 42 The zinc-reversible antimicrobial activity of neutrophil lysates and abscess fluid supernatants; Sohnle PG et al.; There is some evidence to suggest that microbial growth inhibition may occur in chronic abscesses . A substance perhaps responsible for this phenomenon is calprotectin, a neutrophil cytoplasmic protein that inhibits microbial growth and that belongs to a class of proteins often having specific binding sites for zinc . In the present study, the suppressive effects of either human or mouse neutrophil lysates on Candida albicans growth were found to be completely reversed by micromolar quantities of zinc but not by iron or other trace elements . Similarly, supernatants of exudates from experimental abscesses in mice or from clinical specimens of abscesses in humans markedly inhibited the proliferation of C . albicans, and this effect was also completely reversed by zinc . A protein complex characteristic of calprotectin was identified in the abscess fluids . Preparations of the neutrophil growth-inhibiting protein, containing predominantly calprotectin, were shown to have zinc-binding activity by a dialysis technique . These findings suggest that the major mechanism of C . albicans growth inhibition by abscess fluids is through competition for zinc by a cytoplasmic protein apparently released from dying neutrophils. J Cell Biol, 1991 Jul, 114(1), 101 - 9 CAL1, a gene required for activity of chitin synthase 3 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Valdivieso MH et al.; The CAL1 gene was cloned by complementation of the defect in Calcofluor-resistant calR1 mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Transformation of the mutants with a plasmid carrying the appropriate insert restored Calcofluor sensitivity, wild-type chitin levels and normal spore maturation . Southern blots using the DNA fragment as a probe showed hybridization to a single locus . Allelic tests indicated that the cloned gene corresponded to the calR1 locus . The DNA insert contains a single open-reading frame encoding a protein of 1,099 amino acids with a molecular mass of 124 kD . The predicted amino acid sequence shows several regions of homology with those of chitin synthases 1 and 2 from S . cerevisiae and chitin synthase 1 from Candida albicans . calR1 mutants have been found to be defective in chitin synthase 3, a trypsin-independent synthase . Transformation of the mutants with a plasmid carrying CAL1 restored chitin synthase 3 activity; however, overexpression of the enzyme was not achieved even with a high copy number plasmid . Since Calcofluor-resistance mutations different from calR1 also result in reduced levels of chitin synthase 3, it is postulated that the products of some of these CAL genes may be limiting for expression of the enzymatic activity . Disruption of the CAL1 gene was not lethal, indicating that chitin synthase 3 is not an essential enzyme for S . cerevisiae. Infect Immun, 1991 Jul, 59(7), 2480 - 4 Physical and genetic mapping of Candida albicans: several genes previously assigned to chromosome 1 map to chromosome R, the rDNA-containing linkage group; Wickes B et al.; Analysis of the karyotypes of multiple Candida albicans isolates by pulsed-field electrophoresis confirms the observation by Lasker et al . of eight chromosomes . The genes previously assigned to chromosome 1 in fact fall into two groups, one (including ADE1, SOR9, and CDC10) is linked to the ribosomal DNA genes on a chromosome called R, whereas the others are found on chromosome 1 . Chromosome R varies in electrophoretic mobility among strains, usually running equal to or faster than chromosome 1 but in rare cases running slower than chromosome 1 . In strain 1012A, the decreased mobility of one homolog is associated with the very large majority of the rDNA genes being on that homolog; the second homolog, with only a few copies, migrates with chromosome 2 . Linkage analysis by using spheroplast fusion confirms the gene assignments made by hybridization to blots of the electrophoretic karyotype . A newly cloned gene, LYS2, hybridizes to chromosome 1. Infect Immun, 1991 Jul, 59(7), 2324 - 32 Characterization of cell wall proteins of yeast and hydrophobic mycelial cells of Candida albicans; Lopez-Ribot JL et al.; Cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) of blastoconidia and blastoconidia bearing germ tubes of Candida albicans ATCC 26555 was monitored by assessing attachment of polystyrene microspheres to the cell surface, and we found that mature hyphae were significantly hydrophobic . Treatment of intact cells with low concentrations of beta-glucanase (Zymolyase 20T) or proteases abolished or significantly reduced attachment of latex beads to hyphae . This effect paralleled an obvious reduction in CSH of the entire cell population, as measured by an aqueous-hydrocarbon biphasic partitioning assay . Analysis of the cell wall material released by Zymolyase and adsorbed on polystyrene microspheres indicated that germ tube-specific cell wall proteins and mannoproteins with apparent molecular masses of 20 to 67 kDa may be responsible for the hydrophobicity of hyphae . Zymolyase released from blastoconidia cell walls a different set of proteins and mannoproteins that were able to adsorb to polystyrene microbeads . Such molecular species might in turn be responsible for the CSH exhibited by blastoconidium populations as determined by the biphasic partitioning assay, although these probably hydrophobic components can be masked on the surface of blastoconidia, as the latter had no or very few latex microspheres attached to their surfaces . Treatment of cells of both C . albicans morphologies with 2-mercaptoethanol released qualitatively distinct species of polystyrene-adsorbed proteins and mannoproteins from yeast and mycelial cells . These observations suggested that hydrophobic proteins and mannoproteins that could be associated with CSH are bound to the cell wall structure through diverse types of linkages. Mol Microbiol, 1991 Jul, 5(7), 1703 - 6 Both genes for EF-1 alpha in Candida albicans are translated; Sundstrom P et al.; In previous work, we showed that Candida albicans has two genes, TEF-1 and TEF-2, which encode identical polypeptides for the highly conserved, essential, protein synthesis factor EF-1 alpha (Breviario et al., 1988) . This result prompted questions as to whether C . albicans preferentially uses one of the genes over the other and whether both genes are actually translated into protein . Gene-specific sequence differences in the untranslated portion of each gene made it possible to prepare gene-specific oligonucleotide hybridization probes . Results with the probes showed that the relative steady-state mRNA levels of the two genes were equivalent and that the mRNA for each gene was present in active translation complexes. J Burn Care Rehabil, 1991 Jul-Aug, 12(4), 294 - 9 Causes of colonization of autografted burn wounds; Neely AN et al.; The progression of autograft colonization to infection presents significant problems in the care of grafted burn wounds . To determine whether graft colonization arises from self-contamination or from some exogenous source, we characterized pregraft and graft Candida albicans isolates through serotyping and biotyping (Leicester system) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates through serotyping (Japan Pseudomonas aeruginosa Society system) . In 21 of 24 patients, the serotype/biotype of the graft isolate was the same as the serotype/biotype of a C . albicans strain previously isolated from the same patient . Fifteen of 16 P . aeruginosa graft contaminants also showed the same serotype as that in a pregraft isolate . Therefore, whereas it has long been surmised that the grafts of patients with burns are self-colonized, this study provides definite data showing that most C . albicans and P . aeruginosa autograft isolates are indeed self-contaminants. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1991 Jul, 28 Suppl A, 23 - 33 Developments in the serological diagnosis of opportunistic fungal infections; Burnie JP; Recent years have seen some progress in the design of serodiagnostic tests for the medically important invasive mycoses . This has included the introduction of latex agglutination tests for antigen detection in systemic candidosis and invasive aspergillosis . The circulating cytoplasmic antigens of Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus have recently been delineated as heat-shock proteins of approximate molecular weight 90 KD. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Jul, 35(7), 1334 - 7 Synergy between cilofungin and amphotericin B in a murine model of candidiasis; Hanson LH et al.; The efficacies of cilofungin and amphotericin B separately and together in mice with disseminated candidiasis were studied . Male CD-1 mice (age, 5 weeks) were infected intravenously with 3 X 10(5) CFU of Candida albicans . At 4 days postinfection, intraperitoneal therapy was initiated and was continued for 14 days . Therapy groups included those given cilofungin at 6.25 or 62.5 mg/kg/day (given twice daily), amphotericin B at 0.625 mg/kg/day (given once daily), cilofungin at 6.25 mg/kg/day plus amphotericin B, and cilofungin at 62.5 mg/kg/day plus amphotericin B . Mice were observed through 30 days postinfection . All infected untreated mice died of infection between days 6 and 18 . Eighty-five percent of mice receiving cilofungin at 6.25 mg/kg/day died between days 13 and 30 . All other mice survived . Quantitative determination of the number of CFU of C . albicans in the spleens and kidneys of all survivors revealed that mice that had received both drugs had lower residual burdens of C . albicans . All mice treated with cilofungin at 62.5 mg/kg/day plus amphotericin B had sterile spleens, whereas 42 to 58% of mice given cilofungin or amphotericin B monotherapy had sterile spleens . All kidneys were infected in mice which had received cilofungin at 62.5 mg/kg/day or amphotericin B . Neither organ was infected in 17% of each group receiving combination therapy with cilofungin and amphotericin B . The number of CFU in the kidneys of mice treated with cilofungin at 62.5 mg/kg/day plus amphotericin B was lower than those cultured from mice treated with cilofungin at 62.5 mg/kg/day (P less than 0.001, Mann-Whitney) or amhotericin B (P less than 0.05) . Modest synergy was noted in inhibition of the C . albicans isolate in vitro . Pharmacokinetic studies showed elevated levels of cilofungin but not amphotericin B in sera of mice treated with combined therapy compared with those in mice given monotherapy . No overt toxicity was evident with any regimen . The mechanism of increased efficacy may be altered cilofungin distribution, excretion, or metabolism; antifungal synergy; or both . These results indicate that concurrent cilofungin-amphotericin B therapy has synergistic or additive efficacy in vivo. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Jul, 35(7), 1329 - 33 Efficacy of cilofungin alone and in combination with amphotericin B in a murine model of disseminated aspergillosis; Denning DW et al.; Cilofungin, amphotericin B, and a combination of the two drugs were compared in a model of aspergillosis in immunocompetent mice in three experiments . Cilofungin was equivalent to amphotericin B in preventing death and eradicating cerebral aspergillosis, but it did not sterilize the kidneys . This is the first demonstration of the in vivo activity of cilofungin against any fungus other than Candida albicans . The mortality with combination therapy was higher than those with amphotericin B alone (P = 0.003) and cilofungin alone (P = 0.054), as was weight loss after infection, indicating antagonism between cilofungin and amphotericin B in this model . The mechanisms of action and antagonism remain to be explained. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1991 Jul, 35(7), 1321 - 8 Antifungal effects of the nonlinear pharmacokinetics of cilofungin, a 1,3-beta-glucan synthetase inhibitor, during continuous and intermittent intravenous infusions in treatment of experimental disseminated candidiasis; Walsh TJ et al.; Cilofungin (LY-121019) is a fungicidal cell wall-active 1,3-beta-glucan synthetase inhibitor with a short plasma half-life and saturable nonlinear plasma pharmacokinetics . To optimize the in vivo efficacy of this compound, we studied the effects of its linear and nonlinear pharmacokinetics during continuous versus intermittent intravenous infusion of cilofungin in the treatment of experimental disseminated candidiasis in persistently granulocytopenic rabbits . Six groups of rabbits were studied, untreated controls (n = 32) and five cilofungin dosage regimen groups consisting of the following: 25 mg/kg of body weight intravenously twice daily (VLoINT) (n = 9); 50 mg/kg twice daily (LoINT) (n = 9); 90 mg/kg twice daily (HiINT) (n = 11); 5 mg/kg/h for 18 h/day (LoCI) (n = 7); and 10 mg/kg/h for 18 h/day (HiCI) (n = 7) . All regimens achieved plasma concentrations exceeding the MIC for Candida albicans (0.25 microgram/ml) . In vitro timed kill assays found that the fungicidal activity and rate of kill by cilofungin above the MIC for C . albicans was concentration dependent . At the lower dosage regimens (VLoINT, LoINT, and LoCI), cilofungin followed linear plasma pharmacokinetics, whereas at higher doses (HiCI and HiINT), nonlinear kinetics consistent with a saturated elimination pathway(s) were observed . Only HiCI and HiINT produced a 10(3)- to 10(4)-fold reduction in CFU per gram in candidiasis of the brain (P less than or equal to 0.001) . HiCI and HiINT also significantly reduced infection in the choroid (P less than or equal to 0.05) . All regimens, except VLoInt, significantly (P less than or equal to 0.01) reduced tissue infections in lung, liver, spleen, and kidney . However, only the regimens with nonlinear saturation kinetics (HiCI and HiINT) produced a 10(6) reduction in the spleen and a > 10(5) reduction of C . albicans in the kidney and liver . A simple doubling of the dosage from LoCI to HiCI resulted in tissue concentrations that were 10 times higher and a 10(2)- to 10(4)-fold-greater antifungal effect . There was a direct correlation (r2 = 0.83) between tissue concentrations of cilofungin and antifungal activity . Thus, continuous and intermittent infusion dosage regimens that elicit nonlinear saturation plasma pharmacokinetics of cilofungin were associated with increased antifungal activity against experimental disseminated candidiasis. J Ethnopharmacol, 1991 Jul, 33(3), 213 - 6 Pharmacological properties of Moringa oleifera . 1: Preliminary screening for antimicrobial activity; Caceres A et al.; The antimicrobial activities of Moringa oleifera leaves, roots, bark and seeds were investigated in vitro against bacteria, yeast, dermatophytes and helminths pathogenic to man . By a disk-diffusion method, it was demonstrated that the fresh leaf juice and aqueous extracts from the seeds inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and that extraction temperatures above 56 degrees C inhibited this activity . No activity was demonstrated against four other pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and Candida albicans . By a dilution method, no activity was demonstrated against six pathogenic dermatophytes . A method was standardized for studying the effect of aqueous extracts on Ascaris lumbricoides eggs, but no activity was exhibited by any part of the tree in contrast to Chenopodium ambrosioides leaf extracts. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Jul 1, 65(3), 283 - 6 Enhanced intraspecific protoplast fusion in yeast; Kavanagh K et al.; Intraspecific hybrid production from the polyethylene glycol induced fusion of yeast protoplasts was greatly increased when calcium propionate was included as the source of the requisite Ca2+ . The use of calcium propionate, as opposed to the more commonly employed calcium chloride, resulted in substantially greater yields of hybrids from intraspecific fusions of protoplasts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans . It is postulated that the ability of calcium propionate to enhance the fusion frequency is due to the anion binding to the etheric oxygen of PEG and potentiating the fusogenicity of the polymer. Biochem Int, 1991 Jul, 24(5), 907 - 15 Isolation, purification and kinetic characterization of plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase of Candida albicans; Gupta P et al.; The plasma membrane ATPase of Candida albicans was solubilized by Tween 40 and purified to homogeneity on glycerol step gradient . The purified protein appeared as a single band of 100 +/- 4 KDa, represented greater than 98% of the total pure protein on densitometer scan . The purified PM-ATPase which was very specific to MgATP, had Km of about 0.77 mM and a sharp pH optimum at 6.6 . Orthovanadate was able to inhibit the enzyme in a non-competitive manner, however, at higher concentrations the nature of inhibition changed to uncompetitive type . Based on molecular size, immuno cross-reactivity and sensitivity to different inhibitors, PM-ATPase of C . albicans appears to be similar to other ion pumps. Dtsch Zahnarztl Z, 1991 Jul, 46(7), 503 - 5 {Changes in the physical properties of Gingivamoll flexible gingival epithesis}; Kapari D et al.; It was the purpose of this study to investigate variations in weight, volume, hardness, material density, adjustment and colour of Gingivamoll flexible gingival masks during a period of twelve months . Additionally, patients were inspected for potential infections of Candida albicans . Thirty-three gingival masks of nine patients were selected for the study . One third was placed into patients' mouths, one third was placed on stone models under room conditions and a third group was submerged under water . At baseline all gingival masks were examined and measured . For the first half of the year, measurements were recorded monthly and in the second half of the year at two months' intervals . Results showed a constant Shore-A hardness, volume and density . Gingival masks submerged under water kept their weight . The other masks, i . e . those placed into patients' mouths and those placed on plaster models, lost weight . Adjustment deteriorated at distal sites . Colour stability was not satisfactory . Tests for Candida albicans remained negative . It can be concluded that Gingivamoll flexible gingival masks can be used without serious problems for a period of twelve months. Mycoses, 1991 Jul-Aug, 34(7-8), 297 - 302 Turbidometric characterization of the postantifungal effect: comparative studies with amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine and miconazole on Candida albicans; Scalarone GM et al.; The phenomenon of persistent suppression of Candida albicans yeast cell growth after short drug exposures (postantifungal effect, PAFE) was determined by performing comparative studies using different concentrations of 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), amphotericin B (AMPH) and miconazole (MCZ) . An in vitro turbidometric method was used to measure cell growth and to quantitate the PAFE after removal of the drug by dilution following exposure to C . albicans yeast cells for 0.5 h, 1 h or 2 h . The PAFE was determined by the difference in time (h) required for growth of the control and test cultures to increase to the 0.5 absorbance level following removal of the antifungal agent . A PAFE was demonstrated with each agent and generally the length of the PAFE was dependent upon the concentration of the drug and the time of exposure . An exposure time of 0.5 h resulted in PAFEs ranging from 0.6 to 16.7 h with 5-FC, 0 to 16.5 h with AMPH and 0.1 to 14.1 h with MCZ . In most instances exposure of the cells to each drug for 1 or 2 h resulted in slightly longer PAFEs, respectively . Longer PAFEs were induced with lower concentrations of 5-FC as compared to AMPH and MCZ . The data from such PAFE assays may be useful for determining in vivo treatment regimens, since longer PAFEs may allow for intermittent dosing instead of continuous drug administration. Mycoses, 1991 Jul-Aug, 34(7-8), 293 - 6 Velocity of Candida albicans invasion into host tissues; Bykov VL; Using 2 experimental models (candidal vaginitis in leukopenic mice and oral candidosis in neonatal rats) characterized by minimal inflammatory response to the pathogen, the rate of invasive growth of Candida albicans in stratified epithelia of mucosal membranes was defined . The pseudomycelium was found to invade animal epithelia at an average rate of 2 microns per hour, penetrating the entire epithelial thickness during 24-48 h . These data have been extrapolated to clinical pathology . On the basis of experimental data and by measuring the epithelial thickness in some human mucous membranes, the presumable periods of total epithelial penetration were calculated which may lead to vascular invasion and create the danger of dissemination . For different human mucous membranes these periods ranged from 22 to 59 h . These data emphasize the importance of cellular and tissue defense mechanisms, the inhibition of which may allow the fungi normally found on epithelial surfaces as commensals to invade the host tissues and to cause deep and disseminated mycotic lesions within several days. Mycoses, 1991 Jul-Aug, 34(7-8), 287 - 92 Morphological changes of Candida albicans induced by saperconazole; Montes B et al.; The effects of a new triazole antifungal agent, saperconazole, on the morphology of Candida albicans were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy . An inoculum of 10(6) CFU ml-1 was exposed to saperconazole at 1 and 10 micrograms ml-1 and at different times up to 24 h samples were removed for microscopic observations . The antifungal agent caused the yeasts to become round and turgescent and to cluster; budding appeared to be affected also, as seen by scanning electron microscopy . Transmission electron microscopy showed a thickened wall, the presence of intraparietal electron-dense vesicles and of multilamellae near the plasma membrane. Minerva Stomatol, 1991 Jul-Aug, 40(7-8), 483 - 6 {The effect of orthodontic magnets on the oral microbial flora}; Staffolani N et al.; In this study we wanted to test the in vitro effects of orthodontic magnetic brackets, developing different magnetic fields, on the oral microbial flora . We noticed that a magnetic field has its most considerable influence on Candida albicans growth; the stimulating response depends on various factors: cell inoculum, exposure time and magnetic field frequency. J Clin Microbiol, 1991 Jul, 29(7), 1364 - 7 Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of azole-resistant and azole-susceptible Candida albicans strains; Pearce MA et al.; Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was performed with the endonucleases EcoRI, BglII, and HinfI on a collection of Candida albicans strains comprising eight strains randomly selected from clinical microbiology laboratory specimens, three reported azole-resistant strains from treatment failures, and several subcultures of the azole-resistant strain NCPF 3310 (also known as the Darlington strain) received from different laboratories . The results demonstrated a diversity of the restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns that were obtained and revealed that two of the proposed Darlington subcultures had patterns distinct from each other and from those of the other Darlington isolates; both were also found to have lost their azole resistance. Infect Immun, 1991 Jul, 59(7), 2447 - 55 Role of CD4+ lymphocytes in resistance to mucosal candidiasis; Cantorna MT et al.; The role of CD4+ lymphocytes in resistance of N:NIH(S) III bg/bg nu/+ mice to mucosal candidiasis was evaluated . Alimentary tract colonization with a pure culture of Candida albicans induced a population of lymphocytes in both the Peyer's patches and spleens of bg/bg nu/+ mice, but not bg/bg nu/nu mice, that proliferated and produced interleukin-2 (IL-2) in response to C . albicans antigens . The induction of candida-specific lymphocytes correlated with the clearance of C . albicans from the esophagus and tongue of resistant bg/bg nu/+ mice . Isogenic bg/bg nu/nu mice which do not develop candida-reactive lymphocytes were unable to clear C . albicans from their tongues and esophagi . Treatment of bg/bg nu/+ mice with anti-CD4+ monoclonal antibodies depleted their CD4+ lymphocytes and increased their susceptibility to mucosal candidiasis of the tongue and esophagus . In vivo treatment of bg/bg nu/+ mice with anti-IL-2, anti-gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), or both anti-IL-2 and anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibodies did not abrogate their resistance to mucosal candidiasis . Furthermore, treatment of C . albicans-susceptible bg/bg nu/nu mice with IFN-gamma and IL-2 did not protect them from mucosal candidiasis . Thus, CD4+ cells apparently play a critical role in resistance to mucosal candidiasis; however, we were unable to demonstrate a role for IL-2 and IFN-gamma in mediating resistance to mucosal candidiasis. Pediatr Res, 1991 Jul, 30(1), 69 - 74 Phagocytic functions and tumor necrosis factor secretion of human monocytes exposed to natural porcine surfactant (Curosurf); Speer CP et al.; In this study we have analyzed various phagocytic functions and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) secretion of human monocytes exposed to either a biochemically well-defined porcine surfactant or a purified phospholipid preparation . Adherence, random migration, and chemotactic response to zymosan activated serum and formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine were normal in surfactant-treated monocytes; surfactant was not a chemotactic stimulus . In contrast, phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by monocytes exposed to surfactant (100 micrograms/mL) or phospholipids (100 micrograms/mL) was slightly impaired {surfactant: at 30 min (t30) 48.5 +/- 11%, t60 73.3 +/- 10.1%; phospholipids; t30 47.3 +/- 2.5%, t60 68.0 +/- 6.6%; controls: t30 66.6 +/- 9.9%, t60 81.0 +/- 6.6%, p less than 0.05 at t30 for both, p less than 0.05 at t60 for phospholipids} . Due to the smaller number of S . aureus ingested, bactericidal activity of surfactant- or phospholipid-treated monocytes was slightly reduced when compared with controls . Surfactant or phospholipids had no bactericidal activity . Uptake of Candida albicans was identical in surfactant- or phospholipid-treated monocytes and untreated controls; the same was true for the number of Candida organisms ingested per cell . Phagocytosis-associated chemiluminescence and production of superoxide anion by monocytes of either source in response to phorbol myristate acetate and opsonized zymosan were also unaffected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1991 Jun 28, 177(3), 1299 - 305 Nucleoside uptake in macrophages from various murine strains: a short-time and a two-step stimulation model; Busolo F et al.; Kinetics of {3H}-uridine uptake by murine peritoneal macrophages (pM phi) is early altered after exposure to a variety of stimuli . Alterations caused by Candida albicans, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) were similar in SAVO, C57BL/6, C3H/HeN and C3H/HeJ mice, and were not correlated with an activation process as shown by the amount of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) being released . Short-time exposure to all stimuli resulted in an increased nucleoside uptake by SAVO pM phi, suggesting that the tumoricidal function of this cell either depends from the type of stimulus or the time when the specific interaction with the cell receptor is taking place . Experiments with priming and triggering signals confirmed the above findings, indicating that the increase or the decrease of nucleoside uptake into the cell depends essentially on the chemical nature of the priming stimulus . The triggering stimulus, on the other hand, is only able to amplify the primary response. Gene, 1991 Jun 15, 102(1), 45 - 50 Characterization of CARE-1: Candida albicans repetitive element-1; Lasker BA et al.; A middle repetitive DNA element, Candida albicans repetitive element-1 (CARE-1) has been isolated from the pathogenic yeast C . albicans . CARE-1 appears to be species-specific and constitutes approx . 0.045% of total C . albicans DNA, or a reiteration frequency of about two to twelve copies per haploid genome . The CARE-1 element has been detected on several C . albicans chromosomes separated by field-inversion gel electrophoresis, suggesting that the element is dispersed . Interstrain variation was observed in the number and distribution of hybridizing bands . The element is well conserved, since no nucleotide (nt) heterogeneity was observed when the sequences of two CARE-1 family members isolated from two different chromosomes (A and B) of C . albicans were compared . CARE-1 possesses 467 bp and is characterized by several stretches of A's and T's, short direct repeats and shows no significant homology to any known nt sequence. Mol Gen Genet, 1991 Jun, 227(2), 318 - 29 Analysis of a Candida albicans gene that encodes a novel mechanism for resistance to benomyl and methotrexate; Fling ME et al.; The pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans, is insensitive to the anti-mitotic drug, benomyl, and to the dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, methotrexate . Genes responsible for the intrinsic drug resistance were sought by transforming Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a yeast sensitive to both drugs, with genomic C . albicans libraries and screening on benomyl or methotrexate . Restriction analysis of plasmids isolated from benomyl- and methotrexate-resistant colonies indicated that both phenotypes were encoded by the same DNA fragment . Sequence analysis showed that the fragments were nearly identical and contained a long open reading frame of 1694 bp (ORF1) and a small ORF of 446 bp (ORF2) within ORF1 on the opposite strand . By site-directed mutagenesis, it was shown that ORF1 encoded both phenotypes . The protein had no sequence similarity to any known proteins, including beta-tubulin, dihydrofolate reductase, and the P-glycoprotein of the multi-drug resistance family . The resistance gene was detected in several C . albicans strains and in C . stellatoidea by DNA hybridization and by the polymerase chain reaction. Isr J Med Sci, 1991 Jun, 27(6), 301 - 6 Influence of calcium channel blockers on polymorphonuclear and monocyte bactericidal and fungicidal activity; Levy R et al.; The effect of calcium channel blocking agents on the killing activity of human peritoneal polymorphonuclears (PMN) and monocytes was studied . The organisms used were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans . The pharmacological concentration of verapamil (5 microM), nifedipine (10 microM) and diltiazem (10 microM) caused a similar inhibition of killing activity in both PMN and monocytes . The calcium channel blockers significantly reduced the in vitro killing of E . coli, S . aureus and C . albicans by PMN to about 47%, 30% and 20% respectively, compared with 81 +/- 6%, 65 +/- 5% and 40 +/- 4% in the controls . The killing of these organisms by monocytes was 60 +/- 6%, 42 +/- 7% and 35 +/- 5% respectively, as compared with 30%, 20% and 17% in the presence of these drugs . The bactericidal activity of the phagocytic cells from patients under treatment with calcium channel blockers was not affected and was found to be within the normal range, indicating that calcium channel blockers do not cause an irreversible impairment in PMN and monocyte killing activity . However, their potential inhibition of phagocytic cell activity should be taken into consideration during treatment. J Clin Invest, 1991 Jun, 87(6), 1896 - 902 Molecular mimicry in Candida albicans . Role of an integrin analogue in adhesion of the yeast to human endothelium; Gustafson KS et al.; Hematogenous infection with the yeast Candida albicans now occurs with increasing frequency in the neonate, the immunocompromised patient, and the hyperglycemic or hyperalimented host . Yeast-phase C . albicans expresses a protein that is antigenically and structurally related to CD11b/CD18, a member of the beta 2 integrins and a well-characterized adhesin for mammalian neutrophils . Both the neutrophil protein and its analogue in C . albicans have an identical affinity for the C3 ligand iC3b, and both proteins are significantly increased in expression at 37 degrees C . Given these several similarities, we therefore studied the role of the integrin analogue on C . albicans in the adhesion of the yeast to human umbilical vein endothelium (HUVE) . After growth of C . albicans in 20 mM D-glucose, as opposed to 20 mM L-glutamate, flow cytometric analysis with monoclonal antibodies recognizing the alpha-subunit of CD11b/CD18 demonstrated a 25.0% increase in mean channel fluorescence (range 18.4-31.8%), as well as an increased percentage of yeasts fluorescing (P less than 0.02) . This increased intensity of fluorescence, which corresponds to increased expression of the integrin analogue, also correlated with a significant increase of 30-80% in adhesion of glucose-grown C . albicans to HUVE (P less than 0.02) . Blockade of the integrin analogue on C . albicans by monoclonal antibodies recognizing adhesive epitopes on neutrophil CD11b/CD18 inhibited glucose-enhanced adhesion of C . albicans to HUVE . Incubation of glucose-grown C . albicans with saturating concentrations of purified human iC3b, the ligand for CD11b/CD18, reduced adhesion of the yeast to HUVE by 49.7%, whereas BSA in equimolar concentration had no effect (P less than 0.001) . These results identify a glucose-responsive integrin analogue on C . albicans as one of possibly several cellular structures that mediate adhesion of the yeast to human endothelium. Infect Immun, 1991 Jun, 59(6), 2116 - 9 Gastrointestinal candidiasis in a murine model of severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome; Narayanan R et al.; A murine model of severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome (scid mice) affords an opportunity to study the interaction of Candida albicans with a host lacking functional B- and T-cell mechanisms . We have previously reported no significant difference in yeast recovery after intravenous challenge of BALB/c mice and scid mice with C . albicans (S . Mahanty, R.A . Greenfield, W.A . Joyce, and P.W . Kincade, Infect . Immun . 56:3162-3166, 1988) . In this study, we evaluate the course of gastrointestinal candidiasis after a single oral challenge with C . albicans . BALB/c and scid mice received H2O containing 10(6) C . albicans per ml for 16 h . Half the mice of each strain continuously received H2O containing 1 mg of tetracycline per ml . Stool samples were cultured for yeast twice weekly until they were negative three consecutive times or positive for 8 weeks . Mice were then sacrificed for quantitative cultures of liver, spleen, and kidneys . At eight weeks postinoculation, 2 of 13 BALB/c mice, 0 of 14 BALB/c mice receiving tetracycline, 6 of 12 scid mice, and 8 of 13 scid mice receiving tetracycline had positive stool cultures (P less than 0.05, likelihood ratio chi-square) . Quantitative recovery of yeasts from stools was also higher in the scid mice . Cultures of liver, spleen, and kidneys wer negative in all BALB/c mice and essentially all negative in scid mice; a single colony was isolated from the kidney of one scid mouse and the liver of another scid mouse . We conclude that B cells and/or T cells and their products are important in gastrointestinal colonization with C . albicans but that even in their absence, dissemination of infection from the gastrointestinal tract does not consistently occur . Thus, other aspects of host defense must be critical in containing gastrointestinal Candida colonization. J Neuroimmunol, 1991 Jun, 32(3), 249 - 57 Intracerebral transfer of an in vitro established microglial cell line: local induction of a protective state against lethal challenge with Candida albicans; Blasi E et al.; An in vitro generated BV-2 microglial cell line has been transferred intracerebrally into syngeneic immunocompetent mice prior to local challenge with Candida albicans . The transfer resulted in the establishment of local protection against a lethal dose of C . albicans, which was accompanied by an impairment of yeast growth in the brain and kidneys . Upon histological examination of brain sections from BV-2 cell-pretreated mice, it was found that the size and number of granulomas was reduced as compared to untreated controls receiving Candida alone . These observations provide direct evidence that microglia play a crucial role in the local defense against intracerebral infections. Oral Microbiol Immunol, 1991 Jun, 6(3), 191 - 2 Candida biotypes in human adult periodontitis; Rams TE et al.; Fifty-five Candida isolates from human periodontal pockets were biotyped using the API 20C micromethod kit system . Candida albicans (11 biotypes) constituted 81.8% of all yeast isolates . A single biotype accounted for 57.8% of the subgingival C . albicans strains . The biotype distribution of C . albicans in human periodontal pockets appears to follow a selectivity pattern similar to that of other oral surfaces. Zentralbl Bakteriol, 1991 Jun, 275(2), 248 - 55 A phagocytosis capacity assay: parallel measurement of the phagocytosis and the intracellular killing in granulocytes and the influence of some substances on these processes; Suss J et al.; A radiometric technique is described for the assessment of phagocytosis and killing of viable yeast cells by granulocytes . This technique does not require separation of extra- and intracellular microorganisms . In this method the phagocytes which contain viable yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans) were disrupted by Triton X-100, and only the remaining yeast cells were isotope-labelled . The uptake of {75 Se}L-selenomethionine was used to measure the killing ability of phagocytes . This method is recommended to measure the influence of biological and pharmacological agents to ingest and kill leucocytes in vitro . The following substances affected phagocytosis and killing: Granatomycin C (decreased phagocytosis), cis-DDP (no influence), bestatin (stimulation of phagocytosis) and Z 190/69-HCl (oxazole) (stimulation of phagocytosis and killing). J Gen Microbiol, 1991 Jun, 137 ( Pt 6), 1253 - 62 Brefeldin A blocks an early stage of protein transport in Candida albicans; Arioka M et al.; Brefeldin A (BFA) inhibited in a dose-dependent manner secretion of the cell-surface enzyme acid phosphatase (APase) into the periplasm of Candida albicans and caused intracellular accumulation of enzyme protein . Cells grown in the presence of BFA became more dense, implying that cell-surface growth was also blocked by BFA treatment . The APase that was accumulated intracellularly migrated faster on SDS-PAGE, suggesting less N-linked glycosylation compared with the mature, periplasmic APase produced in the absence of BFA . Pulse-chase experiments and gel-filtration of oligosaccharides released by Endo H treatment suggested that the core-glycosylated precursor form of APase accumulated in the presence of BFA . These results strongly suggested that endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-to-Golgi transport in C . albicans was inhibited by BFA . Aberrant membrane structures were observed in BFA-treated cells . Within 1 h of BFA removal these structures were replaced with rough ER membranes, suggesting that the accumulated membranes were derived from the ER. Clin Exp Immunol, 1991 Jun, 84(3), 482 - 7 The role of aldose reductase inhibition in diabetic neutrophil phagocytosis and killing; Tebbs SE et al.; This study examines whether an aldose reductase inhibitor (statil, ICI) can enhance neutrophil oxidative killing by diabetic neutrophils . We have examined a radiometric assay of phagocytosis and killing of Candida albicans by neutrophils from 20 controls and 20 subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes under various in vitro glucose concentrations . Glucose was present at 5, 10 and 20 mM in the presence and absence of statil (11 microM) . Phagocytosis was unaffected by raised glucose levels in controls and in diabetic subjects . Killing by the diabetic cells was inhibited by increasing concentrations of glucose, killing was 18.9 +/- 2.0, 16.9 +/- 2.4 and 14.8 +/- 2.0% (mean +/- s.e.m.) at 5, 10 and 20 mM glucose, respectively (P less than 0.05) . With the addition of statil under the same conditions killing improved to 19.3 +/- 2.0, 23.2 +/- 2.2 and 23.6 +/- 2.4 (P less than 0.01), these values were similar to the controls (P greater than 0.01) . We conclude therefore that aldose reductase inhibition restores oxidative killing to normal. Int J Sports Med, 1991 Jun, 12(3), 276 - 80 Phagocytic function of blood neutrophils in sedentary young people after physical exercise; Rodriguez AB et al.; The effect of exhaustive running exercise on the phagocytic function of blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils in sedentary young men and women has been studied . Adherence capacity to the endothelium, spontaneous mobility, chemotaxis and ingestion of Candida albicans were not modified after physical exercise . However, opsonization of Candida albicans as well as candidicide power increased significantly in men and women after exercise . The immediate advantages of physical exercise on the phagocytic immune response is discussed. Mycopathologia, 1991 Jun, 114(3), 163 - 8 In vitro proteinase production by Candida species; Chakrabarti A et al.; A total of 290 Candida isolates from patients were investigated for in vitro proteinase production . Overall, sixty percent of these strains were found to be proteinase producers . Of the C . albicans strains, 81.4% of the significant isolates in contrast to 19.7% of nonsignificant isolates were proteinase producers, the difference being statistically significant (P less than 0.001) . Amongst the different Candida species, the proteinase production was found not only in Candida albicans, but also in C . tropicalis, C . parapsilosis and C . glabrata . Thus this in vitro method of demonstration of proteinase may be a good adjunct to smear and culture examination in identifying pathogenic Candida species from anatomical sites where they can also be present as commensals. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Jun 1, 65(1), 79 - 82 Evidence for the involvement of acylglycerides on chitin synthetase activity in Candida albicans; Gozalbo D et al.; The effect of a lipase activity (EC 3.1.1.3) on the chitin synthetase from Candida albicans has been studied, both on the active and the trypsin activated enzyme . Removal of fatty acids from acylglycerides by lipase has an inhibitory effect on the activity as well as on the 'in vitro' activation process by trypsin in the membrane-bound enzyme and in the chitosomes . This would indicate that an adequate lipid environment is required for both the activation process and proper function of the synthetase activity. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Jun 1, 65(1), 15 - 8 Rates of germ tube formation from growing and non-growing yeast cells of Candida albicans; Buchan AD et al.; The rates of germ tube formation from growing and non-growing yeast cells of Candida albicans were investigated using a protocol for dimorphism regulated by temperature and pH . Stationary-phase cells formed germ tubes less rapidly than yeast cells that were preincubated in fresh growth medium prior to induction of dimorphism by an upshift in temperature or pH . On the basis of experiments using inhibitors of macromolecular biosyntheses it is suggested that the accelerated growth kinetics required de novo RNA and protein biosynthesis, but not DNA synthesis . The results suggest that metabolically active yeast cells are better able to undergo dimorphism than non-growing cells. J Clin Microbiol, 1991 Jun, 29(6), 1095 - 9 New aniline blue dye medium for rapid identification and isolation of Candida albicans; Goldschmidt MC et al.; Organic dyes have long been used in diagnostic microbiology to differentiate species by color reactions . We studied the ability of a new noninhibitory medium, YM agar containing 0.01% aniline blue WS dye, Colour Index 42780 (YMAB), to identify Candida albicans among 1,554 yeast specimens obtained from seven clinical laboratories . Appropriate American Type Culture Collection and other characterized strains served as controls . A total of 487 of the clinical strains were identified as C . albicans . The remainder were other Candida species and non-Candida yeasts . Clinical isolates and controls were grown on Sabouraud agar for 18 h at 30 degrees C and then transferred to YMAB . Plates were incubated for 12 to 18 h at 30 degrees C, and colonies were observed for yellow-green fluorescence under long-wave UV light (A365) . All control strains of C . albicans and Candida stellatoidea fluoresced, as did 480 of the 490 isolates designated as C . albicans (which included 3 strains of C . stellatoidea) . Cells of C . albicans grown on YMAB produced germ tubes in serum . Only five of the other 1,062 non-C . albicans yeasts fluoresced . The sensitivity and specificity were 98.0 and 99.5%, respectively, with a predictive value of 99.1% . A fluorescent metabolite was found in cell wall particulate fractions of C . albicans sonic extracts grown on YMAB but not in non-C . albicans yeasts . This metabolite showed the same spectral curve as those of metabolites from whole cells in a recording spectrofluorometer when it was excited at 400 nm and scanned from 420 to 550 nm . Thus, growth on YMAB generates the production of a fluorescent moiety that can be used to specifically identify C . albicans within 12 to 18 h. Med Clin (Barc), 1991 Jun 1, 97(1), 1 - 3 {Distribution of serotypes A and B of Candida albicans in 502 strains isolated from pathological specimens}; Torres-Rodriguez JM et al.; BACKGROUND: Candida albicans is distributed in at least two serological groups (A and B) depending on its antigenic structure . These characteristics have been used to investigate the epidemiology of candidiasis . No information is available in this country about the distribution of these serotypes in a general population of patients with candidiasis of different localizations . The aim of the present study was to correlate the frequency of C . albicans serotypes with the origin of the clinical samples . METHODS: In 502 strains of C . albicans isolated from pathological products, serotype was evaluated by means of a latex agglutination test with polyclonal monovalent antisera . A statistical analysis was carried out to investigate whether there was any relationship between the serotype frequency and the origin of the strains . RESULTS: The serotype A of C . albicans represented 78% of all isolates . However, there was a significantly higher relative frequency of serotype B in vaginal and oropharyngeal samples . No differences were found in isolates from AIDS patients . CONCLUSIONS: The serotyping method should be considered a contribution, even if limited, to the knowledge of the epidemiology of Candida albicans infections. Mil Med, 1991 Jun, 156(6), 283 - 5 The lack of utility of the latex agglutination test for detection of Candida antigen in the diagnosis of systemic candidiasis; Battafarano DF et al.; The Ramco latex agglutination test in the diagnosis of systemic candidiasis was utilized for 11 serum samples from 10 patients with systemic candidiasis, 21 serum samples from patients colonized with Candida species, and 20 control serum samples from patients with stable medical problems and no evidence of Candida albicans infection . This study was double-blind and the results of the latex agglutination test did not influence the decision for antifungal therapy . Nine of 10 patients with systemic candidiasis had positive titers (greater than or equal to 1:4); however, these were determined only 1 to 5 days before culture positivity . Nine of 21 (43%) of colonized patients were falsely positive (greater than or equal to 1:4) and all of the control samples were negative . The Ramco latex agglutination test was unreliable and inconsistent in this small sample group to establish an early diagnosis of systemic candidiasis. Eur J Immunol, 1991 Jun, 21(6), 1567 - 70 Candida albicans-specific Ly-2+ lymphocytes with cytolytic activity; Romani L et al.; To determine whether antigen (Ag)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes are generated during experimental Candida albicans infection, purified L3T4+ and Ly-2+ lymphocytes from immunized mice were cultured in the presence of syngeneic accessory cells, C . albicans Ag, and interleukin 2 . Yeast-infected bone marrow macrophages were used as target cells in a standard 51Cr-release assay . Freshly isolated L3T4+ and Ly-2+ lymphocytes failed to lyse either target cell type . However, Ag-specific, major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-unrestricted lysis of infected macrophages was evident with immune Ly-2+ cells after 7-10 days in culture . The cultured cells were greater than 98% Thy-1+, CD3+, L3T4-, Ly-2+, T cell receptor alpha/beta + T cells, and their lytic activity was potentiated by the addition of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies . At limiting effector cell numbers, Ag-specific MHC-restricted lymphocytes with cytotoxic activity against infected macrophages could be identified . We suggest that C . albicans infection stimulates multiple cytotoxic cell precursors with varying recognition stringency, which include MHC class I-restricted, Ag-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. J Hosp Infect, 1991 Jun, 18 Suppl A, 237 - 49 Hospital outbreaks with yeasts; Lee W et al.; Five previous outbreaks of disseminated candidosis due to Candida albicans are reviewed and a new outbreak on a neonatal unit in Belfast presented . This involved four disseminated cases . The control and definition of outbreaks by morpho-, immunoblot- and DNA-typing is discussed . An outbreak of Torulopsis glabrata infection involving 23 patients is described . This was defined by DNA fingerprinting with the enzyme Xba . There were five deaths attributable either completely or in part to the yeast infection. Immunology, 1991 Jun, 73(2), 205 - 11 Modulation of phagocytic function in murine peritoneal macrophages by bombesin, gastrin-releasing peptide and neuromedin C; De la Fuente M et al.; Bombesin, as well as the two mammalian bombesin-like peptides gastrin-releasing peptide and neuromedin C, have been shown in this study to stimulate in vitro all steps of the phagocytic process in murine peritoneal macrophages: adherence to substrate, chemotaxis, ingestion of cells (Candida albicans) and inert particles (latex beads), and production of superoxide anion as measured by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction . A dose-response relationship was observed, with maximal stimulation of phagocytic process between 10(-12)M and 10(-9)M . Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and neuromedin C caused a higher activation of adherence, chemotaxis and ingestion of C . albicans than bombesin . The three neuropeptides induced in murine macrophages a significant, but transient, increase of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) levels at 60 seconds . On the contrary, these neuropeptides produced a rapid, transient and significant decrease of cAMP at 30 seconds . These results suggest that there are close relations between IP3 and cAMP messenger systems and the phagocytic process in murine peritoneal macrophages when these cells are incubated in the presence of bombesin, GRP or neuromedin C. J Surg Res, 1991 Jun, 50(6), 552 - 9 Protein-calorie malnutrition impairs host defense against Candida albicans; Redmond HP et al.; Protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) impairs immune responsiveness predisposing to Candida albicans sepsis, but mechanisms are unclear . This study examined the effect of PCM on enteric-derived C . albicans intestinal translocation and the ability of in vivo interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) to upregulate macrophage (MO) candidacidal mechanisms in PCM mice . Control (24% casein) and low protein (2.5%) diets were given for 4 weeks . Mice (n = 160) were fed C . albicans in their drinking water for 3 days and C . albicans translocation (mean colony-forming units (CFU)/g tissue +/- SEM) to the GI tract, liver, spleen, and kidney was assessed at 1 and 5 days following endotoxin challenge of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg body wt . In a separate study (n = 100 mice), IFN-gamma (1000-10,000 U/day ip) vs saline was given for 3 days prior to harvesting peritoneal macrophages for assay of superoxide anion (O2-), percentage macrophage phagocytosis of C . albicans, and percentage killing of C . albicans . On Day 1, fungal translocation to the intestinal wall and systemic organs in the PCM group was significantly higher . On Day 5, mean CFU were significantly higher in the PCM group, indicating impaired organ clearance . Mean O2-, phagocytosis, and killing were significantly impaired in the PCM group (P less than 0.05), but IFN-gamma improved all functions . PCM significantly depressed host responses to C . albicans . IFN-gamma treatment enhanced candidacidal mechanisms, suggesting a therapeutic role in the malnourished host predisposed to C . albicans sepsis. Blood, 1991 May 15, 77(10), 2259 - 65 Production of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor by large granular lymphocytes stimulated with Candida albicans: role in activation of human neutrophil function; Blanchard DK et al.; In the present study, culture supernatants from larger granular lymphocytes (LGL) that were activated with Candida albicans antigens were shown to stimulate the ability of neutrophils to inhibit fungal growth . Identification of the activation factors showed that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), a hematopoietic growth factor, was involved . Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were fractionated by Percoll density centrifugation and each subpopulation of cells was stimulated with C albicans yeast cells . GM-CSF was produced in those fractions enriched for LGL, but not T lymphocytes or adherent monocytes . Additionally, the phenotype of the GM-CSF-producing cell was found to be CD2+, CD16+, HLA-DR+, and negative for CD4, CD8, and CD15 . Kinetic studies demonstrated that GM-CSF appeared in the supernatants within 2 days of culture and continued to be produced up to 7 days . Optimal stimulation of LGL was seen at a ratio of 3 heat-killed C albicans yeast cells per LGL . Thus, LGL play an important role in host defense against this opportunistic pathogen by producing cytokines, including GM-CSF, which in turn activates the fungicidal activity of neutrophils. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 May 15, 64(2-3), 179 - 82 A dihydrofolate reductase gene from Candida albicans: molecular cloning; Franceschi M et al.; The dihydrofolate reductase gene from Candida albicans has been cloned and partially characterized . A genomic bank from C . albicans strain 10127/5 was constructed in Escherichia coli and screened for trimethoprim resistance . A plasmid pMF1, carrying the resistance marker was isolated and characterized by restriction mapping and Southern blotting . Cells harbouring pMF1 were as sensitive as the parental cells to a wide spectrum of antibacterial agents, except for trimethoprim; the dihydrofolate reductase activity from these cells was trimethoprim resistant. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 May 15, 64(2-3), 333 - 6 Role of nutritional status of the cell in pH regulated dimorphism of Candida albicans; Paranjape V et al.; Stationary phase cells of Candida albicans are under the control of glucose repression, as indicated by the inhibition of germ tube formation by glucose . This 'glucose effect' was absent in starved cells which were derived from similar stationary phase cells . Moreover, starved cells required glucose for germ tube formation, suggesting that it was depletion of energy reserves which was the main factor overriding the 'glucose repression machinery' during starvation . High concentration of phosphate in Lee's medium was the reason for the reduced ability of the starved cells to form germ tubes at pH 4.5 (20% of cells compared to 88% at pH 6.8) . However, when phosphate was replaced or its concentration reduced, germ tube formation occurred as frequently at pH 4.5 as at pH 6.8 . This 'phosphate effect' was not observed in stationary phase cells, as they were already repressed by glucose. J Clin Microbiol, 1991 May, 29(5), 1081 - 2 Candida albicans colony identification in 5 minutes in a general microbiology laboratory; Dealler SF; A total of 381 fully identified yeast isolates were tested by the germ tube (GT) and Albistrip (Lab M Ltd., Bury, United Kingdom) methods, and the results were compared . As a test system for the identification of Candida albicans, the Albistrip showed two false-positive and two false-negative results, whereas the GT showed seven false-negative and no false-positive results . With the same methods, 736 yeast isolates from clinical samples were tested in a laboratory that did not specialize in mycology . In this second experiment, when the results of the tests disagreed, further identification was carried out with the API 20C Yeast Identification System (API-Biomerieux Ltd., Vercieu, France) . When the statistics of the first experiment were used to justify the results, this second experiment showed the Albistrip to be 98% sensitive and 98% specific, whereas the GT was 98% sensitive and 95% specific. J Clin Microbiol, 1991 May, 29(5), 1020 - 5 Comparison between methods for serotyping of Candida albicans produces discrepancies in results; Brawner DL; Serotyping of 101 clinical isolates of Candida albicans was done with two sets of Hasenclever original anti-Candida typing sera (HSN 1 and 2) and Iatron Candida Check factor 6 typing serum (IF6) . The results of these two methods were compared with slide agglutination reactions of yeast with monoclonal antibody H9 . Agglutination reactions with this antibody have been previously shown to correlate with serotype . Results indicate the following correlations: between HSN 1 and HSN 2 serotyping, 93% (kappa = 0.85; 95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.70 to 0.99); between IF6 and HSN 1, 60% (kappa = 0.39, 95% CI, 0.19 to 0.58); and between IF6 and HSN 2, 74% (kappa = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.64 to 0.90) . Results with HSN 1 and 2 antisera correlated with H9 reactivity at 85 and 89% (kappa = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.75 to 1.00; and kappa = 0.85; CI, 0.70 to 0.99, respectively), while agreement between IF6 and H9 reactivities was less than or equal to 64% (kappa less than or equal to 0.43; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.60) . Autoagglutination of yeast during IF6 serotyping occurred with 21 of the 101 (20.8%) yeast strains . In every case, these yeast strains were serotyped by the HSN methods without autoagglutination and were uniformly type B . This study implies that it may not be possible to make valid comparisons between studies which compare serotype prevalence unless the same methods are used to serotype the yeast . The practicality and utility of serotyping in epidemiological studies are discussed, as are some of the problems associated with the available methods. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1991 May, 164(5 Pt 1), 1351 - 4 Regulation of the immune response to Candida albicans by monocytes and progesterone; Kalo-Klein A et al.; Recurrent vaginal infections caused by Candida albicans are associated with decreased cell-mediated immune responses . We report that circulating progesterone levels and variations between persons in the activity of their monocytes are two of the factors that influence the extent of lymphocyte proliferation in response to C . albicans . With the use of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from five men and four women, removal of the monocytes increased the lymphocyte response to C . albicans antigens in eight persons . The percentage increase in proliferation was inversely proportional to the proliferative response observed when the monocytes were present, suggesting that differences existed between persons in the ability of their monocytes to down regulate the response . An approximate 50% decrease in C . albicans-induced lymphocyte proliferation was observed in the presence of luteal-phase levels (25 ng/ml), as opposed to proliferative-phase levels (0.15 ng/ml) of progesterone . Monocyte removal obviated the ability of 25 ng/ml progesterone to inhibit this response, suggesting that progesterone inhibited lymphocyte proliferation through a monocyte-dependent mechanism . Thus fluctuations in a woman's monocyte activity in response to genetic, hormonal, or environmental factors may influence her ability to mount an effective cell-mediated immune response to C . albicans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1991 May 1, 88(9), 3952 - 6 Tracheal antimicrobial peptide, a cysteine-rich peptide from mammalian tracheal mucosa: peptide isolation and cloning of a cDNA; Diamond G et al.; Extracts of the bovine tracheal mucosa have an abundant peptide with potent antimicrobial activity . The 38-amino acid peptide, which we have named tracheal antimicrobial peptide (TAP), was isolated by a sequential use of size-exclusion, ion-exchange, and reverse-phase chromatographic fractionations using antimicrobial activity as a functional assay . The yield was approximately 2 micrograms/g of wet mucosa . The complete peptide sequence was determined by a combination of peptide and cDNA analysis . The amino acid sequence of TAP is H-Asn-Pro-Val-Ser-Cys-Val-Arg-Asn-Lys-Gly-Ile-Cys-Val-Pro-Ile-Arg-Cys-Pr o- Gly-Ser-Met-Lys-Gln-Ile-Gly-Thr-Cys-Val-Gly-Arg-Ala-Val-Lys-Cys-Cys-Arg- Lys-Lys - OH . Mass spectral analysis of the isolated peptide was consistent with this sequence and indicated the participation of six cysteine residues in the formation of intramolecular disulfide bonds . The size, basic charge, and presence of three intramolecular disulfide bonds is similar to, but clearly distinct from, the defensins, a well-characterized class of antimicrobial peptides from mammalian circulating phagocytic cells . The putative TAP precursor is predicted to be relatively small (64 amino acids), and the mature peptide resides at the extreme carboxyl terminus and is bracketed by a short putative propeptide region and an inframe stop codon . The mRNA encoding this peptide is more abundant in the respiratory mucosa than in whole lung tissue . The purified peptide had antibacterial activity in vitro against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . In addition, the peptide was active against Candida albicans, indicating a broad spectrum of activity . This peptide appears to be, based on structure and activity, a member of a group of cysteine-rich, cationic, antimicrobial peptides found in animals, insects, and plants . The isolation of TAP from the mammalian respiratory mucosa may provide insight into our understanding of host defense of this vital tissue. J Invest Dermatol, 1991 May, 96(5), 657 - 61 An immunoinhibitory cell wall glycoprotein (mannan) from Trichophyton rubrum; Blake JS et al.; Trichophyton rubrum causes 90% of chronic dermatophyte infections . Most patients with widespread chronic T . rubrum infection fail to express a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to intradermally injected trichophytin . We propose that cell-mediated immunity to T . rubrum may be suppressed in chronic infections by the mannan cell wall component of the fungus . The proposed suppressive effect of T . rubrum mannan on cell-mediated immunity was tested by measuring the ability of extracted mannan to inhibit lymphoproliferative responses of human mononuclear leukocytes to antigens, mitogens, and an anti-T-cell receptor antibody (anti-CD3) in vitro . Mannan was found to be highly antigenic in two of five donors and weakly antigenic in the other three . Despite its antigenic property, mannan exhibited a dose-related ability to inhibit lymphoproliferation stimulated by other agents including 1) antigens from Candida albicans, T . rubrum, and tetanus toxoid (ID50 = 250 micrograms/ml); 2) anti-CD3 antibody (ID50 = 250 micrograms/ml); and 3) Phaseolus limensis mitogenic lectin (ID50 = 64 micrograms/ml) . Mannan added to cultures later than 24 h after initiation had no inhibitory influence, but culture of cells with mannan for a period of 24 h prior to the addition of stimulus enhanced the inhibitory effect of the glycoprotein . Lymphoproliferation in response to recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2) was not inhibited . The influence of time of addition of mannan and the failure of mannan to inhibit IL-2-stimulated lymphoproliferation demonstrate that the suppressive effect of mannan must be pharmacologic rather than cytotoxic . The observed ability of T . rubrum cell wall mannan to suppress cell-mediated immune function in vitro may provide an important clue to a mechanism enabling the fungus to avoid elimination in chronically infected patients. Arch Pathol Lab Med, 1991 May, 115(5), 517 - 9 Invasive polymycotic pneumonia in an uncontrolled diabetic; Papasian CJ et al.; We describe the clinical course of a patient with invasive polymycotic pneumonia due to Rhizopus arrhizus and Candida albicans . Both organisms were recovered from antemortem sputum cultures, and their clinical significance was confirmed by histologic examination of the lungs at autopsy . Circumstances leading to polymycotic infection are discussed, with special attention given to polymycotic infections involving Zygomycetes. Infect Immun, 1991 May, 59(5), 1605 - 13 In vitro inhibition of adhesion of Candida albicans clinical isolates to human buccal epithelial cells by Fuc alpha 1----2Gal beta-bearing complex carbohydrates; Brassart D et al.; The role of cell surface glycoconjugates as possible adhesion receptors for Candida albicans yeasts on human buccal epithelial cells was investigated by using a quantitative radiometric assay involving 14C-metabolically labeled microorganisms . Various structurally defined soluble glycopeptides and oligosaccharides were tested at a low concentration (1 mg/ml) for their ability to competitively inhibit yeast adhesion to such exfoliated cells . Comparisons were also made with various molecular species previously proposed to act as adhesion molecules . A preparation of glycopeptides derived from pooled human newborn meconiums inhibited the attachment (up to 55%) of all three clinical isolates examined . The mild hydrolysis of fucosyl residues from the above mixture totally abolished its inhibitory potency . By using human milk oligosaccharide probes, the minimal structural requirement for activity was found to be the Fuc alpha 1----2Gal beta determinant (the H sugar sequence found on all blood group substances of the ABO {H} system) . By contrast, the fucosylated determinants of the Lewis blood group system were found to be totally inactive . Total adhesion inhibitions were never obtained in the present experiments, suggesting that H disaccharide-bearing cell surface glycoconjugates could act as host receptors for C . albicans on human buccal epithelial cells as a part of a mechanism involving multireceptor specificities. J Ethnopharmacol, 1991 May-Jun, 33(1-2), 187 - 91 The antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from Achillea fragrantissima; Barel S et al.; Essential oil from Achillea fragrantissima exerted a bactericidic effect on several gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains, as well as on Candida albicans . The oil was fractionated on sillica gel columns by a gradient of ether in petrol ether (30 degrees C-40 degrees C) . Two fractions which contained less polar compounds were active against C . albicans only . The fractions which contained more polar compounds inhibited the growth of all the microorganisms tested . One of these compounds was identified as terpinen-4-ol . Commercial terpinen-4-ol had a similar antimicrobial activity. Bol Asoc Med P R, 1991 May, 83(5), 181 - 4 Dermatophyte feet infection among students enrolled in swimming courses at a university pool; Bolanos B; The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dermatophyte feet infection among students enrolled in swimming courses at a university swimming pool . Tinea pedis infection was determined on two occasions . The first study took place on the first day of classes and the second on day twelve of swimming lessons . Culture and KOH examination of the interdigital skin scrapings of the left foot showed superficial foot infection with dermatophytes or Candida albicans in 13.2% of the students (11/83) in the first study, and in 22.2% of the students (16/72) in the second study . The most common agent of tinea pedis in the first study was Trichophyton rubrum (82%), infections by T . mentagrophytes (9%) and Epidermophyton floccosum (9%) were less common . At that time, no dermatophyte was recovered from any of 30 floor samples taken from the bathroom and pool facilities . In the second study the following dermatophytes were isolated from the student's feet: T . mentagrophytes (70.6%), T . rubrum (17.6%) and Candida albicans (11.8%) . On this occasion T . mentagrophytes was recovered from 5 out of 30 floor samples . It is possible that the frequency of the use of the pool facilities may influence the prevalence of tinea pedis as well as the etiological agent involved in this disease. Tohoku J Exp Med, 1991 May, 164(1), 1 - 12 Reaction of mononuclear cells from patients with bronchial asthma to Candida albicans; Miura K et al.; This study was undertaken to investigate cytokine production of mononuclear cells (MNCs) from patients with bronchial asthma stimulated by antigens of Candida albicans in vitro . The reaction of MNCs from corticosteroid-dependent patients was restricted to a low level . The level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha released into the culture fluid was significantly higher in the high responders (HR) of the atopic corticosteroid-independent (A-CSID) group than those of other asthmatic and control groups (p less than 0.01) . The level of IL-1 beta of the A-CSID group was significantly higher than that of the non-atopic corticosteroid-independent group (p less than 0.05), but not significantly different from the controls . In HR of the A-CSID group, the production of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta was augmented and interferon-gamma production was also increased in these patients . These results suggest that Candida albicans can contribute to the augmentation of cytokine production in bronchial asthma, especially in some of atopic type. J Infect, 1991 May, 22(3), 241 - 5 Bacteraemia and fungaemia in adults with cystic fibrosis; Fahy JV et al.; The incidence of bacteraemia and fungaemia was determined in 29 adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) during 50 consecutive admissions to hospital for management of infective exacerbations of pulmonary disease . Blood was drawn for aerobic, anaerobic and fungal cultures from all patients who were febrile on admission or who became febrile during treatment . The population included eight patients who had indwelling venous access systems in situ . The overall incidence of positive blood cultures in febrile patients was 3.5% {95% confidence interval (C.I.), 1-6%} . We recorded one case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia and two cases of Candida albicans fungaemia . The patient with P . aeruginosa bacteraemia died 5 days after isolation of the organism from her blood . The two patients with C . albicans bacteraemia had totally implantable venous access systems (TIVAS) in situ and both recovered following appropriate therapy . These observations suggest that bacteraemia is rare in patients with CF but that there is a significant risk of fungaemia in a susceptible minority . The implications of these findings, as they relate to management of infections and care of indwelling catheters in such patients, are discussed. Am Rev Respir Dis, 1991 May, 143(5 Pt 1), 1049 - 54 Defective candidacidal activity of alveolar macrophages and peripheral blood monocytes from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Vecchiarelli A et al.; We investigated the in vitro candidacidal activity of alveolar macrophages (AM) and peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) from normal subjects or from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) displaying defective skin test delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactivity to seven antigens including Candida albicans . The results showed that cells from patients with COPD were significantly less effective than cells from control subjects in the killing of C . albicans . To explore whether the observed functional impairment could be reversed, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was added to AM and PBM from patients with COPD, alone or in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a suboptimal stimulus . The cells were cultured for 24 h and then assayed for anti-Candida activity . After IFN-gamma treatment, the fungicidal activity of cells from patients with COPD was comparable to that of unstimulated AM or PBM from healthy donors . Treatment with IFN-gamma plus LPS resulted in a further enhancement in the killing of C . albicans . To gain more insight into the mechanisms involved in the modulation of killing, we evaluated the possible stimulating activity of IFN-gamma plus LPS treatment on the secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1), two cytokines produced by activated macrophages and capable of stimulating natural effectors . The results showed that IFN-gamma plus LPS can indeed stimulate TNF and IL-1 secretion by AM and PBM from patients with COPD . Therefore, a precise role can reasonably be ascribed to these soluble factors in the observed augmentation of candidacidal activity as ascertained by treatment with IFN-gamma plus LPS. Yeast, 1991 May-Jun, 7(4), 325 - 36 Inositol biosynthesis: Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes share common regulation; Klig LS et al.; The Candida albicans inositol biosynthetic gene and its regulation have been studied . The gene, CalNO1, was cloned on a multicopy vector by complementation of a Saccharomyces cerevisae mutant strain . Southern blot analysis established that the cloned DNA was C . albicans genomic DNA in origin; neither rearrangements nor pseudogenes were evident . Blot hybridization analysis using RNA isolated from C . albicans revealed that a single RNA species (1.8 kilobases) was homologous to the cloned DNA fragment . The steady-state levels of these transcripts were shown to be regulated in response to inositol in the growth media . In addition, the steady-state levels of the RNA encoded by the cloned C . albicans DNA present in S . cerevisiae on a plasmid (YRpCalNO1) were regulated in response to exogenously provided inositol . The cloned C . albicans DNA fragment was shown to restore inositol-1-phosphate synthase activity to a S . cerevisiae mutant strain defective in this enzyme . This activity was also shown to be regulated in response to the presence of inositol in the growth media. Anaesthesist, 1991 May, 40(5), 262 - 70 {Infectious complications due to central venous polymeric catheters}; Kurz RW et al.; Due to the multitude of invasive procedures of today's intensive care medicine, infections from central venous catheters have gained increasing attention . The incidence of bacteremias arising from such devices ranges from less than 0.1 to 0.6 cases per 100 catheter-days . Factors influencing the incidence of catheter-associated infections are related to patient characteristics as well as the purpose and material of the catheter . Silicone catheters seem to carry a lower risk of infection than common polytetrafluorethylene catheters . The most frequently isolated bacteria in catheter-associated infections are coagulase-negative and coagulase-positive staphylococci, enterococci, and pseudomonas species . Septicemias due to Candida albicans frequently complicate the course of immune-compromised patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPE) . Catheter-associated bacteremias (CAB) can arise from the contaminated hub, from which pathogens migrate intraluminally to the blood stream . When the catheter entry site is infected, bacteria may reach the blood via the extraluminal route and cause septicemia . Endemic outbreaks of CAB often originate from contaminated infusion fluids . As the clinical presentation of "catheter infections" is often uncharacteristic and insidious, a definite diagnosis depends on bacteriological examination of the catheter . Quantitative and semiquantitative culture techniques of the catheter tip help to distinguish colonization from contamination by numbers of colony-forming units per milliliter culture medium . Preliminary results can be obtained by simple Gram or acridine-orange staining of the catheter tip . The most important prophylactic measures to prevent CAB are strictly aseptic conditions when catheters are placed and meticulous care thereafter, preferably by specially trained nurses or "TPE teams".(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) J Gen Microbiol, 1991 May, 137 ( Pt 5), 1045 - 51 Cell wall glycoproteins of Candida albicans as released by different methods; Casanova M et al.; Different methods of extraction frequently used in other studies were used to release glycoproteins from both intact cells and isolated cell walls of yeast and hyphal forms of Candida albicans . Extracts were obtained from whole cells by treatment (i) with 2-mercaptoethanol (beta ME) at pH 8.6 and 37 C degrees and (ii) with zymolyase after treatment with beta ME . Extracts were obtained from isolated and washed cell walls (i) by boiling with beta ME and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), (ii) by boiling with SDS and (iii) by treatment with zymolyase after SDS . The extracts were separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and analysed by Western blotting with four reagents . Analysis with concanavalin A (ConA) revealed different glycoprotein populations depending on the treatment . Three possible germ-tube-specific constituents were observed; and 80 kDa component released by beta ME from both intact cells and cell walls, and 47 kDa and 43 kDa moieties released by zymolyase only from intact cells . MAb 4C12, specific for the protein portion of a large germ tube constituent, recognized polydisperse material which just entered the gel in beta ME extracts and in the region extending up from 200 kDa to near the top of the gel in zymolyase extracts . MAb 24.17, specific for a carbohydrate determinant of yeast phase cells, reacted with disperse material in the region from the top of the gel to one-third to two-thirds the distance to the 220 kDa mass marker . Antiserum specific for the serotype A determinant of mannan reacted with large disperse component(s) migrating in the region from the top of the gel to about two-thirds the distance to the 220 kDa mass marker and with a 180 kDa component . The components recognized by MAb 4C12, but not those recognised by MAb 24.17 and serotype A antiserum, were effected by treatment with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosamidase H . The various analyses revealed that the method of extraction affected the composition and size of the constituents recognized by the reagents. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 May 1, 64(1), 45 - 9 Candida albicans and three other Candida species contain an elongation factor structurally and functionally analogous to elongation factor 3; Colthurst DR et al.; A cell-free poly(U)-dependent translation elongation system from Candida albicans is ATP-dependent due to the presence of an elongation factor 3 (EF3)-like activity . Saccharomyces cerevisiae ribosomes added to a C . albicans postribosomal supernatant (PRS) supported poly(U)-dependent elongation, suggesting that the C . albicans lysate contained a soluble translation factor functionally analogous to the S . cerevisiae translation factor EF-3 . The presence of EF-3 in C . albicans was confirmed by Western blotting using an antibody raised against S . cerevisiae EF-3 . This antibody was also used to screen a selection of Candida species, all of which possessed EF-3 with molecular mass in the range of 110-130 kDa. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo, 1991 May-Jun, 33(3), 169 - 73 Otomycosis in São Paulo; Zaror L et al.; In view of the lack of researches on otomycosis in Brazil, we have tried to study their incidence, their clinical characteristics and the predispondent factors . During one year, 22 suspected cases were seen, 20 of them corresponded to otomycosis infections . The most frequent species were Aspergillus niger (35%) and Candida albicans (20%) . The genus Aspergillus represented 75% of the isolates . Itching and hyperaemia (70%), otalgia (65%), hipoacusia (50%) were the commonest signs . Lack of cerumen (70%) chronic otitis (30%) previous antibiotic therapy and eczema (25%) were the most outstanding predispondent factors. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1991 May, 27(5), 619 - 26 In-vitro effects of teicoplanin, teicoplanin derivative MDL 62211 and vancomycin on human polymorphonuclear cell function; Capodicasa E et al.; The in-vitro effects on human neutrophil (PMN) functions of three structurally related glycopeptide antibiotics, vancomycin, teicoplanin and the teicoplanin derivative MDL 62211 were investigated . Teicoplanin and MDL 62211 significantly inhibited adherence, chemotaxis, phagocytosis and killing of Candida albicans by PMN's at a concentration of 500 mg/l, whereas PMN viability was only affected at drug concentrations of 2000 mg/l . Vancomycin interfered with PMN adherence and phagocytosis only at a concentration of 2000 mg/l without affecting PMN viability . Chemotaxis and killing of C . albicans were also not affected by this concentration . Teicoplanin and the teicoplanin-derivative MDL 62211 was found to have adverse effects on selected indices of PMN function in vitro only at concentrations higher than those employed in therapy, while vancomycin interfered only at very high concentrations. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 May 1, 64(1), 87 - 91 Effect of iron concentration on siderophore synthesis and pigment production by Candida albicans; Sweet SP et al.; Twelve strains of Candida albicans were grown in defined medium which had been deferrated by ion-exchange chromatography and then supplemented with FeCl3 to give iron concentrations ranging from 0.026 microM (growth-limiting) to 0.8 microM (excess) . All of the strains secreted hydroxamate-type siderophores; phenolate siderophores were not detected . Isolates of C . lusitaniae, C . glabrata and C . parapsilosis also secreted hydroxamate but not phenolate-type iron chelators . Siderophore synthesis by C . albicans was maximal during growth in 0.026-0.2 microM iron . These low concentrations of iron also induced the synthesis of a green pigment, with maximal production at 0.026 microM . The pigment could be partially separated from hydroxamate siderophore activity on a column of Sephadex G-10 indicating that it probably does not function as an iron chelator. Eur J Immunol, 1991 May, 21(5), 1141 - 6 Antigen-induced inhibition of autoimmune response to rat male accessory glands: distinct characteristics of I-A- and I-E-positive peritoneal cells; Rivero VE et al.; The present report describes different aspects of two populations of peritoneal cells (PC) obtained from rats injected i.p . 2 h or 24 h previously with a suppressor dose of a purified fraction (FI) of rat male accessory glands (RAG) (FI-PC2h and FI-PC24h, respectively) . The FI-PC2h, which are mainly I-E (OX17) positive and can suppress the autoimmune response to RAG autoantigens, have an elevated phagocytic activity against Candida albicans and capacity to reduce the dye nitroblue tetrazolium . In contrast, FI-PC24h, which are mainly I-A (OX6) positive and can potentiate the autoimmunity to RAG autoantigens, have a diminished capacity to reduce the dye and a diminished phagocytic activity . Moreover, the Toxoplasma gondii appear to have a different effect on both populations . The parasites can invade FI-PC2h while FI-PC24h offer resistance to T . gondii aggression . FI-PC2h cultured during 22 h (FI-PC2-24h in vitro), or PC obtained from syngeneic recipients injected i.p . 22 h previously with FI-PC2h (FI-PC2-24h in vivo) show, as FI-PC2h, an increase of the I-E+ cells and capacity to induce suppression of the delayed-type hypersensitivity response to RAG autoantigens when they are injected to syngeneic rats 10 and 3 days prior to the immunization with chemically modified (diazotized arsanilic and sulfanilic acid) RAG in complete Freund's adjuvant . The PC obtained 24 h after injection of irradiated rats with N-PC plus FI show an increase of I-E+ cells whereas an enhancement of I-A+ cells can be observed when the PC are obtained 24 h after injection of irradiated and bone marrow-reconstituted rats with N-PC plus FI . These findings appear to indicate that FI-PC2h and FI-PC24h are functionally different and that the population obtained 24 h after injection of FI of RAG could not originate from either the population present 2 h after injection of FI of RAG injection nor from normal PC . They appear to require bone marrow precursors. Infect Immun, 1991 May, 59(5), 1832 - 8 Evidence for expression of the C3d receptor of Candida albicans in vitro and in vivo obtained by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy; Kanbe T et al.; The complement conversion product C3d binds to a receptor on the cell surface of Candida albicans . While the function of this receptor is still uncertain, we investigated whether it is expressed during a murine infection . Rabbit antiserum raised against purified receptor was used in conjunction with immunofluorescence microscopy and immunocolloidal gold electron microscopy to examine kidney tissue and peritoneal lavages from infected mice for receptor expression by C . albicans in vivo . Specificity of the antiserum was indicated by reactivity with purified receptor (55 to 60 kDa) and with a protein of similar molecular mass from whole hyphal extracts in Western blots (immunoblots) . In vitro analysis by immunofluorescence microscopy showed that the antiserum reacted with both yeast and pseudohyphal forms of the organism, but reactivity was strongest with pseudohyphae . Immunocolloidal gold electron microscopy of fungal cells from peritoneal lavages revealed intense staining of mother cells of germinative forms, germ tubes, and pseudohyphae . Staining of the mother cells was heaviest at the innermost layers of the cell wall but only scant on the cell surface . In contrast, staining was observed throughout the cell walls of germ tubes and pseudohyphae . In kidney, expression of the C3d receptor was found primarily on the cell walls of hyphae and pseudohyphae, although some staining was observed in the cytoplasm . These data support that the C3d receptor of C . albicans is expressed in vivo. Mycoses, 1991 May-Jun, 34(5-6), 221 - 6 Monoclonal antibody-gold silver staining dot assay for the detection of antigenaemia in candidosis; Poulain D et al.; A monoclonal antibody (Mab), designated 5B2, reacting with cell wall mannoproteins of Candida albicans has been purified and coupled to colloidal gold . The ability of the gold conjugated Mab to detect C . albicans antigens in serum during infection has been assessed in a dot immunobinding assay involving an immunogold silver enhancement procedure (GSS) . A double blind study was made with sera from 140 guinea pigs, including 40 control animals and 100 infected intravenously with C . albicans . Sera from infected animals were collected either 2 days (4 animals), 15 days (9 animals), or 21 days (87 animals) after inoculation . The overall sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of the test were 89, 95, and 98%, respectively . However, differences were encountered in the ratio of positive tests in relation to duration of the infection . Mab-GSS dot immunobinding has also been applied, together with Mab co-counterimmunoelectrophoresis on successive sera from 2 patients who recovered from clinically and mycologically proven episodes of systemic candidosis . It was demonstrated that both patients synthesized antibodies against glycoproteins sharing the 5B2 epitope, which was initially present transiently in their sera. Mycoses, 1991 May-Jun, 34(5-6), 217 - 20 Phospholipase production in morphological variants of Candida albicans; Lane T et al.; The yeast Candida albicans is considered a dangerous opportunist in a compromised host . Both phases of growth are thought to be pathogenic, however, evidence suggests that the hyphal phase is the more virulent . It has been proposed that the increased virulence lies in the ability of hyphae to digest and penetrate host tissue, thus enabling access of fungal cells to the deeper tissues . However, this one characteristic does not sufficiently explain the organism's success as a pathogen . Recently, high-frequency, colonial morphology switching systems were described in C . albicans . We obtained some of these variants and tested them for the ability to produce extracellular phospholipase(s), a generally accepted mechanism of pathogenesis in many microorganisms . Using egg yolk agar plates, we showed that all variants produced the enzyme . However, one produced significantly more than the others. Mycoses, 1991 May-Jun, 34(5-6), 201 - 4 Intracellular killing of Candida albicans by human neutrophils is potentiated by exposure to combinations of amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine; Richardson MD et al.; Combination treatment with amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine is synergistic and has become clinically useful in the treatment of various forms of systemic candidosis . The synergy between these two compounds may be explained in part by their combined effect on the interaction between fungal cells and host phagocytes . Pretreatment of Candida albicans for 2 h with either amphotericin B or 5-fluorocytosine or the two agents in combination did not inhibit or enhance phagocytosis by glass-adherent human neutrophils (P greater than 0.05) . Intracellular killing of pretreated yeast cells was not influenced by antifungals alone (P greater than 0.05), but pretreatment of C . albicans with 5.0 mg l-1 amphotericin B + 10 l-1 5-fluorocytosine or 5.0 mg l-1 amphotericin B + 50 mg l-1 5-fluorocytosine significantly enhanced the ability of neutrophils to kill the number of viable yeast cells intracellularly (P less than 0.001). J Gen Microbiol, 1991 May, 137 ( Pt 5), 1053 - 61 Antigenic cell wall mannoproteins in Candida albicans isolates and in other Candida species; Gil ML et al.; Polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), raised against mannoprotein components from Candida albicans ATCC 26555 (serotype A) blastoconidia and mycelial cell walls, were used to investigate antigenic similarities among wall mannoproteins from other C . albicans serotype A and B strains, and from C . tropicalis and C . guilliermondii . Radioactively labelled walls isolated from cells grown at either 28 degrees C or 37 degrees C were digested with a beta-glucanase complex (Zymolyase 20T) to release cell-wall-bound mannoproteins . Numerous molecular species with different electrophoretic mobilities were released from the various isolates . Differences appeared to be related to both the organism and the growth temperature . Among the major protein components solubilized were mannoproteins larger than 100 kDa (high molecular mass mannoproteins), heterogeneous in size in most cases . Antigenic homology was detected among the cell wall high molecular mass mannoproteins of the two C . albicans serotype A isolates, whereas significant qualitative and quantitative differences were detected between serotype A and serotype B cell-wall-bound antigenic profiles . Moreover, C . tropicalis and C . guilliermondii wall antigenic determinants were not recognized by the preparations of pAbs and mAbs raised against C . albicans walls . A mannoprotein with a molecular mass of 33-34 kDa was present in the enzymic wall digests of all the organisms studied . When probed with pAbs raised against the protein moiety of the 33 kDa cell wall mannoprotein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, antigenic cross-reactivity was observed in all cases except C . tropicalis . There appear to be significant antigenic differences between the mannoproteins of different isolates of C . albicans, and between those of C . albicans and other Candida species. Jpn J Antibiot, 1991 May, 44(5), 571 - 9 {In vitro antifungal activity of itraconazole, a new triazole antifungal agent, against clinical isolates from patients with dermatomycoses}; Uchida K et al.; In vitro antifungal activities of itraconazole (ITZ), a triazole antifungal agent, against clinical isolates obtained from patients with superficial and subcutaneous mycoses were examined using the agar dilution method on casitone agar . The clinical isolates tested were 7 species and 263 isolates including Trichophyton mentagrophytes (104 isolates), Trichophyton rubrum (103 isolates), Microsporum canis (3 isolates), Epidermophyton floccosum (2 isolates), Candida albicans (32 isolates), Malassezia furfur (7 isolates) and Sporothrix schenckii (12 isolates) . The results are summarized as follows: 1 . MIC values of ITZ for the isolates of dermatophytes and M . furfur distributed in a range of less than 0.0012-5 micrograms/ml indicating that ITZ had greater in vitro activities . These in vitro activities of ITZ were greater than those of clotrimazole or bifonazole . 2 . C . albicans isolates were divided into 2 groups in terms of ITZ-susceptibilities, a high susceptibility group and low-susceptibility group with MIC values of 0.02-0.08 micrograms/ml and greater than 10 micrograms/ml, respectively . 3 . The in vitro activities of ITZ against S . schenckii isolates with a geometric mean MIC of 0.119 micrograms/ml were greater than those of ketoconazole, miconazole or amphotericin B used as reference drugs. J Clin Microbiol, 1991 May, 29(5), 962 - 7 Comparison of restriction enzyme analysis and pulsed-field gradient gel electrophoresis as typing systems for Candida albicans; Vazquez JA et al.; Candida species are an important cause of infection in immunocompromised hosts and the leading cause of nosocomial fungal infections . Study of the epidemiology of Candida infection has been difficult because of lack of a reliable typing system . We describe a typing system utilizing contour-clamped homogeneous electric fields (CHEF), which is a modified version of pulsed-field gradient gel electrophoresis, and compared it with restriction enzyme analysis (REA) of genomic DNA . The study was done with 35 Candida albicans clinical isolates from separate patients . CHEF and REA were performed on each isolate, and the patterns were compared . The REA procedure revealed 17 strain types while the CHEF procedure was able to distinguish 23 strain types of C . albicans . The CHEF technique yields unique patterns of chromosomal bands that can be used to distinguish clinical isolates and demonstrates greater sensitivity than REA. J Immunol, 1991 Apr 15, 146(8), 2783 - 9 Mechanisms of host defense against Candida species . I . Phagocytosis by monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages; Marodi L et al.; We studied the biochemical basis of phagocytosis of Candida albicans, a serious pathogen, and Candida parapsilosis, which is rarely pathogenic, by human monocytes (Mo) and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) . Optimal phagocytosis of both species by Mo required the presence of extracellular Ca2+ and opsonization through both the classic and alternative complement pathways . Serum-opsonized Candida were ingested equally by Mo and MDM; unopsonized Candida were phagocytosed only by macrophages, and uptake began slowly . This opsonin-independent phagocytosis required Ca2+ and could be blocked by yeast mannan or mannose-BSA conjugate, suggesting a role for the mannose receptor . Opsonized Candida elicited a vigorous increase in the concentration of {Ca2+}i in Mo and MDM, but no Ca2+ transient was detected in MDM stimulated with unopsonized Candida . Pretreatment of MDM with ionomycin to increase {Ca2+}i had no effect on phagocytosis of unopsonized Candida . Addition of 5 mM EGTA completely inhibited changes in {Ca2+}i in Mo and MDM, suggesting that the Ca2+ transient induced by opsonized Candida is due to an influx of extracellular Ca2+ . Differences in pathogenicity between the two Candida species could not be explained by differences in any aspect of phagocytosis . Uptake mediated by the macrophage mannose receptor could play a role in clearance of Candida under opsonin-poor conditions. J Immunol, 1991 Apr 15, 146(8), 2790 - 4 Mechanisms of host defense against Candida species . II . Biochemical basis for the killing of Candida by mononuclear phagocytes; Marodi L et al.; We studied the biochemical basis of candidacidal activity by comparing the killing of Candida albicans, a serious pathogen, and Candida parapsilosis, a low-grade pathogen, by human monocytes (Mo) and monocyte-derived macrophages . Mo killed C . parapsilosis significantly better than C . albicans . The two species triggered the respiratory burst and release of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and beta-glucuronidase in Mo to an equivalent extent . In contrast to Mo, macrophages killed both species to an equivalent extent . Mo exhibited a greater candida-stimulated respiratory burst than did monocyte-derived macrophages, and the respiratory burst was required for the killing of both species . C . parapsilosis was killed much more easily than C . albicans by exposure to low concentrations of hypochlorite or monochloramine, MPO-dependent oxidants released by Mo but not macrophages, which lack MPO . With six different Candida strains there was a significant correlation between killing by Mo and susceptibility to hypochlorite (r = 0.926) or monochloramine (r = 0.981) (p less than 0.01 for each) . Species differences in resistance to killing by Mo may be related to differences in sensitivity to MPO-derived oxidants, and the ability of C . albicans to resist the effects of these oxidants may be a virulence factor associated with this species. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 1991 Apr 15, 63(2-3), 127 - 31 Biochemical changes associated with the antifungal action of the triazole ICI 153,066 on Candida albicans and Trichophyton quinckeanum; Barrett-Bee K et al.; The triazole antifungal agent, ICI 153,066, acts on Candida albicans and Trichophyton quinckeanum by inhibiting demethylation of the sterol ring . In C . albicans this is at the level of lanosterol whereas in T . quinckeanum it is at the level of 24-methylene lanosterol . Inhibition of the demethylation system was shown to be non-competitive, the Vmax of the enzyme was reduced rather than affinity for the substrate lanosterol . The changes in the sterols of C . albicans lead to inhibition of the transport of amino acids into the yeasts which probably resulted from alterations in the membrane bound permeation systems . The reduction in uptake of amino acids was shown to reflect a change in the velocity of transport rather than the affinity of the amino acids for the transport systems. Cell Immunol, 1991 Apr 15, 134(1), 65 - 76 In vitro production of tumor necrosis factor by murine splenic macrophages stimulated with mannoprotein constituents of Candida albicans cell wall; Vecchiarelli A et al.; Mannoprotein components from Candida albicans were investigated for their ability to induce production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by cultured splenocytes from naive or Candida-infected mice . Two chromatographically separated mannoproteins preparations, designated F1 and F2, were as able as the heat-inactivated Candida cells to induce the production of TNF from splenocytes of naive animals . In addition, they caused a significant augmentation of basic TNF secretion by splenocytes of Candida-infected animals . Experiments using plastic and/or nylon wool adherence, as well as treatments with antibodies depleting T or NK cells, consistently indicated that most if not all TNF was produced by splenic macrophages . In cultures of splenocytes from Candida-infected mice, mannoprotein addition also stimulated interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by Thy 1.2 positive cells . Depletion of these cells or addition of anti-IFN-gamma antibodies abolished IFN production and reduced TNF secretion by adherent cells to the levels found in the cultures of mannoprotein-stimulated spleen cells from naive mice . These data add further evidence to the immunomodulatory properties possessed by some cell wall constituents of the human commensal microorganism C . albicans and suggest that IFN-gamma is endowed with a regulatory role in TNF production by mouse macrophages in vitro. J Inorg Biochem, 1991 Apr, 42(1), 9 - 16 Synthetic and pharmacological studies on some transition metal chelates involving N-pyrimidino benzamide-2-carboxylic acid as ligand; Nagar R et al.; N-pyrimidino benzamide-2-carboxylic acid (NPBCA) and its Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II), and Mn(II) chelates have been synthesized and characterized by using elemental analyses, molar conductance, molecular weight determination, magnetic moment, infrared, and electronic spectra . Antifungal activity of the synthesized compounds has been screened on common fungi, viz., Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus nidulense, and Candida albicans at 28 degrees C and antibacterial activity has been observed on gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria at 37 degrees C . Anti-inflammatory and ulcerogenic potential of the synthesized compounds have been discussed. J Antibiot (Tokyo), 1991 Apr, 44(4), 382 - 9 Synerazol, a new antifungal antibiotic; Ando O et al.; Synerazol, a new antifungal antibiotic, was isolated from cultured broth of Aspergillus fumigatus SANK 10588 . The structure was determined based on NMR and mass spectral evidences . Synerazol was found to be a related substance to pseurotin A . Synerazol was active against Candida albicans and other fungi, and showed marked synergistic activity with azole-type antifungal agents. Epidemiol Infect, 1991 Apr, 106(2), 355 - 63 Chronic atrophic oral candidiasis among patients with diabetes mellitus--role of secretor status; Aly FZ et al.; Non-diabetic individuals who are non-secretors of blood group antigens are prone to superficial infections by Candida albicans . In this study, 216 patients with diabetes mellitus who were denture wearers were examined for the presence or absence of denture stomatitis . There was an overall trend for non-secretors to be prone to denture stomatitis compared with secretors . Stepwise linear discriminant analysis was used to dissect the contribution of secretor status and other variables to the development of the disease . Secretor status was found to be a contributory factor among patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes but not among those with insulin-dependent diabetes . The possible reasons for this are discussed. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1991 Apr, 32(5), 1569 - 72 Differences in response in vivo to amphotericin B among Candida albicans strains; O'Day DM et al.; A group of ten Candida albicans strains previously determined to be resistant or susceptible to topical amphotericin B in vivo and in vitro were exposed to treatment with different concentrations of the drug in a quantitative model of candidal keratitis in Dutch-belted rabbits . After 5 days of topical treatment with amphotericin B eye drops in concentrations of 0.3%, 0.03%, or 0.003%, quantitative isolate recovery in treated animals was compared with that of untreated controls . A dose response was observed for all five susceptible strains . The two strains that were most sensitive to amphotericin B in vitro also were the most susceptible in vivo . At each dose level there was a two- to eightfold reduction in isolate recovery among highly susceptible strains compared with less susceptible strains (P less than 0.05) . The five resistant strains remained so even when the 0.3% concentration was used . Among strains of C . albicans susceptible to amphotericin B, there appeared to be a variation in degree of susceptibility in vivo that correlated with the minimum inhibitory concentration. Infect Immun, 1991 Apr, 59(4), 1576 - 8 Effect of challenge with Candida albicans strains with different levels of virulence on plasma proteins in burned mice; Neely AN et al.; Immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin A, transferrin, and fibrinogen were measured by radial immunodiffusion in plasma samples from burned versus unburned mice challenged with high-virulence Candida albicans MY 1044 or its low-virulence mutant, MY 1049 . Early decreases in these proteins were found after burn and/or MY 1044 but not MY 1049 challenge . These decreases may contribute to increased susceptibility of mice that were burned and challenged by MY 1044 to lethal candidiasis. Infect Immun, 1991 Apr, 59(4), 1341 - 5 Adherence of cell surface mutants of Candida albicans to buccal epithelial cells and analyses of the cell surface proteins of the mutants; Fukayama M et al.; Strains of Candida albicans, selected on the basis of their reduced agglutination with a polyclonal anti-Candida antiserum, were tested for their adherence to human buccal epithelial cells (BEC) . Of four strains, one (A9V2) had reduced binding to BEC in vitro . Adherence of wild type (wt) yeast cells (A9), as measured by the percentage of BEC with adhering Candida cells, was 73.4% +/- 3.8% compared with 49.3% +/- 3.1% for A9V2 (P less than 0.01) . From yeast cells of A9 and A9V2, whole-cell extracts and dithiothreitol-, Zymolyase-, or beta-mercaptoethanol-solubilized cell extracts were compared by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting (immunoblotting) . From dithiothreitol-solubilized cell extracts, proteins with molecular masses of 55 to 60, 80 to 84, 115, and 165 kDa were observed from wt (A9) cells but were highly reduced in amount or absent from A9V2 cells . Western blot profiles of Zymolyase-solubilized extracts from both A9 and A9V2 were similar in appearance, while 55-, 80- to 84-, 115-, and 165-kDa proteins were observed only in A9 cells extracted with beta-mercaptoethanol . Strain A9V4, also selected by reduced agglutination but which adhered as well as strain A9, lacked the 80- to 84-kDa and 115-kDa proteins but otherwise was similar to strain A9 . These results indicate that the 55- to 60- and 165-kDa proteins may be related to an adhesin function in C . albicans . The differences observed in the protein profiles of the wt adhering strain and its derived nonadhering mutant are similar to those described for another matched pair of C . albicans strains. Anal Biochem, 1991 Apr, 194(1), 223 - 9 Bioassay for siderophore utilization by Candida albicans; Minnick AA et al.; A convenient plate assay which is sensitive to medium pH has been developed to evaluate potential siderophores of Candida albicans . Adding a siderophore to a filter paper disk on chemically defined Lee's agar (final pH 7.2) seeded with the test strain reversed the growth inhibitory effects of the supplemented (25-100 micrograms/ml) iron chelator ethylenediaminedi(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid), to provide a zone of growth stimulation . This bioassay has been used to demonstrate the structure-activity r