Arch Esp Urol, 1996 Jan-Feb, 49(1), 66 - 8 {Candidiasis of the upper urinary tract . Report of a case}; Sanchez Sanchis M et al.; OBJECTIVE: We report a case of candidiasis of the upper urinary tract that presented as acute renal failure associated with septic syndrome . The patient initially required hemodialysis . Right hydronephrosis and perirenal collection were observed on ultrasound examination . METHODS: A percutaneous nephrostomy was performed . Nephrostomy urine cytology and cultures were positive for Candida tropicalis . An anterograde pyelography showed a 'fungus ball' in the urinary tract . RESULTS: Therapy with oral fluconazole and percutaneous amphotericin B achieved excellent results . CONCLUSIONS: Candidiasic urinary infection of the upper urinary tract often produces obstructive uropathy requiring percutaneous nephrostomy, which can also be used to instill amphotericin B . Combination therapy with amphotericin B and fluconazole can achieve excellent results. Burns, 1995 Dec, 21(8), 594 - 6 Management of candida septicaemia in a regional burn unit; Still JM Jr et al.; Sepsis due to candida infection is a major cause of mortality and morbidity on our unit . Over a period of 3 years and 4 months, 29 cases of candida septicaemia, diagnosed by blood cultures, were encountered at the burn unit at Augusta Regional Medical Center . Factors known to predispose to fungal sepsis were present in all cases . All patients had large burns (14-98 per cent total body surface (TBSA) with a mean of 48.3 per cent) . All but one patient had at least one central venous line . Respiratory problems requiring ventilator support were present in 24 patients . Sixteen patients had Candida albicans sepsis, two in association with another fungal sepsis . Candida parapsilosis was encountered in nine patients, one in combination with another species . Four patients had Candida tropicalis . Amphotericin B was prescribed therapeutically in 25 patients, in seven together with fluconazole . Two patients received fluconazole only and two received no antifungal therapy . There were eight deaths all attributed to sepsis and all of whom had multiple organ failure . Five of those who died had completed a course of amphotericin B therapy, two were receiving treatment at the time of death, and one patient died before culture data became available . Early and aggressive therapy is advised and amphotericin B appears to be the drug of choice. Arzneimittelforschung, 1995 Dec, 45(12), 1338 - 40 In vitro activity of clotrimazole for Candida strains isolated from recent patient samples; Schmidt A; Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of clotrimazole (CAS 23593-75-1, Bay 5097, clo) were determined for 142 clinical Candida isolates obtained between 1992 and 1994, including the species Candida albicans (96 strains), Candida glabrata (12 strains), Candida krusei (12 strains), and Candida tropicalis (12 strains) . For some of the Candida isolates of all four species, the MICs of amphotericin B and fluconazole were also determined . No MICs of clo of > 4 micrograms/ml were found for all four Candida species, the median of MICs of clo for Candida albicans being 0.03 micrograms/ml with a range from < 0.015 to 4 micrograms/ml . The MICs of clo for Candida albicans were on average 2 log stages below the MICs of fluconazole and 1 log step below the MICs of amphotericin B on the microgram/ml level . Taking account of the present in vitro resistance situation, clo is a highly active antimycotic substance for isolates of all Candida species with human pathogenetic relevance. J Clin Microbiol, 1995 Dec, 33(12), 3216 - 20 PCR and single-strand conformational polymorphism for recognition of medically important opportunistic fungi; Walsh TJ et al.; The application of PCR technology to molecular diagnostics holds great promise for the early identification of medically important pathogens . PCR has been shown to be useful for the detection of the presence of fungal DNA in both laboratory and clinical samples . Considerable interest has been focused on the utility of selecting universal primers, those that recognize constant regions among most, if not all, medically important fungi . Once an amplicon, or piece of amplified DNA determined by the unique pair of oligonucleotide primers, has been generated, several different methods may be used to distinguish between genera and between species . The two major approaches have utilized differences in restriction enzyme digestion patterns or hybridization with specific probe . We report the application of single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) as a technique to delineate the differences between fungal species and/or genera . Minor sequence variations in small single-stranded DNA cause subtle changes in conformation, allowing these strands to be separated on polyacrylamide gels by SSCP . We used a 197-bp fragment amplified from the 18S rRNA gene, common to all medically important fungi . After amplification, the fragments were denatured and run on an acrylamide-glycerol gel at room temperature or 4 degrees C for 4.5 or 4 h, respectively . Under room temperature conditions, the SSCP patterns for Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida parapsilosis were identical and all strains within each species demonstrated the same pattern . These patterns differed markedly from those of the genus Aspergillus . The SSCP patterns of major and minor bands at room temperature permitted distinction between strains of Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus flavus . There also was consistency of the SSCP banding pattern among different strains of the same Aspergillus species . The SSCP patterns for other medically important opportunistic fungi, such as Cryptococcus neoformans, Pseudallescheria boydii, and Rhizopus arrhizus, were sufficiently unique to permit distinction from those of C . albicans and A . fumigatus . We conclude that the technique of PCR-SSCP provides a novel method by which to recognize and distinguish medically important opportunistic fungi and which has potential applications to molecular diagnosis, taxonomic classification, molecular epidemiology, and elucidation of mechanisms of antifungal drug resistance. Mycoses, 1995 Nov-Dec, 38(11-12), 443 - 8 Testing susceptibility of Candida species to fluconazole and itraconazole using the microdilution assay; Seibold M et al.; A microdilution system was established for testing the susceptibility of Candida species to fluconazole and itraconazole . The assay used a sodium phosphate-buffered (0.1 mol l-1) Casitone/glucose medium (pH 7.2) supplemented with potassium, iron, magnesium, trace elements and vitamins . Tests were read photometrically after 24 h, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was defined as the IC90 . In nearly all strains sharp end points were observed . The MICs against Candida species without any known pre-exposure to azoles were found to range from 0.2 to 1.56 micrograms ml-1 for fluconazole and from 2.3 to 12 ng ml-1 for intraconazole . For strains from candidosis patients refractory to treatment with fluconazole the MICs of fluconazole ranged from 6.25 to 100 micrograms ml-1, while those for itraconazole varied between 12 and > 450 ng ml-1 . The strains did not respond congruent to both azoles . A similar disparity of the MICs was observed with Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei . The unusually low MICs of itraconazole were attained because (1) the dilution series was prepared from a preformed (concentrated) dilution series in 75% dimethylsulphoxide and not directly by serial dilution in the broth and (2) the incubation was performed in microtitre plates made of quartz glass rather than in the generally used polystyrene microtitre plates. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1995 Nov, 36(5), 787 - 93 Itraconazole susceptibilities of fluconazole susceptible and resistant isolates of five Candida species; Johnson EM et al.; The in-vitro susceptibilities of 1380 isolates of five Candida species were determined in order to establish whether isolates resistant to fluconazole were cross-resistant to itraconazole . IC50 values were determined by a broth microdilution method . 690 Candida albicans isolates, seven Candida glabrata isolates, seven Candida krusei isolates, 120 Candida parapsilosis isolates and 37 Candida tropicalis isolates were susceptible to both fluconazole (IC50 < or = 32 mg/L) and itraconazole (IC50 < or = 4 mg/L) . Twenty eight of 160 C . albicans isolates (17.5%), 180 of 293 C . glabrata isolates (61.4%), six of 48 C . krusei isolates (12.5%), and 10 of 18 C . tropicalis isolates (55.5%) resistant to fluconazole (IC50 > or = 64 mg/L) were also resistant to itraconazole (IC50 > or = 8 mg/L) . In contrast, drug-specific resistance to itraconazole was not observed in any of the isolates tested . However, the itraconazole IC50s for fluconazole susceptible isolates were lower than those for fluconazole resistant isolates, which suggests that patients who fail fluconazole treatment might require itraconazole at higher dosages than usual. J Clin Microbiol, 1995 Nov, 33(11), 3025 - 7 Use of CHROMagar Candida medium for isolation of yeasts from dental samples; Beighton D et al.; A new differential medium, CHROMagar Candida, for the isolation of clinically important yeasts was investigated to determine its usefulness in facilitating the study of oral yeasts . The recovery of yeasts on the medium was not significantly different from the recovery on Sabouraud dextrose agar . The identities of 450 green colonies on CHROMagar Candida, presumptively identified as Candida albicans on the basis of the manufacturer's instructions, were confirmed by testing for beta-N-acetylgalactosaminidase . Candida tropicalis also formed distinctive colonies, and other yeasts including Candida (Torulopsis) glabrata, Candida Parapsilosis, Candida Magnoliae, Candida lusitaniae, Candida Famata, Candida kefir, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were readily distinguished from C . albicans and C . tropicalis isolates . CHROMagar Candida is a very useful medium, and its use will facilitate the study of yeasts associated with dental diseases. J Clin Microbiol, 1995 Nov, 33(11), 2913 - 9 Molecular probes for diagnosis of fungal infections; Sandhu GS et al.; We have developed 21 specific nucleic acid probes which target the large subunit rRNA genes from Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus glaucus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Candida (Torulopsis) glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Coccidioides immitis, Cryptococcus neoformans var . gattii, Cryptococcus neoformans var . neoformans, Filobasidiella neoformans var . bacillispora, Filobasidiella neoformans var . neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, Pseudallescheria boydii, and Sporothrix schenckii . A section of the 28S rRNA gene from approximately 100 fungi, representing about 50 species of pathogens and commonly encountered saprophytes, was sequenced to develop universal PCR primers and species-specific oligonucleotide probes . Each step in the process of detection and identification was standardized to a common set of conditions applicable without modification to all fungi of interest and all types of clinical specimens . These steps consist of DNA extraction by boiling specimens in an alkaline guanidine-phenol-Tris reagent, amplification of a variable region of the 28S rRNA gene with universal primers, and amplicon identification by probe hybridization or DNA sequencing performed under conditions identical for all fungi . The results obtained by testing a panel of fungal isolates and a variety of clinical specimens indicate a high level of specificity. Biochem J, 1995 Oct 15, 311 ( Pt 2), 437 - 43 Molecular cloning of a novel widely expressed human 80 kDa 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase IV; Adamski J et al.; Reactions of oestrogens and androgens at position C-17 are catalysed by 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17 beta-HSDs) . Cloning of the cDNA of a novel human 17 beta-HSD IV and expression of its mRNA are described . A probe derived from the recently discovered porcine 17 beta-oestradiol dehydrogenase (17 beta-EDH) was used to isolate a 2.6 kb human cDNA encoding a continuous protein of 736 amino acids of high (84%) similarity to the porcine 17 beta-EDH . The calculated molecular mass of the human enzyme is 79,595 Da . Other sequence similarities shared by the two enzymes are: an N-terminal sequence which is similar to that of members of the short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase family; amino acids 343-607 which are similar to the C-terminal domains of a trifunctional Candida tropicalis enzyme and the FOX2 gene product of Saccharomyces cerevisiae; amino acids 596-736 which are similar to human sterol carrier protein 2 . The previously cloned human 17 beta-HSD I, II and III are less than 25% identical with 17 beta-HSD IV . mRNA for HSD IV is a single species of 3.0 kb, present in many tissues with highest concentrations in liver, heart, prostate and testes . When over-expressed in mammalian cells, the human 17 beta-HSD IV enzyme displays a specific unidirectional oxidative 17 beta-HSD activity. Clin Microbiol Rev, 1995 Oct, 8(4), 462 - 78 New and emerging yeast pathogens; Hazen KC; The most common yeast species that act as agents of human disease are Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, and Cryptococcus neoformans . The incidence of infections by other yeasts has increased during the past decade . The most evident emerging pathogens are Malassezia furfur, Trichosporon beigelii, Rhodotorula species, Hansenula anomala, Candida lusitaniae, and Candida krusei . Organisms once considered environmental contaminants or only industrially important, such as Candida utilis and Candida lipolytica, have now been implicated as agents of fungemia, onychomycosis, and systemic disease . The unusual yeasts primarily infect immunocompromised patients, newborns, and the elderly . The role of central venous catheter removal and antifungal therapy in patient management is controversial . The antibiograms of the unusual yeasts range from resistant to the most recent azoles and amphotericin B to highly susceptible to all antifungal agents . Current routine methods for yeast identification may be insufficient to identify the unusual yeasts within 2 days after isolation . The recognition of unusual yeasts as agents of sometimes life-threatening infection and their unpredictable antifungal susceptibilities increase the burden on the clinical mycology laboratory to pursue complete species identification and MIC determinations . Given the current and evolving medical practices for management of seriously ill patients, further evaluations of the clinically important data about these yeasts are needed. J Antimicrob Chemother, 1995 Oct, 36(4), 713 - 6 In-vitro antifungal activity of sertaconazole, econazole, and bifonazole against Candida spp; Carrillo-Munoz AJ et al.; The in-vitro activity of sertaconazole (7-chloro-3-{1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl- 1-yl)ethoxy-methyl} benzo{b} thiophene) was compared with that of econazole and bifonazole against 150 strains of yeasts which includes six Candida species . Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by a microdilution technique in Sabouraud's liquid medium, (pH 5.6) . Sertaconazole (arithmetic mean MIC 0.77 mg/L) was more active than econazole (MIC 1.75 mg/L) and bifonazole (MIC 9.05 mg/L) . MIC values for sertaconazole were generally and specifically lower for each tested species, Candida parapsilosis being the most susceptible (MIC 0.31 mg/L), in contrast to Candida tropicalis, which had the highest MIC (1.67 mg/L). J Clin Microbiol, 1995 Oct, 33(10), 2660 - 4 Comparative evaluation of macrodilution and alamar colorimetric microdilution broth methods for antifungal susceptibility testing of yeast isolates; To WK et al.; A comparative evaluation of the macrodilution method and the Alamar colorimetric method for the susceptibility testing of amphotericin B, fluconazole, and flucytosine was conducted with 134 pathogenic yeasts . The clinical isolates included 28 Candida albicans, 17 Candida tropicalis, 15 Candida parapsilosis, 12 Candida krusei, 10 Candida lusitaniae, 9 Candida guilliermondii, 18 Torulopsis glabrata, and 25 Cryptococcus neoformans isolates . The macrodilution method was performed and interpreted according to the recommendations of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (document M27-P), and the Alamar colorimetric method was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions . For the Alamar colorimetric method, MICs were determined at 24 and 48 h of incubation for Candida species and T . glabrata and at 48 and 72 h of incubation for C . neoformans . The overall agreement within +/- 1 dilution for Candida species and T . glabrata against the three antifungal agents was generally good, with the values for amphotericin B, fluconazole, and flucytosine being 85.3, 77.9, and 86.2%, respectively, at the 24-h readings and 69.3, 65.2, and 97.2%, respectively, at the 48-h readings . Most disagreement was noted with fluconazole against C . tropicalis and T . glabrata . Our studies indicate that determination of MICs at 24 h by the Alamar colorimetric method is a valid alternate method for testing amphotericin B, fluconazole, and flucytosine against Candida species but not for testing fluconazole against C . tropicalis and T . glabrata . For flucytosine, much better agreement can be demonstrated against Candida species and T . glabrata at the 48-h readings by the Alamar method . Excellent agreement within +/- dilution can also be observed for amphotericin B, fluconazole, and flucytosine (80, 96, and 96%, respectively) against c . neoformans when the MICs were determined at 72 h by the Alamar method. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1995 Sep, 39(9), 2051 - 60 Antifungal susceptibility testing of yeasts: evaluation of technical variables for test automation; Odds FC et al.; The technical parameters for antifungal susceptibility testing with Candida species were reexamined to determine the optimal conditions for testing with semiautomated preparations of broth microdilution cultures, automated spectrophotometric readings of the cultures, and dose-response and endpoint determinations by means of a computer spreadsheet . Tests were based on proposed standard method M27P of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards for antifungal agents . RPMI 1640 broth with extra glucose to a final concentration of 2% gave higher and more reproducible drug-free control readings without affecting susceptibility endpoint readings . An inoculum of 8 x 10(4) yeasts per ml prepared from a carbon-limiting broth culture without further standardization was found to give optimal control readings after 48 h of incubation at 37 degrees C . For flucytosine, fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole, endpoints based on 50% growth inhibition (50% inhibitory concentration) gave the minimum variation with inoculum size and the fewest endpoint differences with RPMI 1640 medium obtained from two different suppliers . The 50% inhibitory concentration was also the optimal endpoint for fluconazole and ketoconazole susceptibilities in comparison with broth macrodilution MICs determined by the method of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards . Intralaboratory reproducibility was determined by retrospective analysis of replicate results for isolates retested at random over a 2-year period . This approach showed less favorable reproducibility than has been reported from purpose-designed, prospective antifungal susceptibility studies, but it may better reflect real-life test reproducibility . Susceptibility data for 616 clinical isolates of yeasts, representing 16 Candida and Saccharomyces spp., confirmed the tendency of Candida lusitaniae isolates to show relatively low susceptibilities to amphotericin B, the tendency of Candida krusei isolates to show low flucytosine and fluconazole susceptibilities, and the presence of some isolates in the species Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida tropicalis with low susceptibilities to azole derivative antifungal agents . The study demonstrates the value of automation and standardization in all stages of yeast susceptibility testing, from plate preparation to data analysis. J Clin Microbiol, 1995 Sep, 33(9), 2476 - 9 Identification of Candida species by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of intergenic spacer regions of ribosomal DNA; Williams DW et al.; The PCR was used to amplify a targeted region of the ribosomal DNA from 84 Candida isolates . Unique product sizes were obtained for Candida guilliermondii, Candida (Torulopsis) glabrata, and Candida pseudotropicalis . Isolates of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida stellatoidea, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida krusei could be identified following restriction digestion of the PCR products. J Med Vet Mycol, 1995 Jul-Aug, 33(4), 275 - 8 pH-dependent denaturation of extracellular aspartic proteinases from Candida species; Wagner T et al.; The yeasts Candida albicans . Candida tropicalis, and Candida parapsilosis secrete aspartic proteinases which may enhance virulence . Profiles of pH-dependent irreversible denaturation of such enzymes were determined at 37 degrees C . C . albicans proteinases from both serotypes A and B maintained 50% of their activity near pH 7.25 . Proteinases from C . parapsilosis and C . tropicalis lost 50% of their activity at pH 6.75 and pH 6.15, respectively . This suggests that in the infected host only proteinases of C . albicans maintain a native state for any length of time. J Med Vet Mycol, 1995 Jul-Aug, 33(4), 241 - 6 Random amplified polymorphic DNA for strain delineation within Candida tropicalis; Lin D et al.; Candida tropicalis DNA was used as a template in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) utilizing a 10-mer primer to generate random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) . RAPD patterns associated with 25 primers were obtained for six epidemiologically-unrelated isolates, then a subset of six primers were selected to screen a panel of 18 isolates of C . tropicalis and six isolates of Candida paratropicalis, a species that resembles C . tropicalis but has a sucrose-negative phenotype . The panel, which included nine epidemiologically-related isolates from an outbreak of sternal wound infections, was typed without knowledge of each isolate's origin . The RAPD profiles of the epidemiologically-related isolates were identical to very similar; in contrast, the profiles of most unrelated isolates showed more dissimilarity . While RAPD profiles of C . albicans and Candida parapsilosis differed substantially from those of C . tropicalis, the profiles obtained for C . paratropicalis were consistent with it being a variant of C . tropicalis. Infect Immun, 1995 Jul, 63(7), 2714 - 9 Antibody response that protects against disseminated candidiasis; Han Y et al.; We previously showed that surface mannans of Candida albicans function as adhesins during yeast cell attachment to mouse splenic marginal zone macrophages . The mannan adhesin fraction was encapsulated into liposomes and used to vaccinate mice over a 5- to 6-week period . Circulating agglutinins specific for the fraction correlated with increased resistance to disseminated candidiasis . Antiserum from vaccinated animals protected naive BALB/cByJ mice against C . albicans serotype A and B strains and Candida tropicalis . Antiserum also protected SCID mice against disseminated disease . The serum protective ability was stable at 56 degrees C, but this ability was adsorbed by C . albicans cells . The antiserum was divided into three fractions after separation by high-performance liquid chromatography . One fraction contained all of the agglutinin activity and transferred resistance to naive mice . A second fraction also transferred resistance . Two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for candidal surface determinants were obtained . MAb B6.1 is specific for a mannan epitope in the adhesin fraction, and MAb B6 is specific for a different epitope in the fraction . Both MAbs are immunoglobulin M, and both strongly agglutinate candidal cells, but only MAb B6.1 protected both normal and SCID mice against disseminated candidiasis . In one experiment, 10 normal mice were given MAb B6.1 and challenged with yeast cells . Six mice survived the 67-day observation period; 4 of the survivors were cured as evidenced by the lack of CFU in the kidney and spleen . Our studies show that antibodies against certain cell surface antigens of C . albicans help the host resist disseminated candidiasis. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 1995 Jul, 43(3), 489 - 92 A novel promoter, derived from the isocitrate lyase gene of Candida tropicalis, inducible with acetate in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Umemura K et al.; When the isocitrate lyase gene, containing 5'-upstream and 3'-flanking regions, of an n-alkane-assimilating yeast Candida tropicalis was introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the enzyme was functionally overexpressed in the cells grown on acetate . The amount of the recombinant isocitrate lyase expressed in S . cerevisiae was as much as 30% of the total soluble proteins in the cells, being comparable to that with GAL7 functional under the control of galactose . The expression was also observed when the cells were grown on glycerol, lactate, ethanol or oleate . These facts indicate that the isocitrate lyase gene upstream region (UPR-ICL) contains a strong promoter functional in S . cerevisiae . UPR-ICL is active as a promoter on cheap carbon sources such as acetate and nonconventional carbon sources such as oleate, whereas many conventional strong promoters demand relatively expensive sugars or sugar derivatives . Therefore, it is promising to construct an economical recombinant protein production system by using UPR-ICL. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1995 Jul, 39(7), 1517 - 21 In vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of DU-6859a, a fluoroquinolone, in combination with amphotericin B and fluconazole against pathogenic fungi; Nakajima R et al.; DU-6859a is an investigational fluoroquinolone agent with potent bactericidal activity, but by itself it has no antifungal activity . When combined with amphotericin B (AmB), however, DU-6859a clearly enhanced the in vitro antifungal activity of AmB against Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, and Cryptococcus neoformans in microdilution checkerboard studies . Positive interactions of DU-6859a with AmB against Aspergillus fumigatus were dependent on the medium used; yeast nitrogen base supplemented with amino acids, ammonium sulfate, and 1% glucose was better for demonstrating synergism, while in RPMI 1640 medium, unexpected antagonism between the drugs occurred against three of the strains tested . In combination with fluconazole (Flu), DU-6859a increased the activity of Flu against C . albicans both in synthetic amino acid medium fungal and in supplemented yeast nitrogen base . An in vitro time-kill study revealed that DU-6859a combined with AmB significantly suppressed the regrowth of C . albicans compared with the suppression brought about by AmB used alone in a concentration-dependent fashion . Furthermore, in a model of C . albicans infection in mice, the fungal load in infected kidneys was significantly less in mice given the combination treatment of DU-6859a plus either AmB or Flu, and thus, the combination treatment resulted in prolonged survival of infected mice compared with treatment with either antifungal alone . The prolonged survival in mice given the combined treatment was also observed in mice with A . fumigatus infection, indicating that DU-6859a potentiated the actions of the antifungal agents in vivo as well as in vitro. J Infect Dis, 1995 Jun, 171(6), 1660 - 3 Epithelial adhesion in yeast species: correlation with surface expression of the integrin analog; Bendel CM et al.; Epithelial adhesion and expression of the integrin analog, a putative candidal adhesion, were correlated for 33 clinical and laboratory isolates of Candida albicans, other Candida species, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae . On flow cytometry with saturating concentrations of the monoclonal antibody OKM1, surface fluorescence was highest for C . albicans at 67.8% +/- 1.7% and significantly reduced for Candida tropicalis (32.0% +/- 2.6%), Candida parapsilosis (18.3% +/- 2.4%), Candida glabrata (3.3% +/- 0.8%), Candida lusitaniae (2.9% +/- 1.0%), Candida krusei (0.7% +/- 0.1%), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1.7% +/- 0.2%) (P < .006 for all other species vs . C . albicans) . Adhesion to a human epithelial cell line was highest for C . albicans at 49.8% +/- 3.5%, lower for C . tropicalis (44.7% +/- 4.6%), and incrementally reduced for all other species (< 25%) (P < .012) . The correlation between integrin expression and epithelial adhesion was highly significant (P = .0066; r2 = .8) . Surface expression of the integrin analog predicts epithelial adhesion for yeast species isolated in opportunistic infections. Intern Med, 1995 Jun, 34(6), 485 - 90 Clinical evaluation of catheter-related fungemia and bacteremia; Inoue Y et al.; Forty-four patients with catheter-related infection admitted to Hokusho Central Hospital between 1985 and 1991 were studied retrospectively . The rate of catheter-related fungemia or bacteremia to all corresponding cases of fungemia and bacteremia increased from 7.7% in 1985 to 28.8% in 1991 . The isolated pathogens were Candida parapsilosis (8 strains), Candida tropicalis (6 strains), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (6 strains), methicillin-sensitive S . aureus (MSSA) (5 strains) and Streptococcus epidermidis (3 strains) . Bacteremia occurred after catheterization of the femoral vein for a mean duration of 37 days . The period was significantly shorter than that after catheterization of the subclavian vein (56 days) . The major isolates from the subclavian vein were Candida spp . (14/17, 82.4%), followed by MRSA (1/17, 5.9%) and MSSA (1/17, 5.9%), while isolates from the femoral vein were Candida spp . (6/16, 37.5%), MRSA (5/16, 31.3%) and MSSA (3/16, 20.8%) . Catheter removal alone did not improve the clinical condition, particularly in MRSA bacteremia; the combination of antimicrobial therapy and removal of the catheter was necessary for a better prognosis. Burns, 1995 May, 21(3), 167 - 70 A comparison of susceptibility to five antifungal agents of yeast cultures from burn patients; Still JM Jr et al.; Patients with significant degrees of immunocompromise, such as cancer, AIDS and large burns, who have received significant amounts of antibiotics, may develop infections with yeast organisms . Over a 3-year period, all patients with positive fungal blood cultures and most wounds of patients with large burns considered to be a risk of yeast infection were selected and tested for their susceptibility to five antifungal agents, amphotericin B, ketoconazole, miconazole, diflucan, and 5-fluorocytosine . In all, 244 specimens of yeast were tested: 142 Candida albicans, 52 Candida parapsilosis, 26 Candida tropicalis and 13 Trichosporon beigelii . A limited number of other isolates of Candida (12) were also encountered . All Candida organism were sensitive to amphotericin B . There was wide variation in regard to the susceptibility to the other four agents, with C . albicans and C . tropicalis being largely resistant to miconazole and ketoconazole . T . beigelii was recovered in 13 patients . One-half of these organisms was resistant to amphotericin B . Awareness of variations in species and susceptibility are helpful in the selection of appropriate therapeutic antifungal agents. Arch Microbiol, 1995 May, 163(5), 322 - 8 The upstream region of the isocitrate lyase gene (UPR-ICL) of Candida tropicalis induces gene expression in both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli by acetate via two distinct promoters; Atomi H et al.; The upstream region of the isocitrate lyase gene (UPR-ICL, 1530bp) of an n-alkane-utilizable yeast, Candida tropicalis, induced gene expression in another yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, when the yeasts were grown on acetate . Surprisingly, UPR-ICL displayed the same regulatory function in the bacterium Escherichia coli when grown on acetate . We determined the interesting nucleotide sequence of UPR-ICL . The deletion analysis of UPR-ICL in both cells revealed the presence of two distinct promoters: one was localized at -394 to -379 and regulated gene expression in S . cerevisiae; the other was located near the initiation codon and regulated gene expression in E . coli . The two promoter sequences were similar, but not identical to regulatory elements that have been previously reported in S . cerevisiae and E . coli, respectively . Accordingly, the possibility of novel regulatory mechanisms could not be excluded . This is an interesting example of the presence of distinct cis-acting regulatory elements responsible for the induction of gene expression in one gene by acetate in both S . cerevisiae and E . coli . Preservation of such promoters through evolution is also discussed. Mol Gen Genet, 1995 Apr 10, 247(1), 95 - 104 Molecular cloning, sequencing and sequence analysis of the fox-2 gene of Neurospora crassa encoding the multifunctional beta-oxidation protein; Fossa A et al.; We present the molecular cloning and sequencing of genomic and cDNA clones of the fox-2 gene of Neurospora crassa, encoding the multifunctional beta-oxidation protein (MFP) . The coding region of the fox-2 gene is interrupted by three introns, one of which appears to be inefficiently spliced out . The encoded protein comprises 894 amino acid residues and exhibits 45% and 47% sequence identity with the MFPs of Candida tropicalis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respectively . Sequence analysis identifies three regions of the fungal MFPs that are highly conserved . These regions are separated by two segments that resemble linkers between domains of other MFPs, suggesting a three-domain structure . The first and second conserved regions of each MFP are homologous to each other and to members of the short-chain alcohol dehydrogenase family . We discuss these homologies in view of recent findings that fungal MFPs contain enoyl-CoA hydratase 2 and D-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activities, converting trans-2-enoyl-CoA via D-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA to 3-ketoacyl-CoA . In contrast to its counterparts in yeasts, the Neurospora MFP does not have a C-terminal sequence resembling the SKL motif involved in protein targeting to microbodies. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol, 1995 Apr, 17(3), 163 - 7 Influence of free or liposomal amphotericin B on killing of Candida species by human peritoneal macrophages; Allwinn R et al.; The influence of free and liposomal amphotericin B at subinhibitory and inhibitory concentrations on killing of Candida albicans (ATCC 10231), Candida tropicalis (ATCC 13803) and Cryptococcus neoformans (930) by human peritoneal macrophages was investigated in vitro . Peritoneal macrophages were harvested from overnight peritoneal dialysate of 10 patients undergoing regular continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and incubated with Candida species (1:2), pooled human serum, fetal calf serum, Medium 199 and Sabouraud broth (with or without amphotericin B) for 6 hours . The killing of Candida species was determined using subculture technique . The combination of amphotericin B (free or liposomal) with peritoneal macrophages enhanced the killing of the Candida species . Candidacidal activity of free and liposomal amphotericin B resulted in comparable effects; however, the killing of the yeasts by liposomal amphotericin B was slower than by free amphotericin B. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1995 Apr, 39(4), 924 - 9 Fluconazole, D0870, and flucytosine treatment of disseminated Candida tropicalis infections in mice; Graybill JR et al.; D0870 is a recently developed triazole with characteristics of a broad spectrum of activity and slow clearance by nonrenal mechanisms . Herein we have evaluated the efficacy of D0870, alone and combined with flucytosine, in a murine model of disseminated Candida tropicalis infection . Four isolates of C . tropicalis were evaluated . Two were highly susceptible in vitro to fluconazole, and two were resistant to fluconazole . All were highly susceptible to flucytosine and D0870 . Animals were pretreated with 5-fluorouracil 1 day before infection because C . tropicalis has reduced virulence in immunocompetent mice . This was done to render them neutropenic for > 10 days . Mice were infected intravenously and treated orally with D0870 or fluconazole, alone or combined with flucytosine . Survival and tissue burden of the spleen and kidneys were used to evaluate the efficacy of antifungal therapy . Fluconazole was less effective for treatment of resistant C . tropicalis than susceptible C . tropicalis . D0870 was more potent than fluconazole and was effective in fluconazole-resistant isolates . Flucytosine was consistently effective when used alone but did not consistently add to the benefit of D0870 or fluconazole . D0870 has potential in treatment of candidiasis caused by C . tropicalis, including fluconazole-resistant isolates. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1995 Apr, 61(4), 1420 - 5 Phosphorus-31 and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance study of glucose and xylose metabolism in agarose-immobilized Candida tropicalis; Lohmeier-Vogel EM et al.; Candida tropicalis can ferment both hexose and pentose sugars . Here, we have used 31P and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study the capacity of this yeast species to metabolize glucose or xylose when immobilized in small (< 1-mm-diameter) agarose beads . Immobilized C . tropicalis metabolizing glucose showed rapid initial growth within the beads . A corresponding drop in the intracellular pH (from 7.8 to 7.25) and hydrolysis of intracellular polyphosphate stores were observed . Although the initial rate of glucose metabolism with immobilized C . tropicalis was similar to the rate observed previously in cell suspensions, a decrease by a factor of 2.5 occurred over 24 h . In addition to ethanol, a significant amount of glycerol was also produced . When immobilized C . tropicalis consumed xylose, cell growth within the beads was minimal . The intracellular pH dropped rapidly by 1.05 pH units to 6.4 . Intracellular ATP levels were lower and intracellular Pi levels were higher than observed with glucose-perfused cells . Consumption of xylose by immobilized C . tropicalis was slower than was previously observed for oxygen-limited cell suspensions, and xylitol was the only fermentation product. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1995 Apr, 61(4), 1414 - 9 Phosphorus-31 and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance studies of glucose and xylose metabolism in Candida tropicalis cell suspensions; Lohmeier-Vogel EM et al.; The metabolism of glucose and xylose was studied as a function of oxygenation in suspensions of Candida tropicalis by 31P and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy . Both the rate of carbohydrate metabolism and the cytoplasmic pH were independent of the rate of oxygenation in cells metabolizing glucose . However, these two parameters were markedly dependent on the rate of oxygenation in C . tropicalis cells metabolizing xylose . For example, the cytoplasmic pH in fully oxygenated xylose-metabolizing cells was 7.8 but decreased to 6.3 in anoxic cells . In general, suspensions of cells consuming xylose had a lower rate of sugar uptake, a more acidic cytoplasmic pH, lower levels of sugarphosphomonoesters (SP) and ATP, higher levels of intracellular Pi, a more alkaline vacuolar pH, and a lower rate of extracellular Pi assimilation and polyphosphate synthesis than cells consuming glucose . These observations indicate that C . tropicalis metabolizing xylose is less energized than glucose-metabolizing cells . On both carbon sources, however, an inverse correlation between intracellular levels of SP and Pi was observed . Also, uptake of extracellular Pi correlated with the synthesis of polyphosphates within the cells . During anoxia, Pi was not taken up, and polyphosphates were hydrolyzed instead to fulfill the cells' requirements for phosphate. South Med J, 1995 Apr, 88(4), 465 - 6 Candidemia after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; Ojeas H et al.; We report a case of candidemia associated with manipulation of the common bile duct during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography . The patient had received parenteral nutrition and prolonged antibiotic therapy before the procedure and before Candida tropicalis was grown from blood cultures . Antifungal therapy resulted in clinical response. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1995 Apr, 14(4), 362 - 5 In vitro activity of amphotericin B, flucytosine and fluconazole against yeasts causing bloodstream infections; Berenguer J et al.; The in vitro activity of amphotericin B, flucytosine and fluconazole against 95 yeasts causing fungemia in a single institution over the last eight years was determined by a broth macromethod recommended by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards . All strains were inhibited by amphotericin B concentrations of < or = 1 microgram/ml . With flucytosine in most species the MIC50 was between 0.12 and 0.25 microgram/ml and the MIC90 was between 0.25 and 1 microgram/ml . One exception with flucytosine was Candida krusei, with an MIC50 and MIC90 of 16 micrograms/ml and 32 micrograms/ml, respectively . Overall, 12% of the isolates needed at least 8 micrograms/ml of fluconazole to be inhibited . Fluconazole was very active against Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Cryptococcus neoformans, with MIC50 ranging from 0.12 to 0.5 microgram/ml and MIC90 of 1 microgram/ml, and somewhat less active against Candida parapsilosis (MIC50 of 1 microgram/ml and MIC90 of 4 micrograms/ml) . Fluconazole exhibited poor in vitro activity against Candida krusei (MIC50 and MIC90 of 64 micrograms/ml) and Torulopsis glabrata (MIC50 of 4 micrograms/ml and MIC90 of 16 micrograms/ml) . High MICs of fluconazole were found for four strains of Candida albicans, one with an MIC of 4 micrograms/ml and three (5.7%) with MICs of > or = 16 micrograms/ml . Previous exposure to fluconazole could be demonstrated in two of these strains . Further work must be done in order to determine appropriate breakpoints of antifungal agents, to assess the clinical relevance of azole resistance in yeasts causing bloodstream infections and to identify risk factors for infections with azole-resistant yeasts. J Leukoc Biol, 1995 Apr, 57(4), 651 - 6 Effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and interferon-gamma on antifungal activity of human polymorphonuclear neutrophils against pseudohyphae of different medically important Candida species; Roilides E et al.; Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are the major host defense against pseudohyphae, the invasive form of Candida species . We studied the effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the PMN-induced damage of pseudo-hyphae of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida parapsilosis in vitro by using two antifungal assays: a modified limiting dilution assay and a colorimetric metabolic 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay . PMNs from healthy volunteers were incubated with either G-CSF (100-10,000 U/ml) or IFN-gamma (10-5000 U/ml) or buffer at 37 degrees C for 90 min and their capacity to damage nonopsonized pseudohyphae was then measured . C . tropicalis appeared to be the most susceptible species, whereas C . parapsilosis showed the highest rate of resistance to PMN damage . G-CSF (500-10,000 U/ml) and IFN-gamma (100-1000 U/ml) enhanced the antifungal activity of PMNs against C . albicans pseudo-hyphae (P < .01 and P < .05) . Among the others, G-CSF enhanced PMN-induced damage of C . parapsilosis at concentrations 500-10,000 U/ml (P < .05), whereas it enhanced damage of C . tropicalis only at 10,000 U/ml (P < .01) . IFN-gamma (100-1000 U/ml)-primed PMNs also caused augmented damage of C . parapsilosis (P < .05) but not of C . tropicalis at the same concentrations . Species-dependent differences exist in the responses of PMNs to Candida pseudohyphae and G-CSF as well as IFN-gamma are important immunomodulators of phagocytic host defenses against them. Gene, 1995 Mar 21, 155(1), 123 - 8 Isolation, characterization and expression of the gene that encodes D-arabinitol dehydrogenase in Candida tropicalis; Murray JS et al.; The gene (ARD) that encodes NAD-dependent D-arabinitol dehydrogenase (ArDH) in the pathogenic fungus Candida tropicalis (Ct) was cloned by transforming Escherichia coli (Ec) BW31M (araCc) with a plasmid library of Ct genomic DNA and selecting for D-arabinitol-utilizing (D-arab+) clones . Plasmid DNA from a D-arab+ clone retransformed fresh Ec BW31M cells to D-arab+; these cells produced both ArDH catalytic activity and a 31-kDa protein recognized by antibodies to native Ct ArDH . The plasmid contained an 846-bp open reading frame (ORF) that encoded a deduced protein of 282 amino acids (aa) (30,748 Da) . Four partial aa sequences from Ct ArDH were present in the deduced aa sequence, thus verifying that Ct ARD had been cloned . Ct ArDH was 95% identical to ArDH from Candida albicans (Ca), 85% identical to a xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) from Pichia stipitis (Ps) and 20-25% identical to many other short-chain dehydrogenases . Ct ArDH, Ca ArDH and Ps XDH were typical short-chain dehydrogenases except that they lacked an N-terminal Gly that is conserved in other members of this family . Thus, these enzymes may represent a subclass of closely-related fungal pentitol dehydrogenases . Large amounts of recombinant ArDH (re-ArDH) were produced in Ec and purified by dye ligand affinity chromatography . The physical and catalytic properties of re-ArDH were similar to those of native Ct ArDH, and re-ArDH and native ArDH performed similarly in an automated enzymatic assay for D-arabinitol in human serum. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 1995 Mar, 172(3), 1045 - 7 Candida tropicalis chorioamnionitis; Nichols A et al.; A case of Candida tropicalis chorioamnionitis at 25 weeks' gestation is presented, and the literature is reviewed . This is the first report, to our knowledge, of C . tropicalis diagnosed antenatally with confirmed congenital infection. Infect Immun, 1995 Mar, 63(3), 976 - 83 Penetration and damage of endothelial cells by Candida albicans; Filler SG et al.; The mechanisms of phagocytosis of Candida albicans by human vascular endothelial cells and subsequent endothelial cell injury were examined in vitro . Both live and killed C . albicans cells were phagocytized by endothelial cells . This organism specifically induced endothelial cell phagocytosis because neither Candida tropicalis nor Torulopsis glabrata was ingested . Endothelial cell microfilaments polymerized around C . albicans as the organisms were phagocytized . Cytochalasin D inhibited this polymerization of microfilaments around C . albicans and blocked phagocytosis . The blocking of actin depolymerization with phalloidin had no effect on microfilament condensation around the organism, indicating that the microfilaments surrounding C . albicans are formed from a pool of G-actin . Intact microtubules were also necessary for the phagocytosis of C . albicans, since the depolymerizing of endothelial cell microtubules with nocodazole prevented the condensation of actin filaments around the organisms and inhibited phagocytosis . In contrast, microtubule depolymerization was not required for microfilament function because the blocking of microtubule depolymerization with taxol had no effect on microfilament condensation around C . albicans . The phagocytosis of C . albicans was pivotal in the induction of endothelial cell damage, since the blocking of candidal internalization significantly reduced endothelial cell injury . Endothelial cells were not damaged by phagocytosis of dead organisms, indicating that injury was caused by a factor associated with viable organisms . Therefore, C . albicans is uniquely able to induce endothelial cell phagocytosis by comparison with non-albicans species of Candida . Furthermore, at least two components of the endothelial cytoskeleton, microfilaments and microtubules, are necessary for the phagocytosis of C . albicans. Clin Infect Dis, 1995 Mar, 20(3), 571 - 5 Candidemia in a pediatric population; Stamos JK et al.; Candidemia results in a mortality of > 50% among adults, but data on children with candidemia are limited . We reviewed 70 episodes of pediatric candidemia that occurred between January 1988 and October 1992 . Of these episodes, 53% were caused by Candida albicans, 24% were caused by Candida parapsilosis, 16% were caused by Candida tropicalis, and 3% were caused by Candida krusei . Twenty-five percent of the patients were premature infants . Other underlying conditions included malignancy (15%); cardiac disease (14%); and short-gut syndrome (14%) . A central venous catheter was in place during 61 (87%) of 70 episodes . Candiduria preceded candidemia in only 4 (8%) of 52 patients . The overall mortality rate was 19%; 36% of those with intravenous catheters that were not removed within 3 days died, whereas none of the patients from whom catheters were removed within 3 days died (P < .0001) . Only two survivors had complications . Therapy with amphotericin B (with or without flucytosine) was administered to 74% of these patients . Seventeen patients were not treated medically; all were immunocompetent and survived . Of these patients, 15 were > 2 months of age; 14 had candidemia for < or = 2 days; and 15 had an intravenous catheter removed within 2 days of the onset of candidemia . No patient stopped receiving amphotericin B because of side effects . The results of this study suggest the following: that mortality associated with candidemia is lower among children than among adults; that failure to remove the indwelling intravenous catheter usually results in a poor outcome; that candiduria rarely precedes candidemia in children; and that amphotericin B is well tolerated by children. J Clin Microbiol, 1995 Mar, 33(3), 535 - 40 Comparison of Etest and National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards broth macrodilution method for azole antifungal susceptibility testing; Colombo AL et al.; The use of Etest strips for antimicrobial susceptibility testing is a new and promising method with broad applications in microbiology . Since these strips contain a predefined continuous gradient of a drug, it is possible to obtain a reproducible, quantitative MIC reading . We performed a prospective and double-blinded study to compare the Etest and National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (Villanova, Pa.) broth macrodilution methods for determining the MICs of fluconazole, itraconazole, and ketoconazole for 100 clinical isolates (25 Candida albicans, 25 Cryptococcus neoformans var . neoformans, 20 Torulopsis {Candida} glabrata, 15 Candida tropicalis, and 15 Candida parapsilosis) . The Etest method was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions, and the reference method was performed according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards document M27-P guidelines . Despite differences between results for some species-drug combinations, Etest and macrobroth MICs were, in general, in good agreement . The MIC agreement rates for the two methods, within +/- 1 dilution, were 71% for ketoconazole, 80% for fluconazole, and 84% for itraconazole . According to our data, Etest has potential utility as an alternative method. Bratisl Lek Listy, 1995 Mar, 96(3), 168 - 72 {Results of mycologic examinations of sputum in patients with pulmonary diseases during a 10-year period (1984-1993)}; Kockovska D; The study of present results of mycologic examinations of samples of sputums taken during the period from 1984 to 1993 from patients with pulmonary diseases . The examined group was constituted of 2,452 subjects, out of which 2/3 were male and 1/3 were female patients . The risk age category was discovered to be that over 61 years of age (32%) . 70% of mycologic cultivations were positive . 1.640 etiologic agents were isolated from the positive samples . The most frequently isolated yeast species were Candida albicans (61.7%), Candida tropicalis (8.2%), Torulopsis sp . (4.9%), the most frequent fibrous microscopic fungi findings included Penicillium sp . (4.5%) and Aspergillus sp . (2.9%) . The most frequent diagnoses included bronchitis ac . chr . 15%), pneumonia 13%, TBC of the lungs 11.7%, asthma bronchiale 10.6%, and bronchopneumonia 7% . Repeatedly C . albicans was the most frequently isolated species, namely in the range 52-80%. Arch Pharm (Weinheim), 1995 Feb, 328(2), 197 - 201 Cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of some naphthol derivatives; Shen AY et al.; 2-Hydroxymethyl-1-naphthol diacetate (TAC) and sixteen Mannich base derivatives of naphthol were prepared and examined for cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity . Cytotoxicity was examined against four human carcinoma cell lines . Several derivatives were effective at concentrations < 4 micrograms/ml . TAC showed the highest cytotoxicity . Inhibition of DNA-, RNA-, and protein synthesis by TAC was also studied and discussed . TAC also exhibits potent antimicrobial activity against Enterobacter clocae 23355, Klebsiella pneumonia 13883, Proteus vulgaris 13315, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 27853, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Trichosposon beigelli, and Rhodotorul spp . with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 0.1-0.4 microM . These results indicate that esterification by Bruson reaction of 1-naphthol Mannich base to TAC enhances the cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity. Arch Microbiol, 1995 Feb, 163(2), 104 - 11 Novel NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase present in peroxisomes of n-alkane-utilizing yeast, Candida tropicalis: comparison with mitochondrial NAD-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase; Yamamoto S et al.; Peroxisomal NADP-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase (Ps-NADP-IDH) was purified for the first time from Candida tropicalis cells grown on n-alkane as a carbon source, which was effective in proliferation of peroxisomes . The properties of Ps-NADP-IDH were compared with those of mitochondrial NAD-linked isocitrate dehydrogenase (Mt-NAD-IDH) purified from the cells grown on acetate, in which peroxisomes did not proliferate . Ps-NADP-IDH was a homodimer of identical subunits (45 kDa), while Mt-NAD-IDH was suggested to be a heterooctamer composed of two types of subunits with different molecular masses (41 and 38 kDa) . Kinetic studies revealed that Ps-NADP-IDH gave Michaelis-Menten saturation curves against isocitrate and NADP concentrations, whereas Mt-NAD-IDH was an allosteric enzyme regulated by ATP, AMP, and citrate . Inhibition by 2-oxoglutarate, a precursor of glutamate, was observed only for Ps-NADP-IDH . Both enzymes were inhibited by concomitant addition of oxalacetate and glyoxylate . The function of Ps-NADP-IDH seems to be completely discriminated from that of Mt-NAD-IDH as reflected by their distinct subcellular localizations . Furthermore, the properties of Ps-NADP-IDH were also compared with those of other mitochondrial and cytosolic IDHs from sources reported previously. Klin Med (Mosk), 1995, 73(3), 44 - 7 {The clinical picture of mycotic complications in HIV-infected patients}; Rakhmanova AG et al.; Mycotic complications were registered in 21 out of 37 HIV-infected subjects . Oropharyngeal candidiasis was most common . It occurred prior to or concurrently with esophageal and skin candidiasis, fungemia, meningoencephalitis and disseminated lesions . With immunodeficiency progression, the prevalence and severity of mycosis go up . The causing fungi vary in great range: Candida albicans, Candida krusei . Candida tropicalis, Candida pseudotropicalis, Candida parapsilosis . Cryptococcus neoformans, Rhodotorula rubra, Penicillium chrysogenum. Chemotherapy, 1995 Jan-Feb, 41(1), 39 - 44 Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, non-albicans Candida spp., and other fungal organisms in a sixty-bed national cancer center in 1989-1993: no association with the use of fluconazole; Kunova A et al.; During the 5-year period 1989-1993, the incidence of Candida krusei, and other non-albicans Candida spp., was analyzed in a 60-bed cancer department . The frequency of C . krusei, before fluconazole was introduced into therapeutic protocols in 1990, was 16.5%, and after introduction of fluconazole into prophylaxis in acute leukemia in 1991, the incidence of C . krusei was 12.7% . After 3 years of using this drug in therapy and prophylaxis, the incidence of C . krusei in 1993 was 14.8%, what was lower than before this drug was introduced in our country . 97.6% of all isolated fungi were yeasts and only 2.4% were molds . Among yeasts, the most frequently isolated pathogen was Candida albicans with 64.3% in 1989 and 74.2% in 1993 . The next was C . krusei with 21.2% in 1992 and 16.5% in 1989, but 14.8% in 1993, and Candida tropicalis and Candida glabrata with 9.03% in 1989 and 2.7% in 1993 . Among the molds, Aspergillus spp . was the most frequently isolated genus . Analyzing the etiology of mycologically proven fungal infections confirmed by positive blood cultures or biopsies, C . albicans and Aspergillus spp . were the most common causative organisms. Clin Infect Dis, 1995 Jan, 20(1), 115 - 25 Importance of Candida species other than C . albicans as pathogens in oncology patients; Wingard JR; A number of surveys have documented increased rates of candida infection over the past several decades . In this assessment of the frequency and distribution of non-albicans Candida species among patients with cancer, 37 reports that were published between 1952 and 1992 and that described 1,591 cases of systemic candida infection were reviewed . Species other than Candida albicans accounted for 46% of all systemic candida infections in patients with cancer; specifically, Candida tropicalis accounted for 25%, Candida glabrata for 8%, Candida parapsilosis for 7%, and Candida krusei for 4% . Other species were uncommon . C . tropicalis was the predominant pathogenic Candida species in five reports, C . glabrata in two, C . krusei in two, and Candida stellatoidea in one . The perception that, over time, a greater proportion of candida infections have been caused by non-albicans species was not borne out . The wide variability in reported findings was striking and was due in part to differences in the underlying disease affecting the patients described . For example, patients with leukemia were more likely to be infected by C . albicans or C . tropicalis but less likely to be infected by C . glabrata than patients with other types of cancer . The recent increase in the rate of bone marrow transplantation may also have contributed to discrepancies among reports . Bone marrow transplant recipients were more likely to be infected by C . krusei or C . lusitaniae . The other factors partially responsible for the variability among reports included common-source contamination and the pressures imposed by antimicrobial measures. J Med Vet Mycol, 1995 Jan-Feb, 33(1), 27 - 31 Hyaluronidase and chondroitin sulphatase production by different species of Candida; Shimizu MT et al.; The production of hyaluronidase and chondroitin sulphatase by Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida guilliermondii and Candida krusei was investigated using a complex culture medium (Sabouraud glucose agar) and a chemically defined medium . Among the 63 C . albicans isolates tested, 61 (97.8%) were found to be hyaluronidase and chondroitin sulphatase producers; one isolate produced only chondroitin sulphatase and one other was unable to produce either enzyme . The second major hyaluronidase and chondroitin sulphatase producing species was C . tropicalis followed by C . guilliermondii, C . parapsilosis and C . krusei . Among the C . albicans isolates tested no relation between the source of isolation and the amount of hyaluronidase and chondroitin sulphatase produced was found. Nat Toxins, 1995, 3(3), 138 - 44 Metabolism of the Fusarium mycotoxins zearalenone and deoxynivalenol by yeast strains of technological relevance; Boswald C et al.; The Fusarium mycotoxin zearalenone (ZEA), added at a level of 2 micrograms/ml, was reduced stereoselectively by cultures of Candida tropicalis, Torulaspora delbruckii, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, and 7 Saccharomyces strains to both alpha- and beta-zearalenol . In contrast, only alpha-zearalenol was produced from ZEA by Pichia fermentans and several yeast strains of the genera Candida, Hansenula, Brettanomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, and Saccharomycopsis . No glucose conjugates of ZEA (zearalenone-4-beta-D-glucopyranoside) were detected . The trichothecene mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) was not metabolized by any of the yeast strains that were used for analysis. Acta Haematol, 1995, 94(3), 148 - 51 Diagnosis of disseminated candidiasis by fine needle aspiration of lymph node and by splenic imprint in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia; Chao TY et al.; Cytologic studies were done on fine needle aspirates of the lymph node and imprints of splenic biopsies from a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia who was febrile while being treated with chemotherapy . Examination of the lymph node aspirates revealed pus and numerous pseudohyphae which were later identified as Candida tropicalis . When multiple nodular lesions were detected in the spleen by abdominal sonography and CT scan, needle biopsy of the spleen was done . Cytologic examination of touch imprints of the biopsy disclosed intracellular fungal blastospores . The patient was treated with and responded well to amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine . As a result of our experience with this patient we emphasize the importance of close incorporation of clinical information and diagnostic cytology . With such a cooperation, cytologic studies become a most useful method for diagnosis. Clin Infect Dis, 1994 Dec, 19(6), 1049 - 53 Fungal infection of ventriculoperitoneal shunts in children; Chiou CC et al.; Infection is still the most common complication of shunt procedures in children . However, fungal infection is still considered to be rare . We found that fungi accounted for 17% of shunt infections (8 of 48) in a retrospective study . All of the patients were premature babies and had received a ventriculoperitoneal shunt because of hydrocephalus . The clinical manifestations were subtle and insidious . The time of onset of infection ranged from 1 month to 1 year after the insertion of the shunt . Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid of infected patients showed mild pleocytosis with an elevated protein concentration . Candida species (including Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida tropicalis) or Torulopsis glabrata were isolated . In all but one case, shunts were removed and systemic therapy with amphotericin B was administered . Amphotericin B was given intrathecally to two patients, who did not respond to systemic therapy . Treatment with fluconazole failed for one patient . We suggest performing fungal cultures in cases of shunt infection, especially those involving premature infants . Extraventricular drainage, systemic therapy with amphotericin B, and insertion of a new shunt remain the principal components of the treatment regimen for fungal shunt infections in children. J Clin Microbiol, 1994 Dec, 32(12), 3034 - 6 Rapid identification of Candida albicans by using Albicans ID and fluoroplate agar plates; Rousselle P et al.; Two commercially available agar media, Albicans ID and Fluoroplate, that use a chromogenic or a fluorogenic substrate for the detection and identification of Candida albicans were evaluated . From 1,006 clinical samples containing 723 yeast strains, 352 C . albicans strains were detected with either of the two media . The sensitivity of each of the two media was 93.8% and the specificity was 98.6%, with five false-positive reactions for Candida tropicalis and no false-negative reactions. J Clin Microbiol, 1994 Dec, 32(12), 2889 - 92 Misidentification of clinical yeast isolates by using the updated Vitek Yeast Biochemical Card; Dooley DP et al.; The Vitek Yeast Biochemical Card (YBC) is widely used as a rapid identification (RI) (within 48 h) system for clinical yeast isolates . We compared the RI results obtained by the YBC technique with matched results obtained with the API 20C system . The RI of germ tube-negative yeasts isolated from 222 clinical specimens was performed with the YBC system, and the results were compared with those of standard identifications obtained by using the API 20C system and morphology, with additional biochemical reactions performed as required . Commonly isolated yeasts (Candida albicans {n = 29}, Candida tropicalis {n = 40}, Torulopsis {Candida} glabrata {n = 28}, Candida parapsilosis {n = 12}, and Cryptococcus neoformans {n = 14}) were generally well identified (115 of 123 {93%} identified correctly, with only C . albicans, C . tropicalis, and C . neoformans mis- or unidentified more than once) . The RI of less commonly isolated yeasts included in the YBC database, however, was less successful (54 of 99 {55%} correct) . The YBC card failed to identify 42% (10 of 24) of Candida krusei isolates, 80% (4 of 5) of Candida lambica isolates, 88% (7 of 8) of Trichosporon beigelii isolates, and 83% (10 of 12) of Cryptococcus isolates (non-C . neoformans species) . For most identification failures (79%; 42 of 53) there was no identification by the end of 48 h; the other identification failures (21%; 11 of 53) gave definite but incorrect identifications . Of eight rare clinical yeast isolates not included in the Vitek database, six were correctly, not identified, while two (25%) were falsely assigned a definite RI (one Hansenula fabianii isolate was identified as Rhodotorula glutinis, and one Hansenula isolate {non-Hansenula anomala} was identified as Hansenula anomala) . While the Vitek YBC rapidly and adequately identifies common yeast isolates, it fails in the RI of more unusual organisms. Plant Foods Hum Nutr, 1994 Dec, 46(4), 345 - 51 Utilization of cassava peels as substrate for crude protein formation; Antai SP et al.; Mash prepared from cassava peels was inoculated with either Sacchromyces cerevisiae or Candida tropicalis and then left to ferment for 7 days . Chemical analysis of the fermented mash showed substantial increase in crude protein content and decrease in carbohydrate content of the mash . The results also revealed slight increases in the ash, fibre and lipid content of the fermented mash . It was further observed that, when the mash was supplemented with inorganic nitrogen sources (urea, ammonium sulfate or sodium nitrate) before commencement of fermentation, the amount of crude protein formed was almost doubled . This enhanced crude protein production was highest in the mash supplemented with urea . Temperature of 30 degrees C, pH of 5.5 and moisture concentration of 130% were found to be optimum for crude protein formation by the organisms growing on the mash. Bone Marrow Transplant, 1994 Dec, 14(6), 919 - 24 Antifungal prophylaxis with low-dose fluconazole during bone marrow transplantation . The Bone Marrow Transplantation Team; Alangaden G et al.; The present study investigated the prophylactic efficacy of fluconazole at 100-200 mg/day against invasive fungal infections during bone marrow transplantation (BMT) . During July 1990 to December 1991, all BMT recipients received antifungal prophylaxis with fluconazole at either 200 mg/day or 100 mg/day . Historical controls were those that received no antifungal prophylaxis (January 1989 to June 1990) . Fungemia occurred in 4 of 112 fluconazole recipients and 8 of 79 controls (p < 0.05) prior to engraftment . Torulopsis (Candida) glabrata (three patients), Cryptococcus terreus and Candida tropicalis (mixed in one patient) caused fungemia in four patients in the fluconazole group; Candida albicans caused six of eight fungemic episodes in the controls . All three Torulopsis glabrata isolates were fluconazole-resistant . Colonization due to C . albicans was markedly diminished in the fluconazole group (19 of 112 patients versus 53 of 79 controls) . T . glabrata, on the other hand, was a more common colonizing organism in the fluconazole group (36 of 112 vs 10 of 79) . The frequency of isolating C . albicans and/or T . glabrata was significantly different between fluconazole and control groups (p < 0.0001) . Empiric use of amphotericin B therapy was markedly reduced in the fluconazole group (4.5% vs 34%; p < 0.0001) . Fluconazole at 200 mg/day or 100 mg/day appeared equally effective . Fluconazole at a daily dose of 100 mg or 200 mg as antifungal prophylaxis during BMT: (1) significantly reduced the frequency of systemic fungal infections, (2) markedly reduced colonization and infection due to C . albicans, and (3) markedly reduced the need for empiric amphotericin B therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Med Clin (Barc), 1994 Nov 5, 103(15), 579 - 82 {Sepsis by Candida tropicalis in patients with granulocytopenia . A study of 10 cases}; Terol MJ et al.; The aim of the present study was to analyze the main clinical and evolutive characteristics of a series of 10 patients diagnosed with sepsis by Candida tropicalis over a 5-year period in a Hematology Unit . The mean age of the 10 patients was 23 years (range 13-66 years) with 6 males and 4 females . Eight patients had acute leukemia, 1 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and another patient had severe bone marrow aplasia . All the patients presented intense granulocytopenia (< 0.5 x 10(9)/L), had intravenous catheters and were receiving wide spectrum antibiotics as treatment for bacterial infection . The diagnosis of the fungal infection was based on the growth of C . tropicalis in blood cultures together with the evidence of tissue involvement by the fungus . Fever (> 38 degrees C) was the initial symptom of the infection in all the patients, being accompanied by myalgia in 5 cases, pleuritic pain in 2 and septic shock in 1 . Violaceous erthymatomous pustules disseminated over the trunk and limbs, the histologic study of which demonstrated the presence of C . tropicalis were observed in 9 patients . Septic metastasis were found in the liver (2 cases), serosae (2 cases), the psoas muscle and the brain (1 case), respectively . Eight patients underwent treatment with amphotericin B which was complemented with 5-fluorocytosin in 6, with death occurring in the remaining 2 patients prior to the start of treatment . Three patients died with active fungal infection (2 by cerebral hemorrhage and 1 by septic shock) . In 2 patients the infection evolved to chronic systemic candidiasis and in the remaining 5 patients infection was resolved with hemoperipheral values returning to normal . Sepsis by Candida tropicalis is a severe complication in patients with granulocytopenia, being mainly characterized by fever, cutaneous papulae and, to a lesser extent, muscle pain . Amphotericin B alone, or in combination with 5-fluorocytosin constitute a treatment of choice in this infection, which nonetheless is associated with an undisdainful mortality. Yeast, 1994 Nov, 10(11), 1467 - 76 Near-stoichiometric interaction between the non-specific lipid-transfer protein of the yeast Candida tropicalis and peroxisomal acyl-coenzyme A oxidase prevents the thermal denaturation of the enzyme in vitro; Niki T et al.; A 14-kDa peroxisomal-matrix protein, named PXP-18, of the yeast Candida tropicalis is a structural and functional homologue of the mammalian nonspecific lipid-transfer protein (identical to sterol carrier protein-2) . PXP-18 protected acyl-coenzyme A oxidase (ACO), the rate limiting enzyme of the peroxisomal beta-oxidation of fatty acids, from thermal inactivation at 48 degrees C or 70 degrees C . This effect was dose-dependent and not replaceable either by chicken egg white lysozyme, which is similar to PXP-18 (insofar as it is basic, small, and monomeric), or by bovine serum albumin, a carrier of lipids in the blood . ACO was irreversibly denatured by heat treatment at 70 degrees C for 15 min . However, when ACO and PXP-18 were similarly heat-treated, they formed a large complex at a molar ratio of PXP-18 to ACO subunit that was about one, independent of their initial ratio . This near-stoichiometric complex had ACO activity after a 500-fold dilution and was accompanied by ACO that was free of PXP-18 and indistinguishable from native ACO in size and activity . PXP-18 also protected urate oxidase, another peroxisomal enzyme, from inactivation at 66 degrees C for 15 min and facilitated the renaturation of ACO denatured by 2 M urea . These results indicated that PXP-18 is active in modulating the structure of peroxisomal enzymes in vitro . It is possible that PXP-18 functions as a stress protein or as a part of the system that keeps peroxisomal proteins intact. J Clin Microbiol, 1994 Oct, 32(10), 2494 - 500 Comparative study of broth macrodilution and microdilution techniques for in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing of yeasts by using the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards' proposed standard; Barchiesi F et al.; A comparative study of broth macro- and microdilution methods for susceptibility testing of fluconazole, itraconazole, flucytosine, and amphotericin B was conducted with 273 yeasts . The clinical isolates included 100 Candida albicans, 28 Candida tropicalis, 25 Candida parapsilosis, 15 Candida lusitaniae, 15 Candida krusei, 50 Cryptococcus neoformans var . neoformans, 25 Torulopsis (Candida) glabrata, and 15 Trichosporon beigelii strains . Both methods were performed according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards' (NCCLS) recommendations (document M27-P) . For fluconazole, itraconazole, and flucytosine, the endpoint was the tube that showed 80% growth inhibition compared with the growth control for the macrodilution method and the well with slightly hazy turbidity (score 1) compared with the growth control for the microdilution method . For amphotericin B, the endpoint was the tube and/or well in which there was absence of growth . For the reference macrodilution method, the MICs were determined after 48 h of incubation for Candida spp., T . glabrata, and T . beigelii and after 72 h for C . neoformans var . neoformans . For the microdilution method, either the first-day MICs (24 h for all isolates other than C . neoformans and 48 h for C . neoformans var . neoformans) or the second-day MICs (48 and 72 h, respectively) were evaluated . The agreement within one doubling dilution of the macrodilution reference for all drugs was higher with the second-day MICs than with the first-day MICs for the microdilution test for most of the tested strains . General agreement was 92% for fluconazole, 85.7% for itraconazole, 98.3% for flucytosine, and 96.4% for amphotericin B . For C . neoformans var . neoformans and T . beigelii, the agreement of the first-day reading was higher than that of the second-day reading for fluconazole (94 versus 92%, respectively, for C . neoformans var . neoformans, and 86.7 versus 80%, respectively, for T . beigelii) . Our studies indicate that the microdilution technique performed following the NCCLS guidelines with a second-day reading is a valid alternative method for testing fluconazole, itraconazole, flucytosine, and amphotericin B against these eight species of yeasts. Clin Infect Dis, 1994 Oct, 19(4), 697 - 703 Candida tropicalis vertebral osteomyelitis: a late sequela of fungemia; Ferra C et al.; Two adult patients who had undergone bone marrow transplantation had transient fungemia due to Candida tropicalis during the posttransplantation neutropenic period and later (at 5 and 14 months post-transplantation) developed vertebral osteomyelitis due to the same organism . The courses of all adult patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation at our center during this time were reviewed for determining the frequency of this problem . Molecular typing techniques were used to establish the relationship between the organisms isolated during the initial fungemia and those causing the subsequent osteomyelitis . Only two of 532 adults who received transplants at our center from 1980 to 1993 developed candidal osteomyelitis . Moreover, they are part of a subset of 13 patients (2.4% of the total) whose cultures were positive for C . tropicalis; five of the 13 had fungemia . The study of fungal isolates from prior sites of colonization and from blood sampled during the original fungemia and of subsequently recovered vertebral bone isolates by means of DNA restriction fragment analysis (with use of standard agarose gel electrophoresis or pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) showed that the colonizing, bloodstream, and bone isolates were identical in each case . Transient C . tropicalis fungemia in severely immunocompromised patients may cause important late infectious complications, including osteomyelitis . Although these initial septic events may appear to resolve easily, the outcome in the two cases in this report suggests that special treatment considerations, such as immediate removal of the central venous catheter and intensive treatment with amphotericin B, may be required in selected cases for prevention of late sequelae. Mol Cell Endocrinol, 1994 Sep, 104(2), 127 - 31 The sequence of porcine 80 kDa 17 beta-estradiol dehydrogenase reveals similarities to the short chain alcohol dehydrogenase family, to actin binding motifs and to sterol carrier protein 2; Leenders F et al.; The cDNA of porcine 17 beta-estradiol dehydrogenase codes for a polypeptide of 737 amino acids . The dehydrogenase activity of the 80 kDa translation product is located in its N-terminal 32 kDa fragment, which is the major form isolated from endometrial epithelium . beta-Actin co-purifies with some of the 32 kDa enzyme, which contains actin-binding motifs and is homologous to hydratase-dehydrogenase-epimerase of Candida tropicalis . The microbody-targeting signal AKI and sequences resembling sterol carrier protein 2 are present in the C-terminal part of the 80 kDa protein . The N- and C-terminal parts are connected by a sequence containing the putative protease recognition signal AAP. Eur J Clin Invest, 1994 Sep, 24(9), 586 - 99 Host defence capacities of pulmonary surfactant: evidence for 'non-surfactant' functions of the surfactant system; Pison U et al.; The most well characterized function of pulmonary surfactant is its ability to reduce surface tension at the alveolar air-liquid interface, thereby preventing lung collapse . However, several lines of evidence suggest that surfactant may also have 'non-surfactant' functions: specific components of surfactant (proteins and phospholipids) may interact with different alveolar cells, inhaled particles and micro-organisms modulating pulmonary host defence systems . SP-A, the most abundant surfactant protein, binds to alveolar macrophages via a specific surface receptor with high affinity {128} . Such binding effects the release of reactive oxygen species from resident alveolar macrophages if SP-A is properly presented to the target cell . SP-A also stimulates chemotaxis of alveolar macrophages {142}, and serves as an opsonin in the phagocytosis of herpes simplex virus {161} Candida tropicalis {138} and various bacteria {137} . In addition, SP-A enhances the uptake of particles by monocytes and culture-derived macrophages {140} and improves bacterial killing . SP-D, another hydrophobic surfactant-associated protein, might interact with alveolar macrophages as well, stimulating the release of oxygen radicals {148}, while for the hydrophilic surfactant proteins SP-B and SP-C no macrophage interactions have been described so far . SP-A and SP-D are members of the so-called 'collectins', pattern recognition molecules involved in first line defence . While some surfactant proteins appear to stimulate certain macrophage defence functions, surfactant phospholipids seem to inhibit those of lymphocytes . Suppressed lymphocyte functions include lymphoproliferation in response to mitogens and alloantigens, B cell immunoglobulin production and natural killer cell cytotoxicity . Concerning surfactant's phospholipid composition phosphatidylglycerol is more suppressive than phosphatidylcholine on a molar basis {38} . Bovine surfactant has an immunosuppressive effect on the development of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in a guinea pig model {150} . Despite these interesting observations, several important questions concerning the interactions of surfactant components with pulmonary host defence systems remain unanswered . Sufficient host defence in the lungs works through various humoral-cellular systems in conjunction with the specific anatomy of the airways and the gas exchange surface--how does the surfactant system fit into this network? Surfactant and alveolar cells are both altered during lung injury--is there a relationship between alveolar cells from RDS patients and the endogenous surfactant isolated from such patients? How does exogenous surfactant as used for substitution therapy modulate the defence system of the host? Some of those artificial surfactants have been shown to inhibit the endotoxin-alveolar macrophages, PMNs and monocytes including IL-1, IL-6 and TNF {139,152}.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) J Mol Graph, 1994 Sep, 12(3), 185 - 92, 195 Modeling cytochrome P450 14 alpha demethylase (Candida albicans) from P450cam; Boscott PE et al.; The tertiary structure of cytochrome P450 14 alpha demethylase--Candida albicans (P450 CA) is modeled on the basis of sequence alignment with two closely related proteins and the crystallographic structure of Pseudomonas putida P450cam . The secondary structure prediction system used combines the information from several algorithms and trains the data to offer an optimized prediction of the known P450cam . The trained algorithm was then used to predict the secondary structure of the other P450 sequences . The prediction of the surface coil regions was aided by an alignment between P450 CA and the homologous sequences P450 14 alpha demethylase--Saccharomyces cerevisiae (66 SD) and P450 14 alpha demethylase--Candida tropicalis (72 SD) . The prediction and alignment information was combined to establish an alignment between P450 CA and P450cam, and to assign full secondary structure to the target protein . This secondary structure was folded from the template of P450cam and the predicted structure was relaxed by molecular dynamics . Model checking highlighted minor adjustments in the alignment, correctly orienting hydrophobic and hydrophilic side chains . The model offers explanations for several known experimental results and suggests further investigations that may prove fruitful in understanding the structure and mechanisms of the P450 family (Porter, T.D . and Coon, M.J . Minireview cytochrome P450 . J . Biol . Chem . 1991, 266, 13469-13472 . Waterman, M.R . Cytochrome P450 cellular distribution and structural considerations . Current Opinion in Structural Biology 1992, 2, 384-387 . Aoyama, Y., Yoshida, Y., Sonohdo, Y . and Sato, Y . Structural analysis of the interaction between the side-chain of substrates and the active site of lanosterol 14 alpha demethylase (P450 14DM) of yeast . Biochim . Biophys . Acta 1992, 1122, 251-255.). J Clin Microbiol, 1994 Sep, 32(9), 2099 - 102 Comparison of broth macrodilution, broth microdilution, and E test antifungal susceptibility tests for fluconazole; Sewell DL et al.; A comparison of the E test, the broth microdilution test, and the reference broth macrodilution susceptibility test of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards for fluconazole susceptibility testing was performed with 238 clinical isolates of Candida species and Torulopsis (Candida) glabrata . An 80% inhibition endpoint MIC was determined by the reference broth macrodilution method after 48 h of incubation . The MICs obtained by the two study methods were read after 24 and 48 h of incubation . Overall, excellent agreement within 2 doubling dilutions was obtained between the broth microdilution and the broth macrodilution methods for the combined results for all species at both 24 h (93%) and 48 h (94%) . The correlation of 24-h MIC endpoints between the E test and the broth macrodilution methods was 37% for T . glabrata, 56% for Candida tropicalis, 93% for Candida albicans, and 90% for other Candida species . The percent agreement at 48 h ranged from 34% for T . glabrata to 97% for Candida species other than C . albicans and C . tropicalis . These initial results support the further evaluation of the E test as an alternative method for fluconazole susceptibility testing of Candida species. Mycoses, 1994 Sep-Oct, 37(9-10), 343 - 7 Growth inhibition of pathogenic yeasts by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro: clinical implications in blood cultures; Grillot R et al.; The interaction between yeasts and bacteria may have clinical implications in polymicrobial septicaemia . The in vitro effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on five pathogenic yeast species, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata and Cryptococcus neoformans, was investigated . Yeast inhibition assays were performed in an aerobic blood culture medium, inoculated with yeast cells (inoculum 1-10 CFU ml-1) and bacterial cells (inoculum 10-10(7) CFU ml-1) . Interactions between P . aeruginosa and yeasts were determined after incubation by enumeration of pure and mixed cultures . Growth of all isolates tested was completely or partially inhibited by P . aeruginosa in blood culture medium, the phenomenon depending on the yeast genus and bacterial inoculum . Suppression of fungal growth was also observed in bacterial culture filtrate . This in vitro antifungal activity may preclude yeast recovery from blood cultures in mixed infections. Biochemistry, 1994 Aug 16, 33(32), 9791 - 9 Extracellular aspartic proteinases from Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida parapsilosis yeasts differ substantially in their specificities; Fusek M et al.; Extracellular aspartic proteinases have been implicated for some time as virulence factors associated with Candida opportunistic fungal infections . Our present knowledge of the enzymatic properties of these proteinases is rather limited . Information on their substrate specificity is important for understanding their roles in invasive Candida infections . We have isolated aspartic proteinases from each of the three Candida yeasts, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida parapsilosis, and investigated the specificities of these proteinases using a library of synthetic substrates and testing inhibition by pepstatin A . The specificities of these aspartic proteinases are different from those of major human proteinases, including gastric pepsins, renal renin, and cathepsin D . For the peptide substrate, Lys-Pro-Ala-Leu-Phe*Phe(p-NO2)-Arg-Leu, the values of kcat/Km were 2.95 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 for cleavage by Candida albicans proteinase, 1.60 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 for cleavage by Candida tropicalis proteinase, and 0.59 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 for Candida parapsilosis proteinase . Substantial differences in specificity among the Candida yeast proteinases were identified . For example, Candida tropicalis shows large changes in the kcat/Km value depending on the acidobasic character of the residue occupying the P2 position (1.6 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 for Leu, 0.47 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 for Lys, and 0.05 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 for Asp at P2, respectively) . Candida parapsilosis by comparison is tolerant of these substitutions at P2 and is highly restrictive at position P4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) Biochemistry, 1994 Aug 16, 33(32), 9496 - 503 Specific adherence of Candida tropicalis to lysophospholipids; Prakobphol A et al.; Candida species are usually commensal organisms, but they become invasive when the host is immunocompromised . Mechanisms by which these organisms adhere to, colonize, and then invade host tissues are poorly understood . To detect potential host receptors, members of a lipid library were chromatographically separated and then overlaid with Candida tropicalis; components to which the organisms bound were visualized by autoradiography . In initial experiments no interactions with either glycolipids or intact phospholipids were detected . However, lysophospholipids supported adherence of C . tropicalis but not Saccharomyces cerevisiae . These results were confirmed by a second assay; C . tropicalis adhered to certain lysophospholipids, but not intact phospholipids, that were immobilized on microtiter plates . Using {14C}-1-palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, we showed that C . tropicalis adherence is accompanied by rapid conversion of the labeled lipid to a number of compounds . Thus, the interaction of C . tropicalis with lysophospholipids results in significant changes in both the organism and the lysophospholipid to which it binds . We hypothesize that this interaction could be an important component of the infection process. Cancer, 1994 Aug 15, 74(4), 1360 - 6 A radiologic syndrome after high dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation, with clinical and pathologic features of systemic candidiasis; Mudad R et al.; BACKGROUND . The use of high dose chemotherapy in the treatment of solid tumors is associated with prolonged neutropenia and, consequently, in some patients, systemic candidiasis . The authors describe their experience with a clinicoradiologic syndrome developing after high dose chemotherapy was administered to patients with breast cancer . METHODS . The authors evaluated the clinical and radiologic records of 12 patients in whom hepatic, splenic, or renal candidiasis developed . RESULTS . Three patients had positive blood cultures for candida tropicalis . One of these patients and two others had fungal organisms identified with special stains of an organ aspirate . Most patients were asymptomatic, and most of them were treated successfully with antifungal agents, although untreated patients also recovered . There were no fatalities due to the candidiasis . CONCLUSIONS . A radiographic syndrome resembling hepatic, splenic, or renal candidiasis is described, which occurred after high dose chemotherapy was administered and autologous bone marrow transplantation was performed on patients with breast cancer . This syndrome has a favorable prognosis . Conclusions as to the more indolent nature of this syndrome cannot be made; however, this topic warrants further investigation. Yeast, 1994 Aug, 10(8), 1065 - 74 Predominant localization of non-specific lipid-transfer protein of the yeast Candida tropicalis in the matrix of peroxisomes; Tan H et al.; PXP-18 is a 14-kDa major peroxisomal protein of the yeast Candida tropicalis and a homologue of the non-specific lipid-transfer protein (nsLTP) of mammals . Mammalian nsLTP is thought to facilitate the contact of membranes, to stimulate lipid-transfer between them . If PXP-18 functions like nsLTP, it must be present on organelle membranes . Immunoelectron microscopy of C . tropicalis cells indicated that gold particles, which visualized PXP-18, localized exclusively in the matrix of peroxisomes . Subcellular fractionation followed by Western blotting revealed the association of PXP-18 with peroxisomes in C . tropicalis cells . An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that almost all the PXP-18 associated with peroxisomes was detectable after the solubilization of the organelle but not before, implying the predominance of PXP-18 inside peroxisomes . This differential assay was applied to the intracellular import of the intact and truncated PXP-18s expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells . Most of the intact PXP-18 was shown to be imported into the matrix of host-cell peroxisomes, whereas the truncated PXP-18, which lacked the C-terminal tripeptide Pro-Lys-Leu, no longer targeted peroxisomes . These results are consistent with the view that PXP-18 is the matrix protein of peroxisomes and must function in a system other than that of lipid transfer. J Clin Microbiol, 1994 Aug, 32(8), 1902 - 7 Rapid detection and identification of Candida albicans and Torulopsis (Candida) glabrata in clinical specimens by species-specific nested PCR amplification of a cytochrome P-450 lanosterol-alpha-demethylase (L1A1) gene fragment; Burgener-Kairuz P et al.; PCR of a Candida albicans cytochrome P-450 lanosterol-alpha-demethylase (P450-L1A1) gene segment is a rapid and sensitive method of detection in clinical specimens . This enzyme is a target for azole antifungal action . In order to directly detect and identify the clinically most important species of Candida, we cloned and sequenced 1.3-kbp fragments of the cytochrome P450-L1A1 genes from Torulopsis (Candida) glabrata and from Candida krusei . These segments were compared with the published sequences from C . albicans and Candida tropicalis . Amplimers for gene sequences highly conserved throughout the fungal kingdom were first used; positive PCR results were obtained for C . albicans, T . glabrata, C . krusei, Candida parapsilosis, C . tropicalis, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Trichosporon beigelii DNA extracts . Primers were then selected for a highly variable region of the gene, allowing the species-specific detection from purified DNA of C . albicans, T . glabrata, C . krusei, and C . tropicalis . The assay sensitivity as tested for C . albicans in seeded clinical specimens such as blood, peritoneal fluid, or urine was 10 to 20 cells per 0.1 ml . Compared with results obtained by culture, the sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency of the species-specific nested PCR tested with 80 clinical specimens were 71, 95, and 83% for C . albicans and 100, 97, and 98% for T . glabrata, respectively. J Chemother, 1994 Aug, 6(4), 226 - 9 Fluconazole, itraconazole and ketoconazole in vitro activity against Candida spp; Arevalo MP et al.; The in vitro activity of fluconazole, itraconazole and ketoconazole against 625 Candida yeast strains from patients treated at the University Hospital of the Canaries, by means of a micromethod of dilution in broth enriched with Yeast Nitrogen Base (YNB), and buffered to pH7, has been assessed . Species distribution was as follows: Candida albicans (388), Candida tropicalis (84), Candida glabrata (84), Candida parapsilosis (69) . Our results show 10.0% and 8.8% of C . albicans resistant to itraconazole and fluconazole, respectively, and 1.8% resistant to ketoconazole; 39.5% of C . tropicalis were resistant to itraconazole, 34.5% to fluconazole and 2.4% to ketaconazole . 19.1% of C . glabrata were resistant to fluconazole and 13.1% to itraconazole; 4.4% of C . parapsilosis were resistant to fluconazole and 1.5% to itraconazole . In general C . tropicalis was the most resistant strain and C . parapsilosis the most sensitive . The greatest percentages of resistance in vitro were seen with the two triazols. Oral Microbiol Immunol, 1994 Aug, 9(4), 229 - 35 The in vitro proteolytic and saccharolytic activity of Candida species cultured in human saliva; Samaranayake YH et al.; The proteolytic and saccharolytic activity of 4 Candida species was investigated in batch cultures of pooled, human mixed saliva supplemented with glucose . All the Candida species investigated (Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata and Candida krusei) demonstrated a marked growth in saliva with a concomitant reduction in pH from about 7.5 to 3.3, within 72 h . Isotachophoretic analysis of the culture supernatant revealed the presence of a variety of acid anions of which pyruvate and acetate were the most abundant . Proteolysis of salivary components, evaluated by a biochemical assay and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, was exhibited by all 4 Candida species, although there was inter-species variation . Despite the similarity in growth rates, C . tropicalis and C . krusei demonstrated greater proteolytic activity than C . albicans and C . glabrata . Neither candidal growth nor proteolysis was observed in glucose-free control saliva samples . In contrast, the degree of saccharolytic and proteolytic activity of a single isolate of C . albicans in glucose-supplemented parotid saliva appeared to be relatively weak compared with mixed saliva . As the oral cavity provides ideal low pH niches periodically supplemented with dietary carbohydrates, the acidic proteinases of Candida species may play a role in the pathogenesis of oral candidiasis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother, 1994 Jul, 38(7), 1523 - 9 Synergism between the antifungal agents amphotericin B and alkyl glycerol ethers; Haynes MP et al.; The alkyl glycerol ether rac-1-O-dodecylglycerol inhibited the growth of members of two genera of yeasts, Candida and Cryptococcus, and was strongly synergistic with amphotericin B . At one-half its MIC, dodecylglycerol decreased the MIC of amphotericin B by as much as 80-fold . This high degree of synergism between dodecylglycerol and amphotericin B was demonstrated against a number of species of yeasts including Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus albidus, and Cryptococcus laurentii . All fractional inhibitory concentrations (for all strains and species) were calculated to be less than 1, and most were less than 0.6, again demonstrating strong synergism . Other alkyl glycerol ethers with alkyl chain lengths ranging from 8 to 18 carbon atoms were also found to be synergistic with amphotericin B against C . neoformans and C . albicans . Electron microscopy experiments showed that C . neoformans grown in the presence of dodecylglycerol had severely abnormal, deformed capsules . Although the mechanism of action of dodecylglycerol is not known, dodecylglycerol was not simply acting as a detergent . The natural detergent sodium deoxycholate could not substitute for dodecylglycerol . At comparable and higher concentrations, sodium deoxycholate had no fungicidal effect on its own, nor did it potentiate the activity of amphotericin B . Dodecylglycerol did not interact synergistically with the water-soluble antifungal agent fluconazole . The lipid-soluble hydrophobic properties of amphotericin B appear to be important for this synergistic effect, in that alkyl glycerol ethers could promote synergism with amphotericin B by potentially increasing the interaction between membrane-bound ergosterol and amphotericin B. J Clin Microbiol, 1994 Jul, 32(7), 1650 - 3 Selection of candidate quality control isolates and tentative quality control ranges for in vitro susceptibility testing of yeast isolates by National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards proposed standard methods; Pfaller MA et al.; The National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards has developed a proposed standard method for in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing of yeast isolates (National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, document M27-P, 1992) . In order for antifungal testing by the M27-P method to be accepted, reliable quality control (QC) performance criteria must be developed . In the present study, five laboratories tested 10 candidate QC strains 20 times each against three antifungal agents: amphotericin B, fluconazole, and 5-fluorocytosine . All sites conformed to the M27-P standards and used a common lot of tube dilution reagents and RPMI 1640 broth medium . Overall, 98% of MIC results with amphotericin B, 95% with fluconazole, and 92% with 5-fluorocytosine fell within the desired 3-log2 dilution range (mode +/- 1 log2 dilution) . Excellent performance with all three antifungal agents was observed for six strains: Candida albicans ATCC 90028, Candida parapsilosis ATCC 90018, C . parapsilosis ATCC 22019, Candida krusei ATCC 6258, Candida tropicalis ATCC 750, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 9763 . With these strains, 3-log2 dilution ranges encompassing 94 to 100% of MICs for all three drugs were established . Additional studies with multiple lots of RPMI 1640 test medium will be required to establish definitive QC ranges. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis, 1994 Jul, 13(7), 590 - 5 An experimental model for study of Candida survival and transmission in human volunteers; Rangel-Frausto MS et al.; In order to determine the potential for cross-transmission of Candida spp . between health-care workers and patients, the survival of clinical isolates of five species of Candida on the palms of human volunteers was tested . One hundred microliters of a McFarland 1.0 density suspension (5 x 10(5) cfu) from an overnight culture of Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis and Candida glabrata was used as inoculum . The degree of hydrophobicity of the different Candida species was also tested and did not influence the survival . The half-lives were brief, being 9.5, 12.4, 7.4, 12.8, 9.6 min for Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida tropicalis, respectively, but at 45 min 2.6 x 10(3) to 3 x 10(4) organisms remained on the hands . Survival of Candida albicans for as long as 24 h on inanimate surfaces was observed . Transmission from one hand to a second hand occurred in 69% of the experiments and from the first to a third hand in 38% . Transmission to and from inanimate surfaces was successful in most of the experiments (90%) . This experimental model aids in the biological study of Candida spp . and suggests some of the potential mechanisms of transmission. Mycoses, 1994 Jul-Aug, 37(7-8), 285 - 9 In vitro susceptibility of 545 isolates of Candida spp . to four antifungal agents; Arias A et al.; The in vitro susceptibility to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole and ketoconazole of 545 Candida strains from patients treated at the University Hospital of the Canaries was determined by means of a microdilution test . The distribution of the species was as follows: Candida albicans (342), Candida tropicalis (70), Candida glabrata (68), Candida parapsilosis (65) . Of Candida albicans isolates, 8.5% and 7.6% showed resistance to itraconazole and fluconazole respectively . Of C . tropicalis isolates 34.3%, 27.1% and 2.9% were resistant to itraconazole, fluconazole and ketaconazole respectively . For C . glabrata, 10.3% and 4.4% of the isolates under study demonstrated resistance to fluconazole and itraconazole respectively . Only 4.6% and 1.5% of C . parapsilosis isolates demonstrated resistance to fluconazole and itraconazole respectively . C . tropicalis was the most resistant strain and C . parapsilosis the most sensitive . The greatest percentages of resistance in vitro were seen with the triazoles. APMIS, 1994 Jun, 102(6), 451 - 6 Mycotic and algal bovine mastitis in Denmark; Aalbaek B et al.; A one-year examination of mammary secretions (n = 2,896) from Danish cattle with clinical or subclinical mastitis revealed 45 strains of fungi and algae . The strains originated from 44 mammary secretions of 42 cows in 40 herds . The following species of fungi were identified: Candida catenulata (n = 2), Candida kefyr (n = 6), Candida krusei (n = 17), Candida rugosa (n = 6), Candida tropicalis (n = 3), Candida valida (n = 1), Geotrichum capitatum (n = 5) . The algal species Prototheca zopfii was demonstrated in five samples. Ophthalmology, 1994 Jun, 101(6), 1005 - 13 The changing spectrum of fungal keratitis in south Florida; Rosa RH Jr et al.; PURPOSE: To review the clinical experience with fungal keratitis in south Florida over a 10-year period . METHODS: One hundred twenty-five cases of fungal keratitis were identified in the microbiology laboratory records between January 1982 and January 1992 . The medical record of each patient was reviewed . RESULTS: The most commonly associated risk factor was trauma (44%) . Fungal keratitis developed in five patients using extended wear contact lenses and one patient wearing a therapeutic bandage contact lens . Clinical features included irregular, feathery margins (62%), a dry, rough texture (47%), and satellite lesions (41%) . An initial positive culture was obtained in 90% of patients, with a majority of cultures becoming positive within 48 hours . The Fusarium sp accounted for 62% of the isolates, with Fusarium oxysporum being the most commonly isolated organism . New fungal isolates include Candida parapsilosis, Aspergillus terreus, Candida tropicalis, and Trichosporon beigellii . Natamycin 5% suspension was the initial antifungal agent used for 91% of the patients, with an average duration of treatment of 38 days . Twenty-five patients were treated with oral ketoconazole for a median duration of 2 weeks, in addition to topical antifungal therapy . Thirty-four patients (27%) required a penetrating keratoplasty . Six patients had recurrence of fungal keratitis after penetrating keratoplasty . CONCLUSIONS: Trauma, including contact lens wear, is the most commonly associated risk factor . The fungal organisms can be readily identified in culture . F . oxysporum is the most common organism, with new isolates identified . The mainstay of therapy is topical natamycin with the increasing use of imidazoles. J Clin Microbiol, 1994 May, 32(5), 1184 - 7 Comparison of updated Vitek Yeast Biochemical Card and API 20C yeast identification systems; Fenn JP et al.; The updated Vitek Yeast Biochemical Card (YBC) was compared with the API 20C by using 409 germ tube-negative yeasts and Geotrichum spp . that were either clinical or proficiency sample isolates . The API 20C was the reference standard . The 409 isolates represented nine genera and 21 species . Morphology agars were inoculated and interpreted for each isolate . The API 20C identified 406 isolates (99.3%), while the Vitek YBC identified 367 (89.7%) . Both systems identified the majority of yeasts after 24 h of incubation--73.4% were identified by the API 20C and 77.4% were identified by the Vitek YBC . The Vitek 24-h reading had some incorrect identifications . These included 14 isolates of Candida tropicalis that were identified as Candida parapsilosis (91 to 97% reliability) and 3 isolates of Candida krusei that were called Blastoschizomyces capitatus (Geotrichum capitatum), Candida rugosa, and Candida zeylanoides . In total, the Vitek YBC misidentified 30 isolates, while the API 20C misidentified 3 isolates . In addition, results for 14 isolates with the Vitek YBC were listed under the category "no identification." Morphology agars were required for identification with 89 isolates (21.9%) when the API 20C was used and with 50 isolates (12.6%) when the Vitek YBC was used . Apart from the price of the Vitek instrument, the API 20C costs $1.28 more per test than the Vitek YBC . Overall, the updated Vitek YBC compares favorably with the API 20C in the identification of common yeasts such as Torulopsis glabrata, C . parapsilosis, and Cryptococcus neoformans . However, problems were encountered with the Vitek system in the identification of C . tropicalis, C . krusei, Trichosporon spp., and some Cryptococcus spp . The routine use of morphology agars with either method is recommended. J Infect, 1994 May, 28(3), 305 - 10 Inhibition of fungal growth by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas cepacia isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis; Kerr J; This study was undertaken because of the infrequency of infections due to Candida species in patients with cystic fibrosis despite their extensive treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics . In vitro susceptibility studies revealed significant inhibition of 11 strains of fungi known to infect human beings by 10 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and nine strains of Pseudomonas cepacia isolated from the sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis . The fungi were Candida krusei, Candida keyfr, Candida guillermondii, Candida tropicalis, Candida lusitaniae, Candida parapsilosis, Candida pseudotropicalis, Candida albicans, Torulopsis glabrata, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus fumigatus . Inhibition of fungal growth by Escherichia coli (NCTC 10418), Staphylococcus aureus (NCTC 6571) and Haemophilus influenzae (NCTC 11931) could not be demonstrated . The continued presence in the sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis of strains of P . aeruginosa and P . cepacia, which produce antifungal substances, may inhibit growth of Candida species and so prevent overt Candida infections . A . fumigatus would seem to be the most important fungus causing disease in patients with cystic fibrosis . It is therefore interesting to note that this was the most resistant of all the fungi tested for inhibition by P . aeruginosa and P . cepacia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 1994 Apr 12, 91(8), 3453 - 7 A conserved sequence motif within the exceptionally diverse telomeric sequences of budding yeasts; McEachern MJ et al.; Telomeric DNA sequences have generally been found to be remarkably conserved in evolution, typically consisting of repeated, very short sequence units containing clusters of G residues . Recently however the telomeric DNA of the asexual yeast Candida albicans was shown to consist of much longer repeat units . Here we report the identification of seven additional telomeric sequences from sexual and asexual budding yeast species . The telomeric repeat units from this group of relatively closely related species show more phylogenetic diversity in length (8-25 bp), sequence, and composition than has been seen previously throughout a wide phylogenetic range of other eukaryotes . We also show that certain strains of the asexual diploid species Candida tropicalis have two forms of telomeric repeats, which appear to differ by a single base pair . Despite their great diversity, the telomeric repeat units of C . albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and all of the species we have examined in this report share a conserved approximately 6-bp motif of T and G residues resembling more typical telomeric sequences. Am J Clin Pathol, 1994 Apr, 101(4), 438 - 42 Clinical comparison of the Baxter MicroScan Yeast Identification Panel and the Vitek Yeast Biochemical Card; Riddle DL et al.; To determine the reliability of the Baxter MicroScan Yeast Identification Panel, processed by the Walkaway-96, and the Vitek Yeast Biochemical Card, 150 clinical yeast isolates (30 Candida albicans, 67 Candida species, not albicans, 26 Torulopsis glabrata, 13 Cryptococcus neoformans, 4 Saccharomyces cerevisiae, 6 Trichosporon beigelii, 3 Rhodotorula species, and 1 Geotrichum species) were tested on both systems . Results were compared with those obtained by the API 20C and the appearance of yeast cells on cornmeal Tween-80 agar . After inoculation of each system, results were available in 4 hours with MicroScan panels, 24-48 hours with Vitek cards, and 72 hours with the API 20C strips . On initial testing, 101 (67%) and 128 (85%) isolates, respectively, were correctly identified by MicroScan and Vitek . After repeat testing, the number of correctly identified isolates increased to 123 (82%) by MicroScan and to 142 (95%) by Vitek . Yeasts most commonly misidentified were Candida tropicalis, T glabrata, and Candida parapsilosis by MicroScan and C tropicalis and T glabrata by Vitek. Infect Immun, 1994 Apr, 62(4), 1489 - 93 Phagocytosis of medically important yeasts by polymorphonuclear leukocytes; Lyman CA et al.; Phagocytosis is a critical function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the control of mycotic infections . By using a modified fluorescence quenching assay to distinguish between attached and ingested organisms, we determined the percent phagocytosis of several medically important yeasts . The percentages of phagocytosis of serum-opsonized Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, and Torulopsis glabrata were all comparable at 37 degrees C . By comparison, there was significantly less phagocytosis of Cryptococcus neoformans and Trichosporon beigelii isolates (P < 0.001) . Thus, phagocytosis of C . albicans by polymorphonuclear leukocytes is comparable to that of species other than C . albicans but is significantly greater than that of the basidiomycetous yeasts T . beigelii and C . neoformans. FEBS Lett, 1994 Mar 28, 342(1), 19 - 22 Expression of alpha-1,3 linkage-containing oligomannosyl residues in a cell-wall mannan of Candida tropicalis grown in yeast extract-Sabouraud liquid medium under acidic conditions; Kobayashi H et al.; We investigated the cell-wall mannan obtained from Candida tropicalis IFO 1647 strain cells grown in yeast extract-Sabouraud medium at pH 3.0 by two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy .