Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pigmentation and autofluorescence of Cryptococcus species after growth on tryptophan and anthranilic acid media

  • Published:
Mycopathologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans produced a pink pigment from media containing tryptophan. Approximately 30% of the C. neoformans strains produced large amounts of the pink (purple after 6 days) pigment in the absence of light whereas 70% of the Cryptococcus neoformans strains, as well as C. laurentii, C. albidus, C. diffluens, and C. albicans also produced the pink pigment with light being required for significant early production (2–6 days). Significant production did occur for Cryptococcus but not Candida species in the dark after extended incubation (10–25 days). C. terreus produced brown pigments from tryptophan and C. luteolus produced a trace of a buff pigment. Most Candida species produced either pink or brown pigments but not both. In contrast, many Cryptococcus species producing the pink pigment simultaneously produced brown pigments. C. terreus, C. albidus, and C. diffluens produced brown pigments from anthranilic acid whereas C. neoformans, C. laurentii, C. luteolus, and the medically important Candida species did not produce significant amounts of pigments from anthranilic acid. Cryptococcus and Candida species were autofluorescent when tryptophan was a major nitrogen source whereas yeast cell autofluorescence was not observed when anthranilic acid was used. Pigmentation of some Cryptococcus species also the substrate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Benjamin, A. M., and D. V. Tamhane. 1966. Observations on the formation of a pigment by strains of Escherichia coli. Arch. Mikrobiol. 53: 242–247.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Chaskes, S., and A. W. Phillips. 1974. Pigmentation and autofluorescence of Candida species after growth and tryptophan media. Can. J. Microbiol. 20: 595–603.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Chaskes, S., and R. L. Tyndall. 1975. Pigment production by Cryptococcus neoformans from para and ortho-diphenols: Effect of nitrogen source. J. Clin. Microbiol. 1: 509–514.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Chaskes, S., and R. L. Tyndall. 1978. Pigment production by Cryptococcus neoformans and other Cryptococcus species from aminophenols and diaminobenzenes. J. Clin. Microbiol. 7: 146–152.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Hopper, R. L., and D. Gröschel. 1975. Six-hour pigmentation test for the identification of Cryptococcus neoformans. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2: 96–98.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hooper, R. L., and F. Blank. 1975. Caffeic acid-containing medium for the identification of Cryptococcus neoformans. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2: 115–120.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kapica, L., and C. E. Shaw. 1969. Improvement in laboratory diagnosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis. Cand. Med. Assoc. J. 101: 582–585.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kaplan, W., and M. S. Ivens. 1960. Fluorescent antibody staining of Sporotrichum schenckii in cultures and clinical materials. J. Invest. Dermatol. 35: 151–159.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kaplan, W., and L. Kaufman. 1961. The application of fluorescent antibody techniques to medical mycology — A review. Sabouraudia 1: 137–144.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Korth, H., and G. Pulverer. 1971. Pigment formation for differentiating Cryptococcus neoformans from Candida albicans. Appl. Microbiol. 21: 541–542.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Krishnamurthi, V. S., P. J. Buckley, and J. A. Duerre. 1969. Pigment formation from L-tryptophan by a particular fraction from atypical Proteus rettgeri (corrected tittle). Arch. Biochem. Biochem. Biophys. 130: 636–645.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Miura, T., and T. Kasai. 1964. Autofluorescence of pathogenic fungi. Tohoku J. Exp. Med. 82: 158–163.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Miura, T., and T. Kasai. 1964. Difference in result of the fluorescent antibody staining of dermatophytes due to the difference of fixing procedure. Tohoku J. Exp. Med. 84: 72–80.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Pulverer, G., and H. Korth. 1971. Cryptococcus neoformans: Pigment-bildung aus verschiedenen polyphenolen. Med. Microbiol. Immunol. 157: 46–51.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Polster, M., and M. Svobodova. 1964. Production of reddishbrown pigment from dl-tryptophan by enterobacteria of the Proteus-Providencia group. Experientia (Basel), 20: 637–638.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Prévot, A. R., and M. Raynaud. 1944. Premières recherches sur la coralline pigment de Clostridium corallinum P. et R. Inst. Pasteur (Paris) 70: 185–186.

    Google Scholar 

  17. de Robichun-Szulmajster, H., and Y. Surdin-Kerjan. 1971. Nucleic acid and protein synthesis in yeasts: Regulation of synthesis and activity p. 336–418. In A. H. Rose and J. S. Harrison (eds) The Yeasts. Academic Press, London and New York.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Schindler, F., and H. Zähner. 1971. Stoffwechsel-produkte von Mikroorganismen: 91. Tryptanthrin, ein von Tryptophan abzuleitendes Antibioticum aus Candida lipolytica. Arch Mikrobiol. 79: 187–203.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Shaw, C. E., and L. Kapica. 1972. Production of diagnostic pigment by phenoloxidase activity of Cryptococcus neoformans. Appl. Microbiol. 24: 824–830.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Shields, A. B., and L. Ajello. 1966. Medium for selective isolation of Cryptococcus neoformans. Science (Washington, D.C.) 151: 208–209.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Staib, F. 1962. Vogelkot, ein Nährsubstrat für die Gattung Cryptococcus. Zentralbl. Bakteriol. Parasitenkd. Infektionskr. Hyg. Abt. 1. M. H. Orig. 186: 233–247.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Staib, F. 1962. Cryptococcus neoformans and Guizotia abyssinica (syn. G. oleifera D. C.). Z. Hyg. Infektionskr. 148: 466–475.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Staib, F., H. S. Randhawa, G. Grosse, and A. Blisse. 1973. Cryptococcose. Zur Identifizierung von Cryptococcus neoformans aus klinischem Untersuchungsmaterial. Zentralbl. Bakteriol. Parasitenkd. Infektionskr. Hyg. Abt. 1. Orig. Reihe A. Med. Mikrobiol. Parasitiol. 225: 221–222.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Sternberg, T. H., and F. M. Keddie. 1961. Immunofluorescence studies in Tinea Versicolor. Arch. Dermatol. 84: 999–1003.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Strachan, A. A., R. J. Yu, and F. Blank. 1971. Pigment production of Cryptococcus neoformans grown with extracts of Guizotia abyssinica. Appl. Microbiol. 22: 478–479.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Swack, N. S., and P. G. Miles. 1960. Conditions Affecting growth and indigotin production by strain 130 of Schizophyllum commune. Mycologia 52: 574–583.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Thoni, H. 1966. Die bildung eines rotbraunen pigmentes durch mikroorganismen bei Anwesenheit von tryptophan in der Nährlosung. Experientia (Basel) 22: 376.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Vogel, R. A., and J. F. Padula. 1958. Indirect staining reaction with fluorescent antibody for detection of antibodies to pathogenic fungi. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 98: 135–139.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Walzer, R. A., and J. Einbinder. 1962. Immunofluorescent studies in dermatophyte infections. J. Invest. Dermatol. 39: 165–168.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Stuart Chaskes

    Present address: Department of Pathology, Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center, 10467, New York, N.Y., USA

  2. Richard L. Tyndall

    Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Tennessee, 37916, Knoxville, Tenn., USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Division, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, 37830, Oak Ridge, Tennessee

    Stuart Chaskes & Richard L. Tyndall

Authors
  1. Stuart Chaskes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard L. Tyndall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Operated for the U.S. Department of Energy under contract number EY-76-C-05-0033

This article is based on work supported by the Division of Biomedical and Environmental Research.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chaskes, S., Tyndall, R.L. Pigmentation and autofluorescence of Cryptococcus species after growth on tryptophan and anthranilic acid media. Mycopathologia 64, 105–112 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00440970

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00440970

Keywords

Search

Navigation