Abstract
Strains which are considered to be sexually active have been recovered from stock cultures ofCandida albicans andCryptococcus albidus. These sexually active strains are homothallic and are characterized by slow growth and the presence of small cells conjugating with their buds. Conjugation appears to result in the formation of monokaryotic zygotes.
The zygotes may be converted directly into chlamydospores or may give rise to a large-celled, presumably diploid generation. The diploid generation produces large, dormant cells which become multinucleate and form sterigmata on which single and generally uninucleate and smaller conidia are formed. As the sexually active haplophase is recoverable from the diplophase, it is probable that the haplophase originates from these conidia.
True asci are not formed, but endospore formation does occur apparently as a result of internal budding. The endospores could not be differentiated by the commonly employed ascospore stains.
What are presumably the haplophase and diplophase can be cultivated separately provided that the necessary precautions are taken.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Binham, R. W. 1955.Cryptococcus neoformans: “an ascomycete”. Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med.89: 243–245.
Ganlsan, A. T. andSwaminathan, M. S. 1958. Staining the nucleus in yeasts. Stain Technol.33: 115–121.
Langfron, M. etLutiraan, Ph. -J. 1947. Emploi des colorants acides en mycologie et en microbiologie générales. Coloration des ascospores des levures. Ann. parasitol. humaine et comparec22: 254–275.
Langfron, M. etLutiraan, Ph. -J. 1949. Contribution à l'étude de la sporulation chez les microorganismes. Compt. Rend.229: 382–383.
Okabe, Y. 1929. Studien uber den Soorpilz. I. Mitteilung: Bakteriologische Eigenschaften und systematische Stellung des Soorpilzes. Centr. Bakteriol. Parasitenk., I. Abt. Orig.111: 181–194.
Slodki, M. L., Wickirham, L. J. andBandoni, R. J. 1966. Extracellular heteropolysaccharides fromCryptococcus andTremella a possible taxonomic relationship. Can. J. Microbiol.12: 489–494.
van der Wall, J. P. 1952. On the yeastCandida pulcherrima and its pigment. Thesis, Delft.
Wickirham, L. J. 1958. Sexual agglutination of heterothallic yeasts in diverse taxonomic areas. Science128: 1504–1505.
Wickirham, L. J. 1964. A preliminary report on a perfect family of exclusively protosexual yeasts. Mycologia56: 253–266.
Wickirham, L. J. andBurion, K. A. 1952. Occurrence of yeast mating types in nature. J. Bacteriol.63: 449–451.
Wickirham, L. J. andBurion, K. A. 1954a. A simple technique for obtaining mating types in heterothallic diploid yeasts, with special reference to their uses in the genusHansenula. J. Bacteriol.67: 303–308.
Wickirham, L. J. andBurion, K. A. 1954b. A clarification of the relationship ofCandida guilliermondu to other yeasts by a study of their mating types. J. Bacteriol.68: 594–597.
Wickirham, L. J. andBurton, K. A. 1960. Heterothallism inSaccharomyces rouxii. J. Bacteriol.80: 492–495.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van der Walt, J.P. Sexually active strains ofCandida albicans andCryptococcus albidus . Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 33, 246–256 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02045570
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02045570