Carbohydrate patterns of Candida, Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula species.

Within the genus Candida three distinct groups are recognized on the basis of carbohydrate patterns of intact whole cell hydrolyzates. In the first, ascomycetous, group mannose is dominant, while rhamnose, fucose and xylose are absent; this is indicative of an affinity with endomycetous families. Among the basidiomycetous representatives, two groups can be recognized. One group is usually characterized by the presence of xylose and has a low mannose content. The pattern is typical for Cryptococcales and Tremellales (e.g., Cryptococcus, Trichosporon, Bullera and Tremella). The other basidiomycetous group is characterized by the presence of fucose and/or rhamnose with significant amounts of mannose. This pattern is characteristic for Sporobolomycetaceae.

Redefinition of Candida Berkhout and the consequent emendation of Cryptococcus Kützing and Rhodotorula Harrison.

On the basis of affinitive characters Candida has been restricted to anamorphs related to the Endomycetales. The excluded basidiomycetous anamorphs have been transferred to the emended genera Rhodotorula and Cryptococcus.

Carbohydrate patterns and taxonomy of Sporothrix and Blastobotrys.

Within the hyphomycete genus Sporothrix Hektoen & Perkins three distinct groups are recognized on the basis of carbohydrate patterns. In the first group, and in Blastobotrys Klopotek, mannose is predominant while xylose and rhamnose are absent; this suggests a relationship with the Ascoideaceae. A second group, comprising anamorphs of Ophiostomataceae, is characterized by the presence of rhamnose. A third group is characterized by the presence of xylose, indicating a basidiomycete affinity. Three sections are erected to accommodate these groups.

Xylose distribution within and taxonomy of the genera Bullera and Sporobolomyces.

All CBS strains of the ballistosporic genera Bullera and Sporobolomyces were screened for the presence of xylose by means of gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of derivatized whole-cell hydrolysates. Xylose was found in the majority of Bullera strains, whereas it was mostly absent from Sporobolomyces. The results do not suggest the necessity of any changes in the present concepts of both genera.

On the taxonomy of the entomogenous fungus Filobasidiella arachnophila.

The taxonomic status of Filobasidiella arachnophila Malloch et al. was investigated. The carbohydrate profile of two strains revealed basidiomycetous affinities. However, the vast majority of the mycelial cells are monokaryotic, demonstrating that F. arachnophila is not a typical basidiomycete. The morphological resemblance to the two teleomorph species of Filobasidiella is noteworthy and therefore the accommodation in Filobasidiella is maintained. F. arachnophila proved to be identical with Aspergillus depauperatus Petch and the new combination Filobasidiella arachnophila (Petch) Samson et al. is made.

Carbohydrate composition and taxonomy of Geotrichum, Trichosporon and allied genera.

The yeast-like genera Geotrichum and Trichosporon are heterogeneous and are related with anamorphs of both ascomycetous and basidiomycetous fungi. A rearrangement can be obtained using carbohydrate composition of intact cells, studied with the aid of gas-liquid chromatography. The genus Geotrichum is restricted to ascomycetous species with a dominance of galactomannans, whereas Trichosporon is reserved for basidiomycete-like, xylose-containing species. Consequently, some new combinations are introduced in both genera. Representatives of related genera are included for comparison: e.g. Dipodascus, Hyphophichia, Cryptococcus and Filobasidium.

Conidiation and carbohydrate composition in some Candida and Torulopsis species.

The genus Candida Berkhout (including Torulopsis auct.) is restricted to the anamorphs of Sacchromycetales (asci-forming yeasts Species with heterobasidiomycetous relationships are either transferred to Apiotrichum when the cells are at least partly formed sympodially and when the hydrolyzates of intact cells contain xylose, or to Rhodotorula when the cells are formed basipetally (enteroblastic, phialidic) and the cells do not contain xylose.

Use of a single infusion bottle to culture and prepare potentially hazardous microorganisms for biochemical analysis.

A procedure is described to culture, harvest, kill, wash, freeze-dry, and store microorganisms for biochemical analysis. This method using a single infusion bottle is far less laborious than conventional procedures and reduces the risk of contamination.

Carbohydrate composition and taxonomy of the genus Dipodascus.

Carbohydrates released during acid hydrolysis of intact cells of Dipodascus were studied by gas-liquid chromatographic analysis as their trimethylsilyl derivatives. In addition, cells were characterized by pyrolysis gas-liquid chromatography and pyrolysis mass spectrometry. The data obtained support the classification of Dipodascus uninucleatus in a separate genus Dipodascopsis. Glucuronic acid is present in D. uninucleatus and, therefore, a possible affinity to fungi classified in the Zygomycetes is considered. Dipodascus aggregatus and Dipodascus australiensis were found to be rather different, but very close to Geotrichum candidum and related species.

Cell-wall composition and taxonomy of Cephaloascus fragrans and some Ophiostomataceae.

Carbohydrates of intact cells and cell walls were studied by gas-liquid chromatographical analysis after acid hydrolysis. Isolated cellulose was determined by infrared spectrophotometry, pyrolysis mass spectrometry and histochemistry. Biochemical characters do not support an assumed relationship between Ophiostoma (including Europhium) and Cephaloascus fragrans. Cephaloascus fragrans differs from Ophiostoma by a high mannose content and by the absence of cellulose and rhamnose. A relationship between Cephaloascus fragrans and Ceratocystis cannot be excluded on the basis of the biochemical characters, although there is a marked difference in conidiogenesis. Saprolegnia ferax (Oomycetes) was included as a cellulose-containing fungus for comparison.

On the subdivision of the genus Ceratocystis.

The desirability is discussed of a subdivison of the genus Ceratocystis into a group characterized by the presence of a phialidic conidial state, and a group in which the conidia are usually produced exogenously. Corroborative evidence for this arrangement is found in the carbohydrate constitution of the cells: in all examined species of the former group (Ceratocystis s. str.) rhamnose and cellulose are absent, whereas in the latter both components are present (Ophiostoma H. et P. Sydow).

Spinach protein factor and chlorophyllase.

1. Spinach leaves contain a "Spinach Protein Factor" (SPF) which increases light sensitivity of colloidal chlorophylls in aqueous solution (Terpstra, 1967). SPF activity, measured in different fractions of spinach-leaf acetone-powder extracts obtained by gel filtration on DEAE- and CM-Sephadex, runs parallel with chlorophyllase activity. The same positive correlation is generally observed in aqueous extracts of certain small particles isolated from spinach-leaf homogenates. It is suggested that SPF is a chlorophyllase. 2. Another, less active chlorophyllase was found in endive leaves. Evidence is presented that this chlorophyllase competes with the more active SPF chlorophyllase for available (bacterio)chlorophyll. The less active chlorophyllase is also present, in varying amounts, in spinach leaves. 3. SPF activity and chlorophyllase activity are influenced by phosphate in different concentrations in a similar way. 4. Both the SPF chlorophyllase and the less active chlorophyllase accelerate the conversion of colloidal bacteriochlorophyll from a form with red absorption bands at about 845 and 790 nm into a form with a main red band at about 775 nm; besides, the chlorophyllases cause the 775 nm band to be shifted to shorter wavelength (770-766 nm). The conversion by the less active chlorophyllase is inhibited by Ca(2+) (0.01 M). Light sensitivity of the 770-766-nm bacteriochlorophyll form is enhanced by the SPF chlorophyllase, but not by the less active chlorophyllase.