Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Biochemical variation of Cryptococcus neoformans

  • Published:
Mycopathologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Ninety-seven strains of Cryptococcus neoformans and C. bacillisporus were examined for 44 biochemical characters and the results were analyzed numerically. One phenon emerged at the 86% level of similarity when strains were clustered according to their M-similarity values. All strains grew in ten carbon sources (D-glucose, D-galactose, arbutin, maltose, sucrose, D-melezitose, D-xylose, D-mannitol, D-glucitol, and meso-inositol), and also grew at 37 ° C and produced urease and phenoloxidase. None of them grew in melibiose, lactose, nor valine, and none reduced nitrate to nitrite. Comparison of selected biochemical characters, creatinine utilization, and serotypes of 49 aberrant strains is presented. Forty-eight of the 97 strains produced the Filobasidiella state either alone or when paired with a strain of compatible mating-type. Filobasidiella neoformans serotypes A and D were interfertile with compatible mating-types of F. bacillispora serotypes B and C. The 44 biochemical characters and 4 serotypes did not predict barriers to mating competence. The present study further substantiates that Filobasidiella neoformans and F. bacillispora are one species.

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. Ankel, H., Ankel, E. & Feingold, D. S., 1966. Biosynthesis of uridine diphosphate D-xylose. III. Uridine diphosphate D-glucose dehydrogenase of Cryptococcus laurentii. Biochemistry 5: 1864–1869.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ankel, H. & Feingold, D. S., 1966. Biosynthesis of uridine diphosphate D-xylose. II. Uridine diphosphate D-glucuronate carboxy-lyase of Cryptococcus laurentii. Biochemistry 5: 182–189.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bennett, J. E., Kwon-Chung, K. J. & Howard, D. H., 1977. Epidemiologic differences among serotypes of Cryptococcus neoformans. Am. J. Epidemiol. 105: 582–586.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bennett, J. E., Kwon-Chung, K. J. & Theodore, T. S., 1978. Biochemical differences between serotypes of Cryptococcus neoformans. Sabouraudia 16: 167–174.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Blandamer, A. & Danishefsky, I., 1966. Investigations on the structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Cryptococcus neoformans type B. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 117: 305–313.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Bowman, P. I. & Ahearn, D. G., 1978. Ecology of Cryptococcus neoformans in Georgia. In: Proceedings of the IV International Conference on the Mycoses. PAHO Scientific Publication No. 356, pp. 258–268. Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Cohen, A. & Feingold, D. S., 1967. Uridine diphosphate D-xylose. Acceptor xylosyltransferase of Cryptococcus laurentii. Biochemistry 6: 2933–2939.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Denton, J. F. & Di Salvo, A. F., 1968. The prevalence of Cryptococcus neoformans in various natural habitats. Sabouraudia 6: 213–217.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Evans, E. E., 1949. An immunologic comparison of twelve strains of Cryptococcus neoformans (Torula histolytica). Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 71: 644–646.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Evans, E. E., 1950. The antigenic composition of Cryptococcus neoformans. I. A serologic classification by means of the capsular and agglutination reactions, J. Immunol. 64: 423–430.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Freeman, W. & Weidman, F. D., 1923. Cystic blastomycosis of the cerebral gray matter caused by Torula histolytica Stoddard and Cutler. Arch. Neurol. Psychiatry 9: 589–603.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hopfer, R. L. & Blank, F., 1975. Caffeic acid containing medium for identification of Cryptococcus neoformans. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2: 115–120.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hopkins, J. M. & Land, G. A., 1977. Rapid method for determining nitrate utilization by yeasts. J. Clin. Microbiol. 5: 497–500.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Jong, S. C., 1982. Collection of fungi. In: Catalogue of Strains I, 15th ed., pp. 261–540. American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Maryland.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kocková-Kratochvilová, A., 1973. Comparative taxonomy of the genus Torulopsis Berlese. J. Gen. Microbiol. 79: 239–256.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kocková-Kratochvílová, A., Slavikova, E. & Jensen, V., 1978. Numerical taxonomy of the yeast genus Debaryomyces Lodder and Kreger-van Rij. J. Gen. Microbiol. 104: 257–268.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kwon-Chung, K. J., 1975. A new genus, Filobasidiella, the perfect state of Cryptococcus neoformans. Mycologia 67: 1197–1200.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kwon-Chung, K. J., 1976. A new species of Filobasidiella, the sexual state of Cryptococcus neoformans B and C serotypes. Mycologia 68: 942–946.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kwon-Chung, K. J., Bennett, J. E. & Theodore, T. S., 1978. Cryptococcus bacillisporus sp. nov.: Serotype B-C of Cryptococcus neoformans. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 28: 616–620.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Lodder, J., 1970. General Classification of the yeasts. In: The Yeasts, a Taxonomic Study (Lodder, J., ed.), pp. 1–33. North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Miyazaki, T., 1961a. Studies on fungal polysaccharides. I. On the isolation and chemical properties of capsular polysaccharide from Cryptococcus neoformans. Chem. Pharm. Bull., Tokyo 9: 715–718.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Miyazaki, T., 1961b. Studies on fungal polysaccharides. II. On the componental sugars and partial hydrolysis of the capsular polysaccharide from Cryptococcus neoformans. Chem. Pharm. Bull., Tokyo 9: 826–829.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Miyazaki, T., 1961c. Studies on fungal polysaccharides. III. Chemical structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Cryptococcus neoformans. Chem. Pharm. Bull., Tokyo 9: 829–833.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Neill, J. M., Catillo, C. G., Smith, R. H. & Kapros, C. E., 1949. Capsular reactions and soluble antigens of Torula histolytica and of Sporotrichum schenckii. J. Exp. Med. 89: 93–106.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Phaff, R. H. & Fell, J. W., 1970. Cryptococcus Kutzing emend. Phaff et Spencer. In: The Yeasts, a Taxonomic Study pp. 1088–1145. (Lodder, J., ed.), North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Schmeding, K. A., Jong, S. C. & Hugh, R., 1981. Sexual compatibility between serotypes of Filobasidiella neoformans (Cryptococcus neoformans). Current Microbiol. 5: 133–138.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Seeliger, H. P. R., 1956. Use of a urease test for the screening and identification of cryptococci. J. Bacteriol. 72: 127–131.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Sneath, P. H. A. & Sokal, R. R., 1973. Numerical Taxonomy. W. H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco. 573 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Sokal, R. R. & Sneath, P. H. A., 1963. Principles of Numerical Taxonomy. W. H. Freemand and Company, San Francisco. 359 pp.

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  31. Staib, F. & Mishra, S. K., 1975. Zur stammspezifischen Virulenz von Cryptococcus neoformans Tierexperimentelle Beobachtungen über zwei C. neoformans —Stämme aus Vogelfäkalien. Zentralbl. Bakteriol. Parasitent. Infektionskr. Hyg., Abt. 1: Orig. Reihe A. 230: 81–85.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Swinne-Desgain, D., 1976. Cryptococcus neoformans in the crops of pigeons following its experimental administration. Sabouraudia 14: 313–317.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Vogel, R. A., 1966. The indirect fluorescent antibody test for the detection of the antibody in human cryptococcal disease. J. Infect. Dis. 116: 573–580.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Walczek, C., 1979. Complex data analysis. FDA-Bylines 9: 251–253.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Walter, J. E. & Coffee, E. G., 1968. Distribution and epidemiologic significance of the serotypes of Cryptococcus neoformans. Am. J. Epidemiol. 87: 167–172.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Wickerham, L. J., 1951. Taxonomy of Yeasts. U.S. Dep. Agric. Tech. Bull. No. 1029, Washington, D.C. 56 pp.

  37. Wickerham, L. J. & Burton, K. A., 1948. Carbon assimilation tests for the classification of yeasts. J. Bacteriol. 56: 363–371.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Wilson, D. E., Bennett, J. E. & Bailey, J. W., 1968. Serologic grouping of Cryptococcus neoformans. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 127: 820–823.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mycology Department, American Type Culture Collection, 12301 Parklawn Drive, 20852, Rockville, MD, USA

    Kathryn A. Schmeding & Shung C. Jong

  2. Department of Microbiology, George Washington University School of Medicine, 20052, Washington, D.C., USA

    Rudolph Hugh

Authors
  1. Kathryn A. Schmeding
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shung C. Jong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rudolph Hugh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schmeding, K.A., Jong, S.C. & Hugh, R. Biochemical variation of Cryptococcus neoformans . Mycopathologia 84, 121–131 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00436523

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00436523

Keywords

Search

Navigation