Invasive Hyphal Growth in Wangiella dermatitidis

[Guest guest]

Invasive Hyphal Growth in Wangiella dermatitidis Is Induced by Stab

Inoculation and Shows Dependence upon Melanin Biosynthesis

Brush1 and P. Money2

Department of Botany, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 45056

Accepted 9 November 1999. ; Available online 1 April 2002.

Abstract

Stab inoculation of agar medium with yeasts of the human pathogen

Wangiella dermatitidis resulted in induction of invasive hyphae.

Mechanical penetration of agar was indicated by the observation that

an increase in medium gel strength slowed the rate of substrate

invasion. A melanized wild-type strain (8656) exhibited much faster

invasive growth through 2–8% agar than three melanin-deficient

mutants. Inhibition of melanin synthesis in strain 8656 using

tricyclazole resulted in a decrease in its rate of invasive growth,

while scytalone restored melanin synthesis in the albino mel3 strain

and boosted its rate of invasive growth. Earlier research

established that cellular melanization is also associated with

invasive hyphal growth in the mouse brain, and infections with

strain 8656 are invariably lethal. Together, these in vitro and in

vivo data indicate that biomechanical characteristics of fungi may

be important determinants of virulence and disease progression in

human and animal mycoses.

Author Keywords: dimorphism; fungal pathogenicity; fungal virulence;

tissue invasion; turgor pressure.

1 Present address: Procter and Gamble Co., Sharon Woods Technical

Center, 11520 Hartman Highway, Cincinnati, OH 45241.

2 To whom correspondence should be addressed. Fax: (513) 529-4243. E-

mail: moneynp@....

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[Guest guest]

thanks Kc, fungi sure likes melanin soesn't it.

--- In , " tigerpaw2c " <tigerpaw2c@...>

wrote:

>

> Invasive Hyphal Growth in Wangiella dermatitidis Is Induced by Stab

> Inoculation and Shows Dependence upon Melanin Biosynthesis

>

> Brush1 and P. Money2

> Department of Botany, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 45056

> Accepted 9 November 1999. ; Available online 1 April 2002.

>

>

>

>

>

> Abstract

>

> Stab inoculation of agar medium with yeasts of the human pathogen

> Wangiella dermatitidis resulted in induction of invasive hyphae.

> Mechanical penetration of agar was indicated by the observation

that

> an increase in medium gel strength slowed the rate of substrate

> invasion. A melanized wild-type strain (8656) exhibited much faster

> invasive growth through 2–8% agar than three melanin-deficient

> mutants. Inhibition of melanin synthesis in strain 8656 using

> tricyclazole resulted in a decrease in its rate of invasive growth,

> while scytalone restored melanin synthesis in the albino mel3

strain

> and boosted its rate of invasive growth. Earlier research

> established that cellular melanization is also associated with

> invasive hyphal growth in the mouse brain, and infections with

> strain 8656 are invariably lethal. Together, these in vitro and in

> vivo data indicate that biomechanical characteristics of fungi may

> be important determinants of virulence and disease progression in

> human and animal mycoses.

>

> Author Keywords: dimorphism; fungal pathogenicity; fungal

virulence;

> tissue invasion; turgor pressure.

>

>

> 1 Present address: Procter and Gamble Co., Sharon Woods Technical

> Center, 11520 Hartman Highway, Cincinnati, OH 45241.

>

> 2 To whom correspondence should be addressed. Fax: (513) 529-4243.

E-

> mail: moneynp@...

>

>

> http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL & _udi=B6WFV-

> 45GMS81-6 & _user=10 & _coverDate=12%2F31%

> 2F1999 & _rdoc=6 & _fmt=summary & _orig=browse & _srch=doc-info(%23toc%

> 236804%231999%23999719996%23298858%23FLP%23display%23Volume)

>

& _cdi=6804 & _sort=d & _docanchor= & _ct=13 & _acct=C000050221 & _version=1 & _ur

> lVersion=0 & _userid=10 & md5=1d4249c22e91211bc2876abad4f7d7d8

>