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Variable colonial phenotypic expression and comparison to nuclei number in Blastomyces dermatitidis.
K V Clemons1, S M Hurley, L G Treat-Clemons
1Department of Medicine, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA 95128.
Summary
Colonial phenotypes of Blastomyces dermatitidis vary with isolate, temperature, and media. This study found no link between nuclei count and colonial type, offering a basis for isolate typing.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Microbial Physiology
Background:
- Blastomyces dermatitidis is a fungus causing blastomycosis.
- Understanding its colonial morphology is crucial for diagnostics and epidemiology.
- Variability in fungal growth can impact identification and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of environmental factors on Blastomyces dermatitidis colonial phenotypes.
- To determine if nuclear content correlates with observed colony types.
- To explore potential methods for differentiating B. dermatitidis isolates.
Main Methods:
- Culturing five B. dermatitidis isolates on four different media at three temperatures (33, 35, and 37°C).
- Classifying colonial morphology into yeast, mycelial, or mixed types.
- Quantifying the number of nuclei per yeast cell using fluorescent staining.
Main Results:
- Identified three distinct colonial phenotypes: yeast, mycelial, and mixed.
- Observed significant variation in growth patterns and colony types among isolates across different temperature-media combinations.
- Found no correlation between the number of nuclei per yeast cell and the observed colonial phenotype.
Conclusions:
- Colonial phenotype of B. dermatitidis is a complex trait influenced by isolate, temperature, and culture medium.
- Nuclear content does not appear to be a determinant of colonial morphology in B. dermatitidis.
- These findings provide a foundation for developing phenotypic-based strategies for B. dermatitidis isolate typing.