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Simple method of inducing sporulation by Apophysomyces elegans and Saksenaea vasiformis
1Division of Mycotic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333.
Abstract:
Apophysomyces elegans and Saksenaea vasiformis are notorious for their failure to sporulate on routine media. Agar blocks, permeated with the mycelia of A. elegans and S. vasiformis, were cut aseptically from 7-day-old colonies grown on Sabouraud dextrose agar and transferred to plates containing 20 ml of sterile distilled water supplemented with 0.2 ml of 10% filter-sterilized yeast extract solution. When the plates were incubated at 37 degrees C, all 5 isolates of A. elegans and all 10 isolates of S. vasiformis produced abundant, characteristic sporangia within 7 to 10 days. The method is simple to use and yields consistent results.
Insights
A simple method using yeast extract in distilled water successfully induced sporulation in Apophysomyces elegans and Saksenaea vasiformis, fungi that typically resist sporulation on standard media.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Medical Mycology
- Fungal Diagnostics
Background:
- Apophysomyces elegans and Saksenaea vasiformis are medically significant fungi.
- These fungi often fail to sporulate on standard laboratory media, complicating identification.
- Sporulation is crucial for accurate fungal identification and characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a reliable method for inducing sporulation in Apophysomyces elegans and Saksenaea vasiformis.
- To overcome the challenge of poor sporulation in these fungal species.
- To provide a consistent protocol for diagnostic laboratories.
Main Methods:
- Agar blocks of 7-day-old mycelial cultures of A. elegans and S. vasiformis were used.
- Cultures were grown on Sabouraud dextrose agar.
- Blocks were transferred to sterile distilled water with 10% yeast extract and incubated at 37°C.
Main Results:
- All 5 isolates of Apophysomyces elegans sporulated abundantly.
- All 10 isolates of Saksenaea vasiformis sporulated abundantly.
- Characteristic sporangia were produced within 7 to 10 days of incubation.
Conclusions:
- The described method effectively induces sporulation in A. elegans and S. vasiformis.
- This technique offers a simple, consistent, and reliable approach for fungal sporulation.
- The protocol is suitable for routine use in diagnostic mycology.