A Minimal Synthetic Liquid Medium For Germ Tube Production By Candida Albicans

V Bhatia, H Joshi, K. R Joshi 
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Correspondence Address:
V Bhatia

A series of synthetic media consisting of various combinations of six amino acids (L-serine, DL-Methionine, L-ornithine, L-phenylalanine, L-alanine, L-leucine) in concentration of 20 mg% each, salt solution (containing potassium dihydrogen phosphate, calcium chloride, magnesium sulphate, ammonium sulphate), glucose and vitamin B-complex (Microbion forte) were evaluated for their ability to induce formation of germtubes in a strains of Candida albicans. The results were compared with that obtained in human serum. Formation of germtube occurred maximally (45.2%) in a simple synthetic medium consisting of glucose 100mg% and serine, ornithine and methionine 20 mg% each only. Compared to this in human serum the strain formed 38.5% germ tubes only. Subsequently 47 isolates of different species of Candida consisting of Candida albicans (30), Candida tropicalis (13), Candida pseudotropicalis (2), Candida Parapsilosis (2) were tested for formation of germ tubes in this simple synthetic medium and in serum. All the isolates of Candida albicans and 2 of Candida tropicalis which formed germ tubes in human serum also formed these in this medium, the number of germ tube formed however, was slightly more in the synthetic medium. The medium is thus equally specific and sensitive, and being simple and synthetic is recommended for use in germ tube test and in the study of factors involved and biochemical events occurring during the formation of germ tubes.