The use of flow cytometry as a tool for monitoring filament formation of fungi.
Flow cytometry (FC) has the ability to discriminate a variety of cell parameters including cell size and complexity, and fluorescence intensity. As yeast cells or fungal spores germinate they undergo a morphological transformation from round oval shaped cells to elongate filamentous forms. To date, monitoring these events has been performed using microscopic examination. Microscopic examination is a labor intensive process that examines a very small percentage of the total cell population. We have developed a method using FC that is rapid, simple to perform, and reproducible. The major advantages of FC include analysis of a larger number of cells, increased objectivity due to nonselective measurements of all cells in the population studied, and the computer related data analysis capability of the flow cytometer.
Hopfer
R L
RL
Clinical Microbiology and Immunology Laboratories UNC Hospitals, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA. rhopfer@unch.unc.edu
Sparks
S D
SD
Cox
G M
GM
D002175:Candida / Q000254:growth & development*; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013194:Staining and Labeling