title: Cell wall carbohydrates content of pathogenic Candida albicans strain morphological forms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study evaluated the cell wall carbohydrates fraction in blastoconidia grown in YEPD medium at 30 degrees C and in the conglomerate of true hyphae grown in human serum at 37 degrees C.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical isolate obtained from a child with widespread C. albicans infection was used in the study. The cells were broken with glass beads, centrifuged to harvest the cell wall followed by subjection to TFA hydrolysis and in the result of that released monosaccharides were detected by HPAEC-PAD. Both, serum and temperature conditions (37 degrees C) affected germination process influencing the cell wall carbohydrates content when incubation in serum was prolonged from 1 to 18 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mannan content of blastoconidia was almost twofold higher compared to filamentous forms (149.25 +/- 299.24 vs 77.26 +/- 122.07). The glucan content was threefold lower in blastoconidia compared to hyphae (251.86 +/- 243.44 vs 755.81 +/- 1299.30). The chitin level was fourfold lower in blastoconidia compared to filaments (23.86 +/- 54.09 vs 106.29 +/- 170.12). The reason for the differences in the carbohydrates content may be related to type of morphology induced in different environmental conditions. Among tested carbohydrates, glucan appeared to be present in appreciably larger amounts in both tested morphological fractions. The ultrastructure of the blastoconidial cell wall revealed striking differences compared to the hyphae indicating the carbohydrates content alterations for wall assembly during hyphal growth at alkaline pH and temp. 37 degrees C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study provided evidence for the relationship between morphogenesis, cell-cell adhesion induced by serum and changes in the level of carbohydrates content.
authors.affiliation: Independent Laboratory of Streptomyces and Fungi Imperfecti, National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland. mstaniszewska@pzh.gov.pl
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Staniszewska
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bondaryk
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rabczenko
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smoleńska-Sym
authors.forename: Wiesław
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kurzatkowski
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates