Effect of Growth Media, pH and Temperature on Yeast to Hyphal Transition in Candida albicans

Sayyada Ghufrana Nadeem, Amna Shafiq, Shazia T. Hakim, Yasmeen Anjum, Shahana U. Kazm

Department of Botany, Jinnah University for Women, Karachi, Pakistan.
IIDRL, Department of Microbiology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.
Mycology Research and Reference Institute, Department of Microbiology, Jinnah University for Women, Karachi, Pakistan.

DOI: 10.4236/ojmm.2013.33028                

Abstract

The transition of C. albicans from unicellular yeast form to filamentous form i.e., pseudohyphae and hyphae is referred to as morphogenesis. C. albicans has the ability to respond to environmental conditions and accordingly changing its cell morphology. Three main morphological forms of C. albicans are unicellular yeast, pseudohyphae and hyphae. The effect of different growth media (Horse serum medium, RPMI-1640, MSGB), incubation temperatures (34°C, 37°C, 40°C) and pH values (5.4, 6.4, 7.4) on germ tube production by C. albicans was evaluated. Horse serum medium noticeably promotes filamentation while RPMI-1640 medium shows moderate filamentation and MSGB media shows moderately low filamentation. The germ tube of C. albicans developed early in 1.5 hr at high temperature i.e., 40°C. Incubation temperature of 37°C was associated with highest germ tube formation while 34°C shows low filamentation. A pH of 5.4 also induces low filamentation, pH 6.4 gives moderately lower than pH 7.4. A pH of 7.4 was best suited for germ tube induction. The peak of mycelium production appears between 1.5 and 6 hr after inoculation of C. albicans culture. These results suggested that environmental factors are important in selectively favoring yeast or hyphal form, most important being the growth medium, incubation temperature and external pH value.

Keywords

Candida albicans; Filamentation; Germ Tube; Morphogenesis; Pathogenesis

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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