A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON TWO FORMS OF GANDIDA TROPICALIS (CAST.) BERKHOUT

Abstract

Taxonomic studies on 32 strains of Candida tropicalis and its allies revealed that they could be divided into two forms. C. tropicalis form I (24 strains) had a GC content of 34.1-34.9%, assimilated soluble starch, had an antigenic structure of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and formed wrinkled colonies with hair when they aged. C. tropicalis form II (8 strains) had a GC content of 36.3-36.8%, did not assimilate soluble starch, had an antigenic structure of 1, 2, 3, 4, (5), (6), and formed smooth colonies without hair when they aged. These two forms are also differentiated by the proton magnetic resonance spectra of alkali-extracted mannans. Since taxonomic characteristics of strains of form I are identical with those of the standard description of C. tropicalis, the strains of form II should be represented as a new species. The name Candida subtropicalis is proposed for the strain of form II and the description of this species is given.