DIMORPHISM IN CANDIDA ALBICANS. II. COMPARISON OF FINE STRUCTURE OF YEAST-LIKE AND FILAMENTOUS PHASE GROWTH

Abstract

The structure of both yeast-like (Y) and filamentous (F) phase growth of Candida albicans, morphogenesis of which was controlled by the different concentration of yeast extract added to the culture medium, was studied on electron micrographs of ultrathin sections. Parallel studies were also carried out by phase-contrast microscopy on external morphology of living cells. Compared to Y-phase cells which exhibited essentially the same cytology as that noted for C. albicans or Saccharomyces cerevisiae by many workers, F-phase cells were distinctly characterized by the extensive development of intracytoplasmic membrane systems (ICMS) and endoplasmic reticulum. Such ICMS appeared to originate from the cell membrane and, frequently, to form whorled structures composed of multiple layers of a unit membrane, resembling in appearance the corresponding structures reported for several filamentous fungi.