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Comparative growth kinetics and basic carbohydrate metabolism of Microsporum gypseum and a pleomorphic form. Makinen, Ralph Wayne

Abstract

A parent and pleomorphic strain of the dermatophyte Microsporum gypseum were cultured in chemically defined media under standardized conditions in order to compare growth kinetics, changes in chemical composition with time, and basic carbohydrate metabolism. In general, the two strains were similar in most respects, although some differences were observed. The growth potential of the pleomorphic form was greater than that of the parent form under most conditions examined. The kinetics of mass increase in liquid culture, and of colonial growth on solid culture were examined and compared to those of other fungi, and to those of bacteria. The equations describing bacterial colonial extension were tested against both strains of M. gypseum, and found to be invalid. The rate of subsurface mass increase was exponential with time. Both strains were found to possess some of the enzymes of the Embden-Meyerhof and hexose-monophosphate glycolytic pathways, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and isocitrate lyase. No enzymes utilizing glyoxylate were detected, nor were the enzymes exclusive to the Entner-Doudoroff pathway.

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