Further Studies on the Practical Classification of the Monilias

Abstract

having been suggested previously by workers in other laboratories. Since many strains were unavailable, both synonymies were based chiefly on descriptions found in the literature. The confusion caused by the use of such methods is well illustrated by Dodge (1935), who splits into 5 different genera (Syringospora, Blastodendrion, Zymonema, Castellania, and Candida), those 51 fungi in regard to which there is complete agreement between Langeron and Guerra (1938) and Ciferri et al. (1938) that they all belong to a single species albicans.In 1937 we published a method of classification based on the study of 172 strains of anascosporogenous mycelia-producing yeastlike fungi, 169 of which could be classified into one of 6 species, including a new species, Monilia stellatoidea. The methods were essentially bacteriologic in nature beginning with the streaking of a blood agar plate from a 48-hour growth in glucose broth. This blood agar plate was an essentialpart of the procedure because it not only allowed the detection of bacterial contaminants, but also enabled the observer to pick a pure smooth colony for subculture. By following a rigid technique it was found that the carbohydrate fermentations and microscopic morphology on corn meal agar were remarkably constant for each species. By thus combining many of the essential points in the identification of pathogenic bacteria, i.e., microscopic morphology, colony morphology, carbohydrate fermentations, growth in broth, agglutination and animal pathogenicity, it was possible to establish diagnostic criteria for these mycelia-producing non-ascosporogenous yeasts.Since publication of this paper, we have received, from various mycologists, numerous criticisms attacking our retention of the name "Monilia," the use of such an unusual medium as "blood agar," and the synonymy as presented in that paper. The name "Monilia" was retained by us because it is a generic name which is recognized by the clinician and the bacteriologist. We have been unable to convince ourselves that it would be worthwhile to enter into this controversy over taxonomy. Since the acceptable generic name is determined by priority of usage and the cultures studied by these early investigators are no longer 610 on July 16, 2020 by guest

The Yeast-Like Fungi: Candida and Brettanomyces

“…Mickle and Jones (185), Martin and Jones (178) and Conant (55) were able to confirm the results of Negroni and Mackinnon and offer some special points of interest. These workers did not start with old laboratory cultures which already had or may have started to undergo spontaneous variation but with strains freshly isolated from the human body.…”

“…An especial advance was also made by Martin, Jones, Yao and Lee (179), whose clear-cut classification of the "medical monilias" reduced to 6, the 40 species of Castellani. This classification was later improved (178). Clear-cut evaluation of techniques and criteria are characteristic of both of these papers.…”

“…This is essentially the attitude of most recent workers on yeast-like fungi. It was the attitude of Henrici (108) in 1930, who since he did not have the more recent data, probably carried it to an extreme, and of Benham who for practical purposes started the modern approach to classification of Candida, carried on so successfully by Martin et al (178,179), Langeron and Guerra (150), Diddens and Lodder (69), and Mackinnon (168).…”

Dissociation of Candida Albicans by Lithium Chloride and Immune Serum

“…It was conceivable that cultures maintained on different media for varying periods of time might become partially dissociated and be described as new species because of slight morphologic variations. Such a condition was found to exist when Martin and Jones (1940) studied many old cultures which could not be identified readily with the six species most commonly isolated from man: Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. pseudo-tropicalis, C. krusei, C. parakrusei, and C. stellktoidea. Before these cultures could be identified by the methods of Martin, Jones, Yao and Lee (1937) it was necessary to streak 48-hour Sabouraud's broth cultures on blood agar plates to separate the smooth and rough variants.…”

“…It was felt that similar changes occurred in yeast-like fungi and might account for many of the irregularities noted in descriptions based on studies of old strains. Martin and Jones (1940), for example, observed that about one-fourth of the strains of Candida2 obtained from the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures differed from the original descriptions in certain features. While it was thought that these cultures were members of the six species described by them, they could be classified only provisionally by the methods adapted to the study of freshly isolated strains.…”