Candida albicans to human buccal epithelial cells after 2 h at 370C was significantly greater in human saliva than in phosphate-buffered saline. In saliva, viable fungi adhered much better than did nonviable fungi, and this adherence was greater at 37 than at 250C. Viable yeasts, preincubated in saliva for 90 min at 370C before being washed and mixed with epithelial cells in phosphate-buffered saline, adhered better than nonviable yeasts or yeasts preincubated in phosphate-buffered saline. Enhanced adherence in saliva appeared to be associated with germination of the yeast cells. Conditions permitting germination (growth in tissue culture medium 199 at 370C but not at 250C) also supported enhanced adherence. After germination had occurred, the fungi could be killed with Formalin without interfering with their rapid and efficient adherence to epithelial cells. These data indicate that the enhanced adherence of C. albicans observed after incubation in saliva is related to changes in the fungi, rather than to a requirement for prolonged interaction between fungi and epithelial cells.
Tolytoxin, a cytostatic, antifungal macrolide produced by blue-green algae of the genus Scytonema, is a potent, reversible inhibitor of cytokinesis in cultured mammalian cells. Treatment of KB cells with 2-16 nM tolytoxin results in profound morphological changes, beginning with the formation of zeiotic processes and culminating in nuclear protrusion. In L1210 cells, cytokinesis is inhibited by as little as 2 nM tolytoxin, while karyokinesis proceeds normally, resulting in polynucleation. Tolytoxin specifically disrupts microfilament organization in A10 cells, while having no apparent effect on microtubules or intermediate filaments. Tolytoxin inhibited actin polymerization in vitro and also caused the depolymerization or fragmentation of F-actin in vitro. Tolytoxin exhibits effects that closely resemble those of cytochalasin B but is effective at concentrations 1/50-1/1,000 that of cytochalasin B.
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