HANSENULA-ANOMALA KILLER TOXIN INDUCES SECRETION AND SEVERE ACUTE INJURY IN THE RAT INTESTINE

Background & Aims: The yeast Hansenula anomala has been associated wit h gastrointestinal symptomatology and damage to the intestinal wall in humans, In vitro and in vivo, H. anomala secretes a toxin, killer tox in, which is lethal to other microorganisms. In view of the very high rate of killer phenotype expression recorded for H. anomala strains in nature, this study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that H. anomal a killer toxin plays a role in the pathogenesis of H. anomala-induced enteritis, Methods: Effects of active and heat-inactivated H. anomala killer toxin on intestinal fluid homeostasis and electrolyte balance w ere investigated in rat small intestine using a standard intestinal pe rfusion technique, Sections of the perfused jejunum tracts were examin ed histologically. Results: H. anomala killer toxin induced a signific ant secretion of water and electrolytes, No significant change was obs erved when either heat-inactivated H. anomala killer toxin or control growth medium were tested, Histological analysis showed ischemic degen eration of villi and sloughing of surface epithelium in 50% of active H. anomala killer toxin-perfused jejuna. Conclusions: This paper prese nts original observations compatible with the hypothesis that H. anoma la killer toxin plays a role in the pathogenesis of H. anomala-induced enteritis.