SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF TUNICAMYCIN ON CANDIDA-ALBICANS

Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the effect of tunicamyc in, an inhibitor of N-glycosylation, on the morphology of Candida albi cans grown in minimal essential medium Earle's base and supplemented w ith 0.5% N-acetyl-D-glucosamine to stimulate germ tube induction. Addi tion of the drug prevented development of germ tubes, development of m ycelia from germ tubes and resumption of germ tube growth after drug r emoval. Inhibited cells increased in size during treatment and subsequ ently became misshapen and shrivelled with evidence of cytoplasmic spi llage.