ISOLATION OF DSRNA-ASSOCIATED VLPS FROM THE STRAIN CRYPTOCOCCUS-HUNGARICUS CBS-6569

Double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) with molecular masses 1.7 and 5.0 kbp, r espectively, were isolated from the strain Cryptococcus hungaricus CBS 6569. The dsRNAs were copurified with eicosahedric virus-like particl es, 29 nm in diameter. This strain produced a prelease-sensitive 'toxi n' which inhibited the growth of strain C. hungaricus CBS 4214. The to xin had maximum activity at pH 3.7. The highest toxin amount was attai ned after a culture period of four days. (C) 1998 Federation of Europe an Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.