Antigens in ruptured mycelium of 18 Aspergillus strains including 14 clinical isolates of A. fumigatus were studied by immunoelectrophoresis. One antigenic component of molecular weight 470 000 previously characterized by hydrophobic interaction chromatography and gel filtration and a second component with catalase activity were detected in all A. fumigatus isolates but in varying quantities. The 470 000 antigen complex cross-reacted with antigens in A. flavus and A. nidulans but not in A. niger or A. terreus. A. fumigatus catalase antigen cross-reacted with catalase in A. flavus, A. nidulans and A. terreus, but not in A. niger. One A. fumigatus isolate produced two catalase antigens showing a reaction of partial identity. A. flavus also produced two catalase antigens, one of which was species-specific.
Histolyn-CYL, a yeast phase skin-test reagent, was administered to 85 histoplasmin-sensitive subjects living in the United States and South America. In a multicenter study, sera were obtained at the time the skin tests were read and again 3 weeks later. In no instance did the skin test induce significant complement-fixing antibody changes or antibodies detected by immuno-diffusion.
Temporal studies of germ-tube forming yeast cells of Candida albicans by scanning and transmission electron microscopy indicate that extensive vacuolation and possibly also cell wall changes may cause walls of the parent yeast cell to collapse during specimen preparation. This collapse does not occur in cells which have been grown in conditions that suppress germ tube formation and have undergone the same preparative treatment.
Rhizopus species was isolated from 8 cases of gastric ulcer in piglets who died 2-5 days after birth. The prevalence of the condition was 0.775% of 1032 live births, and it was the cause of neonatal death in 3.65% of 219 instances. The gross and microscopic pathologies of the lesions are described.
The careers of William Ophuls (1871-1933), Myrnie Gifford (1892-1966), Charles Edward Smith (1904-1967) and William A. Winn (1903-1967) are briefly reviewed, with emphasis on their contributions to knowledge of Coccidioides and coccidioidomycosis. All were students with broad interests, and all were quite willing to suggest new concepts and classifications to replace those of their predecessors.