ULTRASTRUCTURAL EFFECTS OF PCMS ON MYCELIAL-YEAST TRANSITION IN HISTOPLASMA CAPSULATUM

The Yeast phase of Histoplasma capsulatum has stringent growth requirements. Transition from mycelium to yeast takes place only in the presence of cysteine and can be blocked by the -SH groups inhibitor p-chloromercury-phenylsulfonic acid (PCMS). Ultrastructural studies show lysis and degeneration of PCMS treated mycelium grown at 37 degrees C for 24 hours. Only 50% of PCMS treated mycelium appear degenerate when grown at 34 degrees C for 24 hours. The remaining cells have normal morphology with only slight changes in the cell wall structure. The effect of PCMS is permanent and hereditary. Mice injected with PCMS treated mycelium do not develop disease and are resistant to virulent strains of H. capsulatum when challenged.