Comparative evaluation of macrodilution and chromogenic agar screening for determining fluconazole susceptibility of Candida albicans.

A simple screening method for fluconazole susceptibility using CHROMagar Candida with fluconazole was compared with the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) macrobroth method. In this agar dilution method, susceptible Candida albicans colonies are smaller on medium with fluconazole than on fluconazole-free medium. Yeasts with decreased susceptibility have normal-sized colonies on medium containing fluconazole. On agar with 16 micrograms of fluconazole per ml, 32 of 34 strains with NCCLS MICs of > or = 16 micrograms/ml were correctly predicted, as were 66 of 68 with MICs of < 16, an agreement of 96%. On agar with 8 micrograms of fluconazole per ml, 38 of 41 isolates with MICs of > or = 8 were correctly predicted, as were 59 of 61 isolates with MICs of < 8, an agreement of 95%. This agar dilution methods appears to highly correlate with NCCLS macrobroth methods for detection of C. albicans and may be an effective screen for fluconazole susceptibility.     

Detection of Candida dubliniensis in Oropharyngeal Samples from Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients in North America by Primary CHROMagar Candida Screening and Susceptibility Testing of Isolates

Candida dubliniensis has been associated with oropharyngeal candidiasis in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). C. dubliniensis isolates may have been improperly characterized as atypical Candida albicans due to the phenotypic similarity between the two species. Prospective screening of oral rinses from 63 HIV-infected patients detected atypical dark green isolates on CHROMagar Candida compared to typical C. albicans isolates, which are light green. Forty-eight atypical isolates and three control strains were characterized by germ tube formation, differential growth at 37, 42, and 45°C, identification by API 20C, fluorescence, chlamydoconidium production, and fingerprinting by Ca3 probe DNA hybridization patterns. All isolates were germ tube positive. Very poor or no growth occurred at 42°C with 22 of 51 isolates. All 22 poorly growing isolates at 42°C and one isolate with growth at 42°C showed weak hybridization of the Ca3 probe with genomic DNA, consistent with C. dubliniensis identification. No C. dubliniensis isolate but only 18 of 28 C. albicans isolates grew at 45°C. Other phenotypic or morphologic tests were less reliable in differentiating C. dubliniensis from C. albicans. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed fluconazole MICs ranging from ≤0.125 to 64 μg/ml. Two isolates were resistant to fluconazole (MIC, 64 μg/ml) and one strain was dose dependent susceptible (MIC, 16 μg/ml). MICs of other azoles, including voriconazole, itraconazole, and SCH 56592, for these isolates were lower. C. dubliniensis was identified in 11 of 63 (17%) serially evaluated patients. Variability in phenotypic characteristics dictates the use of molecular and biochemical techniques to identify C. dubliniensis. This study identifies C. dubliniensis in HIV-infected patients from San Antonio, Tex., and shows that C. dubliniensis is frequently detected in those patients by using a primary CHROMagar screen.     

The effects of 1-[di(2-chloroethyl)amino-methyl]benzimidazole and related compounds on the growth of experimental tumours

The inhibitory activity of some benzimidazole Mannich-base nitrogen mustards on the growth of experimental tumours, viz. mouse fibrosarcoma in mice and Yoshida ascites sarcoma in rats has been examined. Amongst the compounds tested 5,6-dichloro-1-[di(2-chloroethyl)aminomethyl]benzimidazole and 1-[di(2-chloroethyl)-aminomethyl]-2-phenylbenzimidazole showed inhibitory effect on mouse fibrosarcoma; while 4-bromo-1-[di(2-chloroethyl)aminomethyl]benzimidazole, 4-chloro-1-[di(2-chloroethyl)aminomethyl]-benzimidazole and 1-[di(2-chloroethyl)aminomethyl]-5-methoxybenzimidazole were active against Yoshida ascites sarcoma.     

Synthesis, characterization, antibiogram and DNA binding studies of novel Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes of Schiff base ligands with quinoline core

A series of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) complexes of Schiff base ligands L¹H₃ and L²H have been prepared. The ligands are synthesized by the condensation of 2-hydroxy-3-formylquinoline with salicyloylhydrazide and 2-hydrazinobenzothiazole in absolute ethanol. The prepared complexes were characterized by the analytical and spectral techniques. The stoichiometry of the complexes is found to be 1:1. The presence of coordinated and lattice water is confirmed by the TG and DTA studies. Subsequently all the prepared complexes were screened for antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi. The Cu(II) complexes have been found to be more active than the ligand. In addition the DNA binding/cleaving capacity of the compounds was analyzed by absorption spectroscopy, viscosity measurement, thermal denaturation, and gel electrophoresis methods.