Growth and acid production of Candida albicans in carbohydrate supplemented media

Abstract

Aerobic and anaerobic growth characteristics and acid production of a clinical and a reference laboratory strain of C. albicans in 0.1 M, glucose or sucrose-supplemented batch cultures were examined for 72 h, at 37°C. Both strains gave sigmoid growth curves, aerobically, and the pH dropped from 7.0 to 3.5 in 48 h. Candidal growth or acid production was not observed in submerged, anaerobic cultures. The specific growth rate of the clinical strain of Candida was significantly greater than the reference strain, in both sugar media. The major acidic component initiating and sustaining the pH drop appeared to be acetate, although formate, pyruvate and propionate were detected in varying proportions in glucose or sucrose cultures. These anionic, acidic metabolites of C. albicans, may play a role in the pathogenesis of mucosal candidoses such as chronic atrophic candidosis.