Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
1995-11-6
pubmed:abstractText
A screening of putative killer yeast strains showed that spore-forming ascomycetous yeasts of the genera Pichia and Williopsis displayed the broadest range of activity against sensitive strains of Candida spp. and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Williopsis mrakii (NCYC 500) showed extensive anti-Candida activity against strains isolated from clinical specimens. W. mrakii killer factor was produced in minimal media as a function of growth and its activity reached constant levels as cells entered stationary phase. The proteinaceous killer toxin was found to be unstable without a specific range of temperature and pH (above 30 degrees C and pH 4.0), and further analysis showed that the active toxin molecule was an acidic polypeptide with a relative molecular mass between 1.8-5.0 kDa. At critical concentrations the killer factor exerted a greater effect on stationary phase cells of Candida than cells from an exponential phase of growth. At low concentrations, the killer toxin produced a fungistatic effect on sensitive yeasts but at higher concentrations there was evidence to suggest that membrane damage accounted for the zymocidal effects of the killer factor. the cidal nature of the toxin was reflected in a rapid decrease in sensitive cell viability. Findings presented suggest that W. mrakii killer toxin has potential as a novel antimycotic agent in combatting medically important strains of Candida.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
1350-0872
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
141 ( Pt 8)
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
2003-12
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1995
pubmed:articleTitle
Anti-Candida activity of a novel killer toxin from the yeast Williopsis mrakii.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, University of Abertay Dundee, UK.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't