RESUMO

Whole cells or cell walls of the yeastlike and mycelial forms of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Blastomyces dermatitidis and Histoplasma capsulatum were treated successively with sodium hydroxide, beta-1,3-glucanase and pronase. The microfibrils in the insoluble residues, probably composed of chitin, were examined in the electron microscope. In the yeastlike form, tightly interwoven, randomly oriented microfibrils were seen. On the other hand, in the mycelial form, a large portion of microfibrils tended to lie in a more or less longitudinal orientation. A role of chitin in the conversion from the yeastlike form to the mycelial form is discussed.

Assuntos

Blastomyces/ultraestrutura , Fungos/ultraestrutura , Histoplasma/ultraestrutura , Paracoccidioides/ultraestrutura , Blastomyces/efeitos dos fármacos , Parede Celular/ultraestrutura , Glucana 1,3-beta-Glucosidase , Glucosidases/farmacologia , Histoplasma/efeitos dos fármacos , Paracoccidioides/efeitos dos fármacos , Pronase/farmacologia , Hidróxido de Sódio/farmacologia