Esculin-based medium for isolation and identification of Cryptococcus neoformans.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
S C EdbergJ M Singer

Abstract

A simple medium was developed, using esculin as the substrate, for the isolation and identification of Cryptococcus neoformans. C. neoformans produced a brown-black pigment on the medium; all other yeasts produced no pigment or were light yellow. Esculin is beta-glucose-6,7-dihydroxycoumarin. C. neoformans produced pigment because the 6,7-dihydroxycoumarin component of the esculin molecule was converted to a melanin-like pigment. We think the reaction was similar to the conversion of diphenols, aminophenols, and diaminobenzenes to melanin. Laboratory studies with isolates of C. neoformans, C. albidus, C. luteolus, and C. terreus and representatives of the genera Candida, Torulopsis, Geotrichum, and Rhodotorula, plus environmental field studies, demonstrated that over 95% of C. neoformans isolates were correctly identified, whereas all other fungi were excluded. Esculin agar was a sensitive, specific medium for the isolation and identification of C. neoformans. It was inexpensive and had a long storage life.

References

Aug 1, 1977·Journal of Clinical Microbiology·S C EdbergJ M Singer
Mar 1, 1978·Journal of Clinical Microbiology·A Miskin, S C Edberg

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Citations

Oct 11, 2015·Eukaryotic Cell·Fausto AlmeidaArturo Casadevall
Feb 1, 1982·Journal of Clinical Microbiology·C S Kaufmann, W G Merz

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