Identification of Species of Candida, Cryptococcus, and Torulopsis by Gas-Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Gas-liquid chromatography was used to identify species of Candida, Cryptococcus, and Torulopsis by fatty-acid analysis of the whole-cell hydrolysate. Candida albicans characteristically revealed 2-OH C14:0 and C19:0 (chain length:number of double bonds); these were absent in other organisms. Candida curvata was characterized by a ratio of C16:1 to C16:0 of > 1.0. Candida guilliermondii contained Cl0:0, and Candida tropicalis had no C12:0; these features were used for their identification. Cryptococcus was characterized by the absence of C16:1. Torulopsis was characterized by a C16:1 to C16:0 ratio of > 10 accompanied by the presence of one unidentified fatty acid. These data suggested that certain Candida, Cryptococcus, and Torulopsis (the clinically important yeast-like organisms) may be identified by gas-liquid chromatography.