STUDIES ON THE GROWTH OF HISTOPLASMA CAPSULATUM II

Abstract

Growth of small inocula of the yeast phase of H. capsulatum is inhibited by the addition of agar to liquid media. Evidence is presented which suggests that fatty acids present in agar inhibit growth, that -SH groups required for growth are rapidly oxidized on the surface of agar media, and that unknown factors are required to initiate the growth of cells separated from one another on the surface of agar media. Whole rabbits'' blood stimulates rapid growth of small inocula and this activity is associated with the albumin fraction and with the whole red cell. A simple rapid procedure for the removal of certain pathogenic organisms from the surface of agar media is presented.