Ploidy determination of Canadida albicans

Abstract

The dimorphic yeast C. albicans, as a member of the fungi imperfecti, was assumed to be in the haploid, or imperfect, state. The DNA content of this species was measured by flow microfluorometry, a technique capable of analyzing single cells. These results were compared with flow microfluorometric DNA determinations on a series of strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae of known ploidy (haploid, diploid, triploid and tetraploid). These ploidy levels were readily distinguished by the flow microfluorometry procedure. By this criterion, C. albicans contained a diploid amount of DNA. UV radiation survival and chemical mutagenesis experiments support the conclusion that both clinically isolated and laboratory strains of C. albicans are diploid.