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Thursday, 26 February 2015

Suitable temperature for the growth of fungus is 20-25°C but why in MLT 30-35°C temperature is mentioned in pharmacopoeia for incubation of C.albicans?

Fungus is mainly divided in to two categories yeasts and molds and C.albicans is a type of fungus under the category of yeast. The difference between yeast and mold is that yeasts are unicellular (made of single type of cell) and molds are multicellular (made of different types of cells). Low temperature and humidity is the primary requirement for the growth of fungus that's why 20-25°C temperature is recommended for the proper growth of fungus by different pharmacopoeias. But in case of MLT (Microbial limit test), when we perform test for specified microorganisms 30-35°C temperature is mentioned in pharmacopoeia for incubation of C.albicans. But why 30-35°C temperature is mentioned in pharmacopoeia while 20-25°C temperature is suitable for the growth of fungus?
The reason is that at 30-35°C temperature rapid differentiation of Candida strain takes place. This high temperature suits for the growth of C.albican strain which grow properly at this temperature while other strains of Candida couldn't grow at this high temperature so by using high temperature C.albican strain is differentiated from the other closely ralated strains of candida species. That's why Sabouraud dextrose broth and Sabouraud dextrose agar media are incubated at 30-35°C for identification of C.albican strain as per pharmacopoeias.

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