Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of antineoplastic agents on growth, morphology and metabolism of Torulopsis glabrata

  • Published:
Mycopathologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of treatment by a number of antineoplastic agents on the growth, ultrastructure and macromolecular synthesis of T. glabrata was studied. Many differences were noted in the response of this yeast to these agents. Thiotepa and methotrexate inhibited the growth of T. glabrata, while it was resistant to endoxan-asta and vincristine sulphate.

A variation of morphological response of T. glabrata was also observed. Methotrexate enhanced filamentation while thiotepa influenced the surface structures of the cells, resulting in loss of cytoplasmic materials and cell collapse. The other two drugs had little or no effect on the morphology of the yeast tested.

The incorporation of precursors for macromolecular synthesis of T. glabrata in the presence of thiotepa and methotrexate was restricted. Thiotepa affected the uptake of precursors of RNA, DNA and protein limiting them to between 62 and 66% of the control values. In contrast, methotrexate limited the uptake of macromolecular precursors to a lesser extent. The possible mechanism of action of antineoplastic agents against yeast and the clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Aisner J, Schimpff S, Sutherland J, Young V, Wiernik P: Torulopsis glabrata infections in patients with cancer: Increasing incidence and relationship to colonization. Amer J Med 61:23–28, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Arai T, Mikami Y, Yokoyama K, Kawata T, Masuda K: Morphological changes in yeasts as a result of the action of 5-fluorocytosine. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 12:255–260, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bodey G: Fungal infections complicating acute leukemia. J Chron Dis 19:667–687, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Cho S, Choi H: Opportunistic fungal infection among cancer patients: a ten year autopsy study. Amer J Clin Pathol 72:617–621, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cohen SS: On the nature of the thymineless death. Ann NY Acad Sci 186:292–301, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Dolan T: A practical approach to identification of yeast-like organisms. Amer J Clin Pathol 55:580–590, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Gentles J, La Touche C: Yeasts as human and animal pathogens. In AH Rose & JS Harrison (eds), The Yeasts. Academic Press, London, 1969, p 107–182.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ghannoum MA, Al-Kharis A: Effect of antineoplastic agents on the growth and ultrastructure of Candida albicans. Mykosen 27:452–464, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ghannoum MA, Bowman WR, Valmas M: Antimicrobial activity of some heterocyclic derivatives of 1-methyl-1-nitroethyl sulphides. Microbios 42:211–223, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Ghannoum MA, Khattar M, Kayed F, Shridar P: The influence of antineoplastic agents on experimental candidosis in mice. Mykosen 28:369–387, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Gruhn J, Sanson J: Mycotic infections in leukemic patients at autopsy. Cancer 16:61–73, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Goldstein E, Rambo O: Cryptococcal infection following steroid therapy. Ann Intern Med 56:114–120, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hamilton-Miller J: Antimicrobial activity of 21 antineoplastic agents. Br J Cancer 49:367–369, 1984.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Heidelberger C: Fluorinated pyrimidines. Prog Nucleic Acid Res Mol Biol 4:1–50, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hoagland RJ, Sube J, Bishop R, Holding B: Mucormycosis. Amer J Med Sci 242:415–422, 1961.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Jacobs JY, Michel J, Sacks T: Bactericidal effect of combinations of antimicrobial drugs and antineoplastic antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicr Ag Chemoth 15:580–586, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kiehn T, Edwards F, Armstrong D: The prevalence of yeasts in clinical specimens from cancer patients. Amer J Clin Pathol 73:518–521, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Land G, Hulme K, Chaffin W: The effect of selected antineoplastic agents on the morphology of Candida albicans 5865. Can J Microbiol 26:812–818, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Leask B, Hurley R: Relationship of Torulopsis to Candida. Lancet 1:1300–1301, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Michel J, Jacob J, Sacks T: Bactericidal effect of combinations of antimicrobial drugs and antineoplastic antibiotics against gram-negative bacilli. Antimicr Ag Chemoth 16:761–766, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Mirsky H, Cuttner J: Fungal infection in acute leukemia. Cancer 30:348–352, 1972.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Montgomery J, Johnston T, Shealey Y: Drugs for neoplastic diseases. In: Burger A (ed). Wiley-Interscience, New York, 1970, pp 680–783.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Moody M, Young V, Morris M, Schimpff S: In vitro activities of miconazole, miconazole nitrate, and ketoconazole alone and combined with rifampin against Candida spp. and Torulopsis glabrata recovered from cancer patients. Antimicr Ag Chemoth 17:871–875, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Myerowitz R: Gastrointestinal and disseminated candidiasis: an experimental model in the immunosuppressed rat. Arch Pathol Lab Med 105:138–143, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Nichol C, Welch A: On the mechanism of action of aminopterin. Proc Soc Exptl Biol Med 74:403–411, 1950.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Nickerson W, Chung C: Genetic block in the cellular division mechanism of a morphological mutant of a yeast. Amer J Botany 41:114–120, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Nickerson W, Mankowski Z: Role of nutrition in the maintenance of the yeast-shape in candida. Amer J Botany 40:584–592, 1953.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Radman M: SOS repair hypothesis: phenomenology of an inducible DNA repair which is accompanied by metagenesis. In: Hanawalt P, Setlow RB (eds), Molecular mechanisms for repair of DNA. Plenum Press, New York, 1975, pp 355–367.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Remington J, Anderson S: Pneumocystis and fungal infection in patients with malignancies. J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1:313–315, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Roth B, Bliss E, Beddell C: Inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase. In: Neidle S, Waring M (eds), Molecular aspects of anti-cancer drug action. The Macmillan Press Ltd, London, 1983, pp 363–393.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Werkheiser W: The biochemical, cellular and pharmacological action and effects of the folic acid antagonists. Cancer Res 23:1277–1285, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Wilman D, Connors T: Molecular structure and antitumour activity of alkylating agents. In: Neidle S, Waring M (eds), Molecular aspects of anti-cancer drug action. The Macmillan Press Ltd, London, 1983, pp 233–282.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Witkin E: Ultraviolet mutagenesis and inducible DNA repair in Escherichia coli. Bacteriol Rev 40:869–907, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany and Microbiology, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, Kuwait

    Mahmoud A. Ghannoum

Authors
  1. Mahmoud A. Ghannoum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ghannoum, M.A. Effects of antineoplastic agents on growth, morphology and metabolism of Torulopsis glabrata . Mycopathologia 95, 175–181 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437124

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437124

Keywords

Search

Navigation