YEAST-LIKE FUNGI OF HUMAN INTESTINAL TRACT 45 



Physiologic Properties. It ferments glucose, maltose, and levulose; occa- 

 sionally sucrose and galactose are fermented. Yeast-water sugar mediums, 

 with an initial acidity of +1, become more alkaline (Table 6, Culture 2.501). 

 Litmus milk is rendered alkaline in 2 weeks, but is not clotted. Gelatin is 

 rarely liquefied. 



The culture was isolated from a sprue patient by Dr. B. K. Ashford in Porto 

 Rico. (Culture D; Culture 2.501 was pronounced by Dr. Ashford to be iden- 

 tical with his organism*; Type Specimen 4; Type Slide 2.5.) 



This species strongly resembles the fungus variously called Oidium albicans, 

 Monilia albicans, and Endomyces albicans. Castellani ('16) has, however, 

 reserved the name Monilia albicans for a species which always clots milk and 

 liquefies gelatin. Monilia albicans, Oidium albicans and Endomyces albicans 

 are synonyms, and if Vaillimin's ('99) results are accepted and are x of general 

 application to all of these, the correct name for the species is Endomyces 

 albicans, since he states that this species forms asci after the manner of other 

 species of the genus Endomyces. Since all efforts to develop the perfect stage 

 of the sprue organism, both by Dr. Ashford and myself, ended in failure and 

 since it differs in many of its physiologic characters from the typical Endomyces 

 albicans, it has been thought best to give it specific rank rather than to regard 

 it as a variety of Endomyces albicans. 



PARASACCHAROMYCES THOMASI SP. NOV. 



Morphology. In young cultures, cells are elliptical or ovate ; in old cultures, 

 surface cells are round, oval, elliptical, or elongated ; submedial cells form a 

 distinct mycelium mostly by elongation of cells produced by budding. There 

 is occasional septation in gelatin hanging-drop. Budding occurs from ends, or 

 shoulders. The size is 3.5 \ 5 microns. (Plate 5, Figs. 4, 5.) 



Cultural Characters. On glucose agar the streak is, at first, white, glisten- 

 ing, convex, and smooth ; later the surface becomes rugose with a decidedly 

 elevated ridge down the center. Beneath the surface of the medium the radi- 

 ating hyphae form a villous fringe. In beerwort and liquid sugar mediums no 

 pellicle or ring is present. In gelatin-stab cultures the growth is finely villous. 

 Giant colonies in beerwort gelatin are decidedly yellow in color and otherwise 

 very characteristic. (Plate 6, Fig. 4; Plate 8, Fig. 12.) 



Physiologic Properties. Slow fermentation of glucose, levulose, and maltose. 

 In litmus milk there is a decided alkaline reaction. 



The culture was isolated from human feces. (Culture 147.103; Type Speci- 

 men 10; Type Slide 147.) 



This species is similar to Parasaccharomyces Ashfordi in its physiologic 

 properties. It differs mainly in its morphologic characters and the type of 

 giant colonies produced. The yellow, rugose colony in beerwort gelatin is 

 especially characteristic and easily distinguishes in this species from P. Ashfordi. 



SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 



Yeast-like fungi are commonly found in the intestinal tract of man. 

 They are of many species and, for the most part, such types as are com- 

 monly present in nature and known as 'wild yeasts.' It is probable that 

 these yeasts are ingested with the food. 



"Letter, Dec. 6, 1916. 



