Nutritional physiology and selective isolation ofExophiala dermatitidis

Abstract

The nutritional physiology of ten strains ofExophiala dermatitidis was investigated. The growth reactions to lactose, citrate, nitrate, nitrite, lysine, creatine and creatinine differ from those found in closely related black yeasts. In addition, it is the onlyExophiala species which is able to grow at 40° C. A selective medium containingmeso-erythritol as sole carbon source was evaluated. This medium is particularly useful for the isolaton of black yeasts from lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis as well as from the environment.