[Dimorphism of fungi - review of the literature].

Abstract

A recherche of 260 publications about dimorphism of fungi was elaborated. Beginning with the term dimorphism of fungi a description was represented of the distribution in the classes of the fungi, the ontogenesis of both types of the growth, the habits of dimorphic species of fungi, the conditions of the cultivation for the induction and maintenance of the dimorphic growth, mutants of dimorphic species of fungi, the physiology and biochemistry of cellular and filamentous forms of growth of species of fungi and general law of the dimorphism of fungi. As fundamentally exogenic factors of dimorphism were emphasized gas atmosphere, temperature, inoculum, form of cultivation, pH-value, C- and energy source, N-source and supplements in the substrate. Main working points of exogenic factors are the structure and function of the cell wall, mitochondria and growth zone of many dimorphic species of fungi. Aureobasidium pullulans, Candida albicans, Blastomyces brasiliensis and B. dermatitidis, Histoplasma capsulatum and H. farciminosum and species of Mucor and Mycotypha were selected as model organisms of the dimorphic growth. The metabolism processes of dimorphic Mucoraceae and activities of enzymes and paramorphogenes of the cellular form of growth were summarized in a scheme.