The Three-Dimensional Morphology of Candida albicans as Seenby High-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy

摘要

The fine structure of Candida albicans has been repeatedly described by transmission electron microscopy,whereas studies by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM) are rare and devoted solely tothe study of its external morphology. This report describes the results of an HRSEM study on C. albicanscarried out by an osmium maceration protocol modified to better retain the structural characteristics ofthis yeast. Thus, we visualized various intracellular structures including invaginations of cell membrane(plasmalemmasomes), nuclear envelope, mitochondria, the vacuolar system, and two additional structuresthat might represent a form of endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. The present investigation,which for the first time shows the organelles of C. albicans at the 3D level, may lead to a better under-standing of its cell physiology.