METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE AFFINITY OF FIBRINOGEN AND DERIVATIVES THEREOF FOR FILAMENTARY FORMS OF YEAST, AND USE THEREOF FOR DETERMINING PATHOGENIC YEAST, PARTICULARLY IN BLOOD CULTURE

摘要

A method for determining the possible affinity of a substance (F) selected from the group consisting of Fg, Fn, FDPs and mixtures thereof, for filamentary forms of yeast strains. The method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of (1) cultivating (A) a sample containing yeasts of interest substantially in the form of blastospores, as well as at least one substance capable of affecting the binding mechanism of said substance (F) to said yeasts, and suitably diluted to prevent substantially all interference with said mechanism, in (B) a nutrient medium for promoting blastospore multiplication until a population of at least 104 yeasts/ml is obtained; (2) cultivating the resulting yeast blastospores in a nutrient medium for promoting filamentation; (3) contacting the resulting filamentary forms with a substance (F) selected from the group consisting of fibrinogen, fibrin, FDPs and mixtures thereof; and (4) determining the binding or lack thereof of said substance (F) to said filamentary forms. The method is useful for distinguishing pathogenic yeasts from non-pathogenic yeasts.