Production and regeneration of protoplasts from the Y-phase of the human pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Abstract

Protoplasts of Y-cells and partially converted M-cells from several human isolates of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis were obtained with a combined enzyme system containing Novozym 234 and a chitinase. A laboratory made extract from Trichoderma harzianum CBS-345-33 supplemented with chitinase induced the release of protoplasts from partially converted M-cells but not from established Y-cells. A similar yield of protoplasts (1–2 × 10⁵ ml^-1 after 16 h) was produced by using either enzymatic system. Protoplasts regenerated on nutrient gelatin at 23°C at a frequency of 0·1%.