Author/Editor		Kogej, Tina
Title		Vpliv slanosti na melanizacijo iz solin izoliranih črnih kvasovk
Translated title		Influence of salinity on melanization of black yeasts isolated from salterns
Type		monografija
Place		Ljubljana
Publisher		Medicinska fakulteta
Publication year		2002
Volume		str. 124
Language		slo
Abstract		Black yeast-like halophilic and halotolerant fungi were isolated from hypersaline water in the crystallization pond of Secovlje saltern in Slovenia, on the coast of northern Adriatic Sea. They were isolated on selective culture media of different salinities, where they were selected against xerophilic fungal species. The isolated black yeast-like species were comprised of three halophilic species Hortaea werneckii, Phaeotheca triangularis, and Trimmatostroma salinum, and of a halotolerant species. Aureobasidium pullulans. Population dynamics of black yeast-like fungi and their ability to grow on culture media with high concentration of NaCl lead to a conclusion that different microhabitats in the ponds of a saltern were a natural ecological niche for these organisms, which were therefore extremophilic microorganisms. Future research was then dedicated to numerous adaptations in their morphology, physiology, membrane structure, enzyme activities and protein content. Ecophysiological data were an indication of their ability of active growth at relatively high NaCl concentrations and of their ability to degrade a variety of different organic substrata. These fungi are polymorphic and their cells have thick, melanized cell walls, also their growth is slow and they can proliferate by producing endoconidia thus showing what was named an "extremophilic ecotype". Black yeasts are dark-coloured, comprising dark brown to dark olive green and black colours. It was generally assumed that their pigmentation was due to melanin but until present there was no proof for this assumption. Melanin is a pigment found in animals, plants, and microorganisms. It is a complex polymer with resonance-stabilized cyclic subunits. More than one type of fungal melanin is known, and their biosynthesis pathways are diverse. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters).
Descriptors		ASCOMYCETES SODIUM CHLORIDE MELANINS CELL MEMBRANE PERMEABILITY GLYCERIN CULTURE MEDIA CHROMATOGRAPHY, THIN LAYER