Retention of albino and brown phenotypes of Histoplasma capsulatum by liquid nitrogren refrigeration.

Pathogenic differences between albino (A) and brown (B) phenotypes of Histoplasma capsulatum for experimental animals, and serological differences between A- and B- derived histoplasmins or yeast-phase antigens, necessitate the retention of these phenotypes in culture for diagnoses and epidemiologic studies. Selected strains of A and B types were frozen in liquid nitrogen (LN) and stored for 6-9 months in the vapor phase of a LN refrigerator (-165 degrees C). The strains were tested by using Berliner's method for differentiation of these two phenotypes. The results have proved that the LN refrigeration can be used for long-term conservation to prevent the conversion of B type into the A type in vitro.