Induction of the mycelial form of Candida albicans by hydrolysates of peptides from seminal plasma.

Previous work led to the separation from seminal plasma of a peptide fraction which promoted a high rate of germination of blastospores of Candida albicans. It has now been shown that an acid hydrolysate of this material is also highly active. A minimal amino-acid mixture consisting of aspartic acid, lysine, histidine, threonine, proline and beta-alanine gave 90% germination in 4 h with 17 out of 28 strains examined. Glucose and inorganic phosphate were also required. Phosphate was not required for the activity of the original peptide fraction.