Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, a penicillium-like fungus, generally not considered pathogenic for human tissues has been occasionally isolated from cases of onychomycosis and from smooth skin lesions since the late 19th century. Isolates have been cultured on chunks of moist sterile calf hooves (Blank, 1951). An isolate has also been cultured in a distilled water medium containing glucose, salts and vitamins and containing particulate hoof keratin as sole source of nitrogen (Kapica and Blank, 1957). [...]

The majority of investigations on the carotenoid pigments of bacteria have dealt with the identification of the types of carotenoids present in bacteria. Since the publication of Sullivan's paper in 1905 little work has been done to show which factors affect the synthesis of carotenoids in bacteria. Most of the investigations which have been conducted along this line have dealt with the effect of various carbon sources, inorganic ions, pH and temperature on pigmentation. [...]

Few reports seem to have been published about the numbers and types of bacteria and yeasts that may be found on apples. Indeed, only one study has been made of the types of yeasts found on Quebec apples picked late in the autumn; and there seems to be only one report about changes in the microflora of apples during the ripening season in England. The significance of a study such as this is important with respect to the keeping quality of the fruit, the production of cider, and the preparation of canned products, such as apple sauce and apple juice.

In 1943 Lochhead and Chase (97) devised a system of nutritional classification of soil microorganism which has since proved to be of considerable value as a method of characterizing the soil microflora and hence of studying changes in the distribution of the nutritional groups of organisms comprising the flora, under different soil conditions. The procedure used by these workers, which was based upon the growth response of individual soil isolates in six nutritional media, proved to be cumbersome in the laboratory, largely because of the necessity of using one hundred or more isolates from each soil sample to obtain statistically valid results.

Delicate and perishable small fruits like strawberries and raspberries require extra care in handling, shipping and processing. Berry growers must put their product on the market in good condition, which requires careful handling during picking, storing and subsequent shipping to the market so that the fruits retain freshness and quality. On the other hand, the fruit preservation industries are interested in the quality of their finished product, which is largely dependent upon the quality of the raw berries.

<p>&quot / ...Recent advances in moleculr methods have enabled the analysis of cyanobacterial diversity using PCR- based approaches. Snap-shot techniques such as 16S rDNA library construction and DGGE have allowed for increased access and better understanding of cyanobacterial diversity from diverse biotopes. In this investigation, 16s rDNA analysis and DGGE profiling were used to study the diversity of cyanobacteria along a transect of increasing altitude in the Miers Valley, Eastern Antarctica...&quot / </p>

There is abundant evidence in the literature which suggests, that chloramphenicol therapy in typhoid fever influences the antigenic character of S.typhi. Typhoid patients treated early in the disease with chloramphenicol do not produce, in most cases, antibodies to S.typhi. The rate of relapse in these patients is high and the incidence of carriers is not improved by treatment with this antibiotic. However, if typhoid vaccine is given, normal antibodies develop to a high titer.

Candida albicans (Robin, Berkhout, 1923) is the most common pathogenic fungus isolated from clinical material. It was first observed by Langenbeck in 1839 at autopsy. He found this yeast-like fungus in the intestines of a person who had died from typhoid fever. In 1842, David Gruby, the founder of medical mycology, clearly recognized yeast-like fungi involved in thrush of small children. [...]

The first reports on toxin-neutralizing substances date back to the early 1890's, when Metchnikoff demonstrated that Bacillus subtilis was able to produce substances which neutralized diphtheria toxin, tetanus toxin and snake venom after a period of "in vitro" combination. It was further shown that fungi, such as Isarias, Sporotrichous and Torula, parasites of insects and human parasites, destroyed the toxicity of various bacterial toxins (Metchnikoff, 1897).

Soil micro-organisms that decompose cellulose have a very important place in the transformation of carbon in nature, since under natural conditions plant residues, which contain relatively large amounts of cellulose, are continually being added to the soil. It is estimated that in forest soils bacterial activities alone account for the liberation of about nine kilograms of carbon dioxide in one hour. Since cellulose constitutes from one-third to one-half of the weight of all plant residues, a considerable quantity of this polysaccharide is being constantly disintegrated by micro-organisms with the eventual liberation of carbon dioxide.