Abstract: Objective To compare 2 approaches with different culture media which induce hyphal form of Candida albicans.Methods Induction of hyphal form was conducted for 16 C.albicans strains with either RPMI 1640 medium or DMEM medium,at 37℃ for 24 h,respectively.The hyphal and yeast forms were counted separately and the ratio of hyphal form to total cells was calculated.Results The ratio of hyphal form to total cells was higher in RPMI 1640 medium than that in DMEM medium at the same incubation time for the majority of strains.The ratio was above 99% for all strains after 7-day incubation with 12 times of passages in RPMI 1640 medium at 37℃.Moreover the ratio of hyphal form was significantly higher for fluconazole-susceptible strains than that for fluconazole dose-dependent susceptible and resistant strains in incubation with DMEM medium at 37℃.Conclusion Incubation with RPMI 1640 medium at 37℃ for 7 days seems a favorable condition to induce hyphal form of C.albicans.

Key words: Candida albicans, Hypae