RESUMO
Background and Purpose: Keratinolytic fungi [KF] are among the fungi existing in the soil, whose enzymatic activity causes the decomposition of keratinized material in the soil; they are also considered as one of the pathogenic factors. The present study was conducted to determine the enzymatic activity of the KF, and to evaluate the effect of climatic conditions on their activity
Methods and Materials: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 90 isolates of KF randomly selected from different regions in Iran and other countries in 2004. The samples were cultured in Modified Czaspex-dextrose liquid medium [MCDLM]. Their enzymatic activity was measured using Azocazein, the general subtilisin of serin proteinase, and chromogenic substrates including N-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-NA, N-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Leu-NA and N-Bz- Phe-Val-Arg- NA. The obtained data were summarized using two-dimensional tables, and were analyzed using non-repeating one-way ANOVA and Tukey test in SPSS
Results: The results indicated that Myriodontium keratinophilum [94.6 micro/ml] and Microsporum coockei [81.66 micro/ml] had the highest Azocaseinolytic activity, and hydrolysed N-Suc-Ala-Ala- Pro-Phe-NA, N-Bz- Phe-Val-Arg- NA and N-Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Leu-_NA respectively. Statistically significant differences were onserved to exist between methods of determining enzymatic activity [P<0.05]
Conclusion: The results indicated that the enzymes secreted in these fungi were of a proteinase nature and belong to the subtilisin-like serin proteinase
RESUMO
Background and purpose: Keratinophilic fungi are ecologically, medically and industrially important and farming soil is suitable for their growth due to their keratin and fertilizers. Therefore, this study was intended to determine the different types of keratinophilic fungi in dry-farming soil samples
Methods and Materials: Using stratified sampling, this descriptive comparative study included 100 soil samples from dry-farming areas in South and Razavi Khorasan Provinces in Iran. Samples were cultured through Van beuseghemi method and various fungi within the cultures were identified and counted. Relevant data were analyzed using two-scale and multi-scale tables as well as statistical tests
Results: 289 colonies were isolated which included 20 species in 16 genuses. Fusarium SP With 53 colonies [18.33%] Annixopsis stercoraria with 47 colonies [16.26%] and Aspergillus SP varieties with 44 colonies [15.22%] were found to be the most common species. Also, McNemar's test revealed A. stercoraria, F. oxyspayum and penicillium SP to be dominant in the area [P<0.05]
Conclusion: In the areas investigated, no dermatophytes were isolated; however, various keratinophilic fungi were isolated, which are considered as etiological causes of fungal infections in man and animals