ABSTRACT
Absidia cylindrospora and Rhizomucor pusillus causal agents of phycomycoses, were cultured on sterile natural keratins in a mineral solution and the keratin degradation products analyzed. The excess of sulphur was removed by oxidation to inorganic sulphate and thiosulphate, which were the main products of sulphitolysis of keratin. The proteolytic activity of the two fungi depended on the nature of the keratin substrate. Human scalp hair was the most favoured keratin substrate by both the fungi.
Subject(s)
Hair/microbiology , Keratins/metabolism , Mucorales/metabolism , Skin/microbiology , Animals , Cattle , Chickens , Dogs , Feathers/microbiology , Hoof and Claw/microbiology , Horns/microbiology , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Sheep , Snakes , Wool/microbiologyABSTRACT
Seventy-six species belonging to 29 genera were collected from 320 samples of cloven-hooves and horns of goats and sheep. Chrysosporium was the most common genus on the various substrates and comprehended the following species: C. asperatum, Chrysosporium anamorph of Arthroderma cuniculi, Chrysosporium anamorph of Arthroderma curreyi, C. georgii, C. indicum, C. keratinophilum, C. lobatum, C. lucknowense, C. pannicola, C. pseudomerdarium, C. queenslandicum, Chrysosporium state of Thielavia sepedonium and C. tropicum. Some interesting fungi were isolated: Myceliophthora anamorph of Arthroderma tuberculatum, Myceliophthora anamorph of Corynoascus novoguineensis, Myceliophthora anamorph of Ctenomyces serratus, Trichosporon cutaneum, Trichophyton terrestre and T. verrucosum. Also, several saprobic filamentous fungi tolerating high levels of cycloheximide were isolated of which numerous members of Acremonium, Aspergillus, Chaetomium, Fusarium, Penicillium, Scopulariopsis and several others.
