• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.343-347
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• 2016

Keratinophilic fungus (KPF), a type of dermatophytes, is usually present as normal flora on the skin of humans and animals but can produce ring worm-like dermatophytosis by invading the skin in infected individuals. They are distributed worldwide, but their occurrences vary distinctively in accordance with the geographical location and environmental change. Because these fungi grow by degrading keratin, they are abundantly found on the skin, hair, and nails, which are rich in keratin. To investigate the presence of keratinophilic fungi in the soil, we selected a popular beach in South Korea, Haeundae Beach, where numerous people gather each year during the summer holidays. Hundred soil samples were analyzed using the hair-baiting technique, among which, a total of 23 colonies of KPF were identified from 21 soil samples. The identified KPF were Microsporum gypseum (43%), Chrysosporium spp. (35%), Trichophyton ajelloi (13%), and Microsporum cookie (9%). This study confirmed that pathogenic fungi can be found in places crowded by many people. Further research and continuous data collection are needed to confirm the distribution of pathogenic KPF.

• Mycobiology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.180-184
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• 2006

The mycobiota of 160 hair and nail samples collected from 4 different governorates in upper Egypt were estimated using soil plate method for isolating keratinophilic and dermatophytic fungi. Twenty-three fungi were recorded on both hair and nail samples collected from the four governorates. Highest fungal diversity (20) was collected from Red Sea samples followed by Qena (18) and Aswan (17) while lowest fungal diversity was recorded from Sohage samples. The common genera were Aphanoascus, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Paecilomyces and Chrysosporium. The most prevalent species belonging to these genera were: A. fulvescens, Aphanoascus sp. A. flavus link, A. flavus var. columnaris, P. chrysogenium. P. lilacinus and C. sulfureum. True dermatophytes such as Nannizzia fulva appeared in $20{\sim}30%$ of the male samples.

• Mycobiology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.82-88
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• 2009

The mycoflora on the hair in 25 samples of each of goats and sheep collected from Libya was analyzed using two isolation methods at $25^{\circ}C$. Seventy species and 3 varieties belonging to 31 genera were collected from the two substrates. The hairs of sheep were polluted with fungi than goat, contained high total counts and number of genera and species. Two species of true dermatophytes were isolated namely Trichophyton rubrum and T. terrestre. Several keratiophilic species were isolated of which Chrysosporium indicum, C. keratinophilum and C. tropicum were the most prevalent. The commonest saprophytes in order of frequency were members of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Emericella, Alternaria and Cochliobolus.

• Proceedings of the Microbiological Society of Korea Conference
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• 1997.04a
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• pp.54.2-54.2
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• 1997

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.489-495
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• 1990

The purpose of this study was to investigate the contamination rates of Keratinophilic fungi in soils In Chonju. From september to November 1986, 98 soil samples were collected at the school and children's play ground, dog barn, pig barn, cow barn, horse barn and fowl barn( total 33 sites ). The samples were collected at the different depths(0～2cm, 30cm, 50cm ) in each of the sites, respectively. Each sample was cultured at 25$^{\circ}C$ according to Modified hair baiting method by using horse mane hair as a bait. The results obtained were summerized as follows ; 1. Eighty one of the 98 soil samples were found to be positive for Keratinophilic fungi. 2. In the examination of keratinophilic fungi in 98 soil samples, the organisms isolated weie as follows; Microsporum gypseum 20, Trichophyton ajelloi 15, Chrysosporium tropicum 40, C. Keratinophilum 24, C. tuberculatum 6 and Chrysosporium spp. like organism 4 strains. 3. The positive rates of keratinophilic fungi in each of the depths were 87.9%(29/33) in surface layer, 90.9%(30/33) in middle layer and 68.8％(22/32) in deep layer. 4. The positive rates of Keratinophilic fungi in each of the sites were 100%(3/3) in horse barn 91.7％ (l1/12) in dog barn, 88.9%(16/18) in pig barn, 86.7%(13/15) in cow barn, 76.2%(16/21) in fowl barn and 75.9%(22/29) in school and children's play ground. 5. The isolation rates of M. gypseum, Pathogenic fungi for human and animals, were as follows ; 58.3％ in dog barn(surface layers 100％, middle layers 50％, deep layers 25％) and 16.7％ in pig barn(surface 33.3％, middle 16.7%, deep 0％). In the cow barn, the isolation rates were 13.3%(surface 40.0％, middle 0%, deep 0％) and 10% in horse barn(surface l00％, middle 100%, depp 100%). In the fowl barn, the isolation rates was 19.1%(surface 28.8%, middle 14.3%, deep 14.3%) and 3.5% in school and children's play ground(surface 0％, middle 0％, deep 11.1%).

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.411-417
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• 2023

In July 2023, previously unrecorded fungi belonging to the genus Helvella were collected from the city of Taebaek, South Korea. These fungi are morphologically similar to Helvella crispa, but their differences include a wide, saddle-shaped apothecium and white hair on the receptacle surface. By analyzing DNA sequences combining the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and nuclear ribosomal large subunit (nrLSU) regions and comparing them with various related species of Helvella, the collected fungi were identified as H. orienticrispa.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.1004-1014
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• 2013

Six nonpathogenic fungal strains isolated from alkaline soils of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (Acremonium murorum, Aspergillus sidowii, Cladosporium cladosporoides, Neurospora tetrasperma, Purpureocillium lilacinum (formerly Paecilomyces lilacinus), and Westerdikella dispersa) were tested for their ability to produce keratinolytic enzymes. Strains were grown on feather meal agar as well as in solid-state and submerged cultures, using a basal mineral medium and "hair waste" as sole sources of carbon and nitrogen. All the tested fungi grew on feather meal agar, but only three of them were capable of hydrolyzing keratin, producing clear zones. Among these strains, P. lilacinum produced the highest proteolytic and keratinolytic activities, both in solid-state and submerged fermentations. The medium composition and culture conditions for the keratinases production by P. lilacinum were optimized. Addition of glucose (5 g/l) and yeast extract (2.23 g/l) to the basal hair medium increased keratinases production. The optimum temperature and initial pH for the enzyme production were $28^{\circ}C$ and 6.0, respectively. A beneficial effect was observed when the original concentration of four metal ions, present in the basal mineral medium, was reduced up to 1:10. The maximum yield of the enzyme was 15.96 $U_c/ml$ in the optimal hair medium; this value was about 6.5-fold higher than the yield in the basal hair medium. These results suggest that keratinases from P. lilacinum can be useful for biotechnological purposes such as biodegradation (or bioconversion) of hair waste, leading to a reduction of the environmental pollution caused by leather technology with the concomitant production of proteolytic enzymes and protein hydrolyzates.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.823-828
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• 1998

This study was carried out to determine the causative agent and the clinical features of dermatophytosis occurred in 3 dogs from Tae-gu, Korea between 1996 and 1997. Specimens of hair and scale, collected from skin lesions were inoculated on potato dextrose agar and mycobiotic agar supplemented with thiamine and inositol. The agar plates were incubated at $25^{\circ}C$ for 2 weeks. Growing fungi isolated were identified by the morphological and growth characterization on bromocresol purple-milk solids-glucose medium, Christensen urea broth and trichophyton media, and by hair perforation tests. Skin lesions were observed in legs, abdomen, ears, face and head with alopecia of various sizes accompanied by itching and/or inflammation. The causative agent of dermatophytosis in the 3 dogs was identified as Microsprum gypseum and Trichophyton rubrum (mixed infection, dog 1), T rubrum (dog 2) and T raubitschekii (dog 3). The dermatophytosis by T rubrum and T raubitschekii was first found on animals in Korea.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.799-806
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• 2006

Fungi cause a number of plant and animal diseases. Because fungi are more chemically and genetically similar to animals than other organisms, this makes fungal diseases very difficult to treat. Human fungal infections are uncommon in normally healthy persons, being confined to conditions such as candidiasis (thrush) and dermatophyte skin infections such as athlete's foot. However, in the immunocompromised host, a variety of normally mild or nonpathogenic fungi can cause potentially fatal infections. Furthermore, the relative ease with which people can now visit 'exotic' countries provides the means for unusual fungal infections to be imported into this country. Fungal infections or mycoses are classified depending on the degree of tissue involvement and mode of entry into the host. These are Cutaneous, Subcutaneous, Systemic, and Opportunistic. As listed above, in superficial mycoses infection is localised to the skin, the hair, and the nails. An example is 'ringworm' or 'tinea', an infection of the skin by a dermatophyte. Ringworm refers to the characteristic central clearing that often occurs in dermatophyte infections of the skin. Dermatophyte members of the genera Trycophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton are responsible for the disease. Tinea can infect various sites of the body, including the scalp (tinea capitis), the beard (tinea barbae) the foot (tinea pedis: 'athlete's foot') and the groin (tinea cruris). All occur in the United Kingdom although tinea infections, other than pedis, are now rare. Candids albicans is a yeast causing candidiasis or 'thrush' in humans. As a superficial mycoses, candidiasis typically infects the mouth or vagina. C. albicans is part of the normal flora of the vagina and gastrointestinal tract and is termed a 'commensal' However, during times of ill health or impaired immunity the balance can alter and the organism multiplies to cause disease. Antibiotic treatment can also alter the normal bacterial flora allowing C. albicans to flourish. If we study mycoses of the orient medicine, we can improve the medical skills about mycoses.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.231-234
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• 2007

Dichlororinated bibenzyl compound (4) has been isolated from the New Zealand liverwort. This compound was elucidated using 1D/2D-NMR and mass spectral method. The compound (3) inhibited the growth of the Gram positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis ATCC 19659, (2 mm inhibition zone and 2 mm inhibition zone at 30 ${\mu}$g/disc), Candida albicans ATCC 14053, (2 mm inhibition zone and 2 mm inhibition zone at 30 ${\mu}$g/disc), and the dermatophytic fungi Trichophyton mentagrophytes ATCC 28185, (12 mm inhibition zone at 30 ${\mu}$g/disc) and Cladosporium resinae ATCC 52833 (2 mm inhibition zone at 30 ${\mu}$g/disc). This bibenzyl compound (4) exhibited antimicrobial activity.