Fungi, dermatophytic

Griseofulvin Penicillium griseofulvum Dermatophytic fungi Microtubules... 

Dermatophytes are a special type of fungi, invading the skin and able to grow on keratin as a sole nutrient base. 

All three of these are dermatophytes, i.e. filamentous fungi which can utilize keratin for their nutrition. Keratin is the chief protein in skin, hair and nail. Hence, all of these organisms are responsible for superficial mycoses in mammals. It is often stated that dermatophytes are the only fungi to have evolved which rely upon infection for then-own survival. This mistaken belief results from a view which is too human-centred and neglects, for example, the presence of symbiotic fungi in the stomachs of ruminants. 

The azole derivatives for systemic administration include the imidazoles ketoconazole and miconazole and the triazoles fluconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole and voriconazole. They are broad spectrum antifungals and have activity against several dermatophytes, Candida, Cryptococcus and other fungi that cause deep-seated infections. 

The treatment of superficial fungal infections caused by dermatophytic fungi may be accomplished (1) with topical... 

Antifungals applied topically are used to treat dermatophytic infections caused by Trichophyton and Microsporum species. Ringworm is the most common and widely known of such fungal skin diseases of animals and birds. In recent years, a number of reports have appeared drawing attention to the high incidence of human ringworm caused by fungi from animals. The public health aspects of the disease is of considerable importance, whereas the economic impact to the farmer is yet not clearly defined. 

Inhibits growth of dermatophytes and yeast-like fungi... 

High activity against fungi pathogenic to humans (dermatophytes, yeasts, biphasic fungi, molds)... 

Deshmukh, S. K. and Agrawal, S. C. (1985). Degradation of human hair by some dermatophytes and other keratinophilic fungi. Mykosen 28,463-466. 

Jain, M., Shukla, P. K., and Srivastava, O. P. (1985). Keratinophilic fungi and dermatophytes in Lucknow soils with their global distribution. Mykosen 28, 148-153. 

Kushwaha, R. K. S., and Guarro, J. (Eds.). (2000). Biology of Dermatophytes and other Keratinophilic Fungi, vol. 17. Bilbao, Spain Revista Iberoamericana de Micologia. 

Owsley, D. W. and Compton, B. E. (1997). Preservation in late 19th century iron coffin burials, in Forensic Taphonomy The Post-mortem Fate of Human Remains (W. D. Haglund and M. H. Sorg, Eds.). Boca Raton, FL CRC Press, 511-526. Oyeka, C. A. and Okoli, I. (2003). Isolation of dermatophytes and non-dermato-phytic fungi from soil in Nigeria. Mycoses 46, 336-338. 

Ulfig, K. (1996). Interactions between selected geophilic fungi and pathogenic dermatophytes. Rocz. Panstw. Zakl. Hig. 47,137-142. 

Fungi that cause superficial skin infections are called dermatophytes. Common dermatomycoses, such as tinea infections, are often referred to as ringworm, which is a misnomer, since fungi rather than worms cause the disease. 

Leclerc MC, Philippe H, Gueho E Phylogeny of dermatophytes and dimorphic fungi based on large subunit ribosomal RNA sequence comparisons. J Med Vet Mycol 1994 32 331-341. 

Cutaneous mycotic infections caused by filamentous or dermatophytic fungi can be treated either topically... 

Ciclopirox, a substituted pyridone unrelated to the imidazoles, is effective against a wide variety of dermatophytes, yeasts, actinomycetes, molds, and other fungi. Ciclopirox olamine is generally well tolerated locally, and reactions occur in only l-4% of cases (SEDA-12, 684). 

Griseofulvin is a mitotic spindle poison. In vitro, ii rapidly arrests cell divirsion in metaphase. It causes a rapid, reversible dissolution of the mitotic spindle apparatus, ably by binding with the tubulin dimer that is required for microtubule assembly. The selective toxicity to fungi o probably due to the propensity of the drug to concentrate in ti.ssues rich in keratin, where dermatophytes typically cstalv li.sh infections. 

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