Preferential utilization and colonization of keratin baits by different myco-keratinophiles

Abstract

Myco-keratinophilic species have a predilection for different keratinous substrates but show variability in their affinity towards them. Keeping this in view, a survey was conducted in the Khardung and Khardung La soils of Ladakh (India) and 28 myco-keratinophilic species belonging to 15 fungal genera (Sarocladium, Aspergillus, Beauveria, Chrysosporium, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Epicoccum, Fusarium, Gibberella, Clonostachys, Paecilomyces, Purpureocillium, Metarhizium, Penicillium and Sagenomella) were isolated by using keratin bait technique. These isolated species were tested for their preferential utilization ability and colonization on different baits by morphological assessment. Different types of keratin baits used were feathers, human hair, human nails and wool. Overall assessment revealed that feathers were colonized and utilized by all the species (100 %), followed in decreasing order by nails (89.29 %), hair (85.71 %) and sheep wool (67.86 %). So, it is concluded that feather baiting technique, could be more useful in trapping keratinophilic fungi than the hair baiting technique which is till date regarded as the best method for the isolation of mycokeratinophiles. On the basis of succession on keratinous baits, the recovered keratinophilic species were also categorized into four categories: early successional species (pioneer colonizers), late successional species (final colonizers), persistent species and no-pattern species.

Keratin Waste Recycling Based on Microbial Degradation: Mechanisms and Prospects

“…This process is usually divided into two stages: in the first stage, the mycelium invades between or below the epidermal layer of keratin and grows longitudinally along the keratin fiber axis. The growth tension of the mycelium causes swelling and rupturing of the epidermal layer, forming protrusions of varying sizes . At this stage, the epidermis is shed with broken scales remaining, leaving an epidermis that is almost destroyed completely.…”

“…The growth tension of the mycelium causes swelling and rupturing of the epidermal layer, forming protrusions of varying sizes. 48 At this stage, the epidermis is shed with broken scales remaining, leaving an epidermis that is almost destroyed completely. The second stage involves the invasion of the cortex by the mycelium.…”

Prevalence of onychomycosis among diabetic population of District Doda (UT of J&K, India) - a five year survey

“…Among the non-dermatophytes, 12 yeast-like fungal species and 28 lamentous fungal species were isolated from the dystrophied nails of diabetic patients, thus showing a prevalence rate of 26.7% and 62.2% respectively. This indicates that non-dermatophytes, which are keratinophilic soil-borne opportunist fungal species invade the nails of a person whose body immune system is compromised, become pathogenic and cause dystrophies by invading fresh keratinized tissues of the nail [11,32,33,34,35].…”

“…In addition, symptoms go away very slowly and may take a year or more for the entire replacement of the old infected nail. Onychomycosis can also be important for some speci c occupational groups of people because of their regular contact with soil, dirt and dust [11]. Such diabetic people of the society, which depend upon physical labour for earning, such as, the farmers, gardeners, sweepers, maidservants, labourers, miners, etc., may be more prone to dermatophytic and nondermatophytic onychomycosis.…”

Diversity of Soil-Borne Fungi Isolated from Places Frequently Visited by People in the City of Wrocław (Poland)

“…The keratinolytic activity of P. lilacinum was reported in a study by Cavello et al [107], where the potential of a keratinase isolated from fungi of Argentine has been proved. In turn, Kotwal and Sumbali presented that Purpureocillium lilacinum has the ability to grow on animal (feathers) and human (hair, nails) tissues [108].…”