Microsporum

Microsporum is a genus of fungi that causes tinea capitis, tinea corporis, ringworm, and other dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin). Microsporum forms both macroconidia (large asexual reproductive structures) and microconidia (smaller asexual reproductive structures) on short conidiophores. Macroconidia are hyaline, multiseptate, variable in form, fusiform, spindle-shaped to obovate, 7–20 by 30–160 um in size, with thin or thick echinulate to verrucose cell walls. Their shape, size and cell wall features are important characteristics for species identification. Microconidia are hyaline, single-celled, pyriform to clavate, smooth-walled, 2.5–3.5 by 4–7 um in size and are not diagnostic for any one species.

Microsporum
Microsporum canis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Fungi
Division:
Deuteromycota
Class:
Eurotiomycetes
Order:
Onygenales
Family:
Arthrodermataceae
Genus:
Microsporum

Gruby 1843
Microsporum gypseum

The separation of this genus from Trichophyton is essentially based on the roughness of the macroconidial cell wall, although in practice this may sometimes be difficult to observe. Seventeen species of Microsporum have been described; however, only the more common species are included in these descriptions.

The keratinolytic properties that the Microsporum cookei possesses suggests that the fungus can alternatively be used for recycling the large amount of industrial keratinic waste.[1]

Species

References
  1. Moallaei, H.; Zaini, F.; Rezaei, S.; Bouchara, J.-P.; Larcher, G. (December 2011). "Purification and characterization of a 33 kDa extracellular proteinase from Microsporum cookei". Journal de Mycologie Médicale. 21 (4): 241–247. doi:10.1016/j.mycmed.2011.09.004.


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