title: Evaluation of proteolytic activity to differentiate some dematiaceous fungi.
abstract: A total of 123 isolates of Cladosporium spp., Exophiala spp., Fonsecaea spp., Lecythophora hoffmannii, Phaeoannellomyces werneckii, Phialophora spp., Wangiella dermatitidis, and Xylohypha bantiana were tested for proteolytic activity by using 26 different formulations of gelatin, milk, casein, and Loeffler media. Other physiological properties examined included hydrolysis of tyrosine and xanthine, sodium nitrate utilization in Czapek Dox agar, and thermotolerance. Isolates of Exophiala jeanselmei, Fonsecaea compacta, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, W. dermatitidis, and X. bantiana lacked proteolytic activity. Proteolytic activity was variable among the remaining species, depending on the type of medium used. Thermotolerance had value in distinguishing some taxa.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0504.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Espinel-Ingroff
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Goldson
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: McGinnis
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Kerkering
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002364:Caseins / Q000378:metabolism; D002963:Cladosporium / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003470:Culture Media; D005093:Exophiala / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005780:Gelatin / Q000378:metabolism; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D003904:Mitosporic Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010676:Phialophora / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D002364:Caseins; D003470:Culture Media; D008894:Milk Proteins; D009566:Nitrates; D011506:Proteins; D005780:Gelatin