Trichophyton rubrum isolated from aids and human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in São Paulo, Brazil: antifungal susceptibility and extracellular enzyme production.
BACKGROUND
In order to identify intraspecific variations in Trichophyton rubrum and to correlate them to the immunological status of the host, sixty strains isolated from AIDS, HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients were compared for the production of extracellular enzymes and for their susceptibility to several antifungal drugs.


METHODS
The isolates were tested for their ability to secrete keratinases, proteinases, phospholipases, lipases and DNases. Likewise, we investigated their susceptibility to amphotericin B, ketoconazole, ciclopiroxolamine, griseofulvin, miconazole and tolnaftate.


RESULTS
Variations in the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC80)) values were observed for all antifungals tested, but they were similarly distributed among the three clinical groups. Griseofulvin showed the most prominent differences among the three groups of isolates. Regarding enzyme secretion, all samples secreted keratinases and DNases, while none secreted phospholipases. Proteinases and lipases were secreted by some of them.


CONCLUSIONS
The differences among isolates of the three groups were not statistically significant and therefore could not be ascribed to a given clinical status. Intraspecific variations similarly occurred in each group, irrespective of the immunological status of the patients.
Da Silva
B C M
BC
Department of Microbiology, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. bosco.christiano@uol.com.br
Auler
M E
ME
Ruiz
L S
LS
Gandra
R F
RF
Dos Santos
J I
JI
Paula
C R
CR
Yoshioka
M C N
MC
Castro
L G M
LG
Nunes
R S
RS
Bouchara
J P
JP
Larcher
G
G
Chabasse
D
D
Gambale
W
W
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000378:metabolism; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006678:HIV / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism; D014005:Tinea / Q000382:microbiology*; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D010740:Phospholipases; D008049:Lipase; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; C035855:keratinase