title: Susceptibility of species within the Sporothrix schenckii complex to a panel of killer yeasts.
abstract: The Sporothrix schenckii complex is the etiologic agent of sporotrichosis, a subacute or chronic mycosis which can affect humans and animals. Killer yeasts have been used in the medical field for development of novel antimycotics and biotyping of pathogenic fungi. The action of 18 killer yeasts on the growth of 88 characterized S. schenckii, Sporothrix globosa, Sporothrix brasiliensis, and Sporothrix mexicana clinical and environmental isolates was evaluated. Killer studies were performed on Petri dishes containing cheese black starch agar. The yeasts Candida catenulata (QU26, QU31, QU127, LV102); Trichosporon faecale (QU100); Trichosporon japonicum (QU139); Kluyveromyces lactis (QU30, QU99, QU73); Kazachstania unispora (QU49), Trichosporon insectorum (QU89), and Kluyveromyces marxianus (QU103) showed activity against all strains of the S. schenckii complex tested. Observation by optical microscopy of S. brasiliensis 61 within the inhibition haloes around the colonies of the killer yeasts QU100, QU139, and LV102 showed that there was no conidiation, but there was hyphal proliferation. The toxins were fungistatic against S. brasiliensis 61. There was no difference in susceptibility to the toxins among the S. schenckii species complex. Further investigations are necessary to clearly establish the mechanism of action of the toxins.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina: Ciências Médicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, ICBS, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cheila Denise Ottonelli
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Stopiglia
authors.forename: Daiane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heidrich
authors.forename: Julia Medeiros
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sorrentino
authors.forename: Fabiane Jamono
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.forename: Melissa Fontes
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Landell
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: Maria Lúcia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Scroferneker
mesh_terms: D000898:Antibiosis; D001118:Argentina; D001938:Brazil; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D025301:Hyphae / Q000254:growth & development; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development; D013175:Sporothrix / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013174:Sporotrichosis / Q000382:microbiology; D015003:Yeasts / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media
keywords: Killer toxin; Sporothrix; Yeasts