title: Inactivation of human pathogenic dermatophytes by non-thermal plasma.
abstract: Non-thermal plasma (NTP) was tested as an in vitro deactivation method on four human pathogenic dermatophytes belonging to all ecological groups including anthropophilic Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale, zoophilic Arthroderma benhamiae, and geophilic Microsporum gypseum. The identification of all strains was confirmed by sequencing of ITS rDNA region (internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA). Dermatophyte spores were suspended in water or inoculated on agar plates and exposed to NTP generated by a positive or negative corona discharge, or cometary discharge. After 15 min of exposure to NTP a significant decrease in the number of surviving spores in water suspensions was observed in all species. Complete spore inactivation and thus decontamination was observed in anthropophilic species after 25 min of exposure. Similarly, a significant decrease in the number of surviving spores was observed after 10-15 min of exposure to NTP on the surface of agar plates with full inhibition after 25 min in all tested species except of M. gypseum. Although the sensitivity of dermatophytes to the action of NTP appears to be lower than that of bacteria and yeast, our results suggest that NTP has the potential to be used as an alternative treatment strategy for dermatophytosis and could be useful for surface decontamination in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Measurements, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Vladimír
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scholtz
authors.affiliation: Department of Computing and Control Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soušková
authors.affiliation: Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Benátská 2, 128 01 Prague 2, Czech Republic; Laboratory of Fungal Genetics and Metabolism, Institute of Microbiology of the AS CR, v.v.i., Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic; First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Kateřinská 32, 121 08 Prague 2, Czech Republic. Electronic address: hubka@biomed.cas.cz.
authors.forename: Vit
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hubka
authors.affiliation: Department of Computing and Control Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague 6, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Michaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Švarcová
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague, Studničkova 7, 28 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Julák
mesh_terms: D003883:Arthrodermataceae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000633:toxicity*; D014005:Tinea / Q000382:microbiology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D058626:Plasma Gases
keywords: Cometary discharge;; Corona discharge;; Decontamination of surfaces;; Low-temperature plasma;; Microsporum;; Trichophyton