title: β-Endorphin enhances the phospholipase activity of the dandruff causing fungi Malassezia globosa and Malassezia restricta.
abstract: β-Endorphin is known to stimulate phospholipase production by Malassezia pachydermatis during canine dermatoses. The role of β-endorphin in Malassezia infection in humans is not well studied. The present study compares the influence of β-endorphin on Malassezia globosa and Malassezia restricta isolated from patients with seborrhoeic dermatitis/dandruff (SD/D) and healthy controls. Malassezia isolates (five each of the two species from patients and healthy controls) were grown on modified Dixon's agar with or without 100 nmol/L β-endorphin. Phospholipase activity was quantified based on its ability to hydrolyze L-α-phosphatidylcholine dimyristoyl (phospholipid substrate). Free fatty acid was measured by a colorimetry method. In isolates from patients, the phospholipase activity significantly increased after exposure to β-endorphin (M. globosa, P = .04; M. restricta, P = .001), which did not occur in isolates from healthy controls. Moreover, after β-endorphin exposure the patient isolates had significantly higher (P = .0004) phospholipase activity compared to the healthy control isolates. The results suggest that isolates of M. globosa and M. restricta from patients may differ from those of healthy humans.
authors: Mycology Division, Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Prasanna
authors: P
authors: Honnavar
authors: Mycology Division, Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Arunaloke
authors: A
authors: Chakrabarti
authors: Microbial Type Culture Collection and Gene Bank, Institute of Microbial Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Ghandam S
authors: GS
authors: Prasad
authors: Mycology Division, Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Pankaj
authors: P
authors: Singh
authors: Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Leprosy, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: Sunil
authors: S
authors: Dogra
authors: Mycology Division, Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India mrshivprakash@yahoo.com.
authors: Shivaprakash M
authors: SM
authors: Rudramurthy
mesh_terms: D003124:Colorimetry; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D063807:Dandruff / Q000382:microbiology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008290:Malassezia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000032:analysis*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005227:Fatty Acids; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D010740:Phospholipases
keywords: Malassezia, dandruff; phospholipase activity; β-endorphin