title: Enzymatic and Non-Enzymatic Virulence Activities of Dermatophytes on Solid Media.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi causing superficial cutaneous infections that account 20-25% of the global population. As per literature search, there is a dearth in the study on virulence factors of dermatophytes from the Indian sub-continent and moreover the association of the virulence factors and the host tissue in vitro helps in understanding the host-pathogen interaction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the enzymatic and non-enzymatic virulence activities of dermatophytes on solid media.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 11 isolates, three standard American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) strains-Trichophyton rubrum- 28188,Trichophyton mentagrophytes- 9533,Trichophyton tonsurans- 28942, one CBS KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre strain-Arthroderma grubyi- 243.66,five clinical isolates-T. rubrum,T. mentagrophytes,Trichophyton rubrumvar.raubitschekii,Trichophyton interdigitale,Epidermophyton floccosum, and two laboratory isolates -Microsporum gypseumandMicrosporum caniswere screened for the production of virulence enzymes such as phospholipase, lipase, protease, gelatinase and non-enzyme virulence factors (haemolytic activity) of dermatophytes. The clinical isolates were identified from a tertiary care hospital, Chennai. These dermatophytes were tested upon specific substrates on solid media such as egg yolk, tween 80, bovine serum albumin, gelatin powder and sheep blood respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The virulence activity of phospholipase, lipase, protease and gelatinase was observed from all the dermatophyte species.T. rubrum,T. rubrumATCC strain,T. rubrumvar.raubitschekii,T. mentagrophytes,T. mentagrophytesATCC strain,T. interdigitaleandA. grubyiCBS strain produced complete haemolysis, whereas other dermatophytes showed no haemolytic activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Phospholipase, lipase, protease and gelatinase act as enzymatic virulence marker and theT. rubrumcomplex,T. mentagrophytescomplex andA. grubyishowed complete haemolysis and hence they may also act as a non-enzymatic virulence marker for dermatophytes.
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Biotechnology, Sri Ramachandra University , Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India .
authors.forename: Elangovan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elavarashi
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Microbiology, Sri Ramachandra University , Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India .
authors.forename: Anupma Jyoti
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kindo
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Sri Ramachandra University , Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India .
authors.forename: Sudha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rangarajan
keywords: Gelatinase; Hamolysis; Lipase; Phospholipase; Protease