acid-phosphatase and Dermatomycoses

Pathogenicity of fungi is connected with their ability to easily penetrate the host tissues, survive in the infected host organism and use the elements of the host tissues as nutrients. Hence, the co-occurrence of pathogenic properties with the high enzymatic activity, which is manifested through the production of various enzymes including extracellular enzymes, was observed. It can be expected that it is possible to decrease fungal pathogenicity by lowering their enzymatic activity. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of nicotinamide on enzymatic activity of the fungi, which are most frequently isolated in cases of skin infection. Enzymatic activity was analysed using 15 Candida albicans, 15 Trichophyton rubrum and 15 Trichophyton mentagrophytes strains. The strains used for the study were collected from the current diagnostic material. API ZYM tests were used in diagnostic analysis. MICs of nicotinamide were determined by the macrodilution method in liquid medium. In the case of Candida strains, the presence of nicotinamide in the broth had a significant effect on the decrease of enzymatic activity (P < 0.05) of esterase (C4), esterase lipase (C-8), valin-arylamidase, acid phosphatase and alpha-glycosydase. A considerably stronger effect of nicotinamide was observed in the case of dermatophytes (P < 0.005). Its action led to a decrease in the activity of all the enzymes under study except alpha-glucosidase produced by T. rubrum strains. Thus, nicotinamide exhibited biological activity towards C. albicans, T. rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, which resulted in a decrease in the activity of enzymes produced by the fungi.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Aminopeptidases; Candida albicans; Dermatomycoses; Enzyme Inhibitors; Esterases; Fungal Proteins; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors; Humans; Lipase; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Niacinamide; Trichophyton

Extracellular enzymatic activity of different species of Malassezia spp was evaluated. Thirty-three isolates of animal origin (dogs and cats) and stock culture samples were studied. Twenty isolates of M. pachydermatis, 8 of M. furfur, 2 of M. sympodialis and M. globosa and one of M. restricta, M. obtusa and M. slooffiae were examined. The enzymatic activity was investigated using Api Zym system. The enzymatic patterns showed light differences. Esterase lipase, Phosphatase acid and Naphtol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase were produced in significant amounts from most isolates excepted for M. restricta, confirming the limited enzymatic activity of this species. Data obtained from the other new species described after the revision of the genus, appear to be quite homogeneous. Dixon's broth appeared to be a valid medium for the growth of all Malassezia spp.

Topics: Acid Phosphatase; Animals; Cat Diseases; Cats; Dermatomycoses; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Esterases; Malassezia; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; Reagent Strips; Species Specificity