The spiral hyphae of trichophyton

Autor: A.M. Davidson, P.H. Gregory
Rok vydání: 1937
Předmět:
Zdroj: Transactions of the British Mycological Society. 21:98-113
ISSN: 0007-1536
DOI: 10.1016/s0007-1536(37)80008-x
Popis: Summary The spiral hyphae of Trichophyton are believed to be organs of attachment playing a part in the dissemination of the fungus and in infecting animal hosts from saprophytic sources. Mature spirals are empty, dead hyphae, flattened in a plane at right angles to the axis of the spiral. They may be branched. The spirals observed in five isolates of T. gypseum, six of T. interdigitale and one each of T. asteroides, T. granulosum and T. persicolor were found to be counter-clockwise. No isolates were found with clockwise spirals predominating. Occasional clockwise spirals were however found in some isolates of T. interdigitale. When deformed by mechanical contact a spiral regains its original shape, and it is probable that this process is aided by the flattening of the spiral hypha. The mycelium of T. gypseum is sticky and tends to adhere to objects which come into contact with it. This stickiness is not shared by Microsporum felineum. When a sufficient number of adjacent hyphae or coils of a spiral adhere to an object they can break away from the mycelium. It is concluded that the function of the spirals is to present a large adhesive surface to any foreign body. Thus a relatively large inoculum is attached to an animal which touches the saprophytic mycelium.
Databáze: OpenAIRE