Keratinophilic fungi were isolated from corridor dust of 11 hospitals and soils of 21 public places using a hair baiting technique. A total of 41 species belonging to 24 genera were recovered. Among the dermatophytes and related species, Microsporum gypseum was predominant, followed by Chrysosporium keratinophilum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, M. nanum and Ch. tropicum. Other species were represented by 32 species belonging to 21 genera. Most of the species isolated are known to be agents of human and animal infection or have been isolated from human and animal lesions. The fungi observed here are discussed in relation to their global distribution.

A novel indigenous Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain (MTCC 4996) isolated from a pulp industrial effluent-contaminated site was capable of degrading phenol up to a concentration of 1,300 mg L -1 within 156 h. Complete degradation was observed at pH values ranging from 6.0 to 10.0 and temperatures from 15 to 45°C, with an optimum pH of 7.0 and optimum temperature of 37°C. At an optimum shaking speed of 100-125 rpm, 100% degradation was observed in 66 h, as compared to 84 h under static conditions. Glucose and peptone at lower concentrations enhanced phenol degradation. The rate of phenol degradation was most sensitive to added Hg. Low concentrations of Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Mn stimulated and enhanced the rate of degradation.

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A series 305 extracts from 61 traditional medicinal plants (belonging to 33 different families) used in treating skin diseases in Hyderabad Karnataka region were subjected to antidermatophytic screening against Trichophyton rubrum (MTCC 1344). Pet ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of each plant were tested for their antifungal activity using agar well diffusion method at sample concentration of 5 & 2.5 mg/ml. The results indicated that out of 61 plants, 18 exhibited very effective antidermatophytic activity in methanolic extracts, effective activity observed in 13 plants in different extracts, whereas 26 plants showed moderate activity, 04 plants showed weak activity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of 18 very effective plants were determined. On the basis of the results obtained, the crude extracts of Allium sativam Linn. Zingiber officinale exhibited significant antidermatophytic activity (T. rubrum) and properties that support folkloric use in the treatment of skin diseases as broad-spectrum antimycotic agents. This probably explains the use of these plants by the indigenous people against dermatological infections.