Isolation of keratinolytic fungi from a coal mine dump

Abstract

During the study of fungal succesion in the coal mine dump in Brzezinka (Poland), soil samples were examined for keratinolytic fungi. These micro-organisms were rather poorly represented in the area studied. Out of 300 soil samples examined, only 48 (16%) were positive for keratinolytic fungi.Trichophyton ajelloi andArthroderma curreyi were the prevailing species. These species occurred practically at two locations, i.e. on the naked carbon rocks inhabited by algae crops (chiefly byCyanophyta) and in the pine litter. It can be supposed that the occurrence of keratinolytic fungi was more dependent on the favourable general conditions such as increasing organic matter content, microflora, and humidity than on the presence of keratin remains in the soil. Because of the lack of potentially pathogenic fungi, the coal mine dump examined cannot be considered as an important source of fungal infection.

Morphological traits and molecular analysis for two new Chrysosporium species from Fujian Province, China

“…Chrysosporium spp. are mostly saprophytic and keratinolytic, widely distributed and can be isolated from various habitats such as air, sea water, sludge, and waste water (Padhye et al 1967, Ulfig 1991, Ulfig & Korcz 1995. Known telemorphs that have been associated with the genus variously belong to the Gymnoasceae, Onygenaceae, Ascosphaeraceae and Sordariaceae in Ascomycetes, Ascomycota.…”

Two new Chrysosporium (Onygenaceae, Onygenales) from China

“…were mostly saprophytic and keratinolytic. They are widely distributed and can be isolated from various habitats such as air, sea, sludge, waste water (Padhye et al 1967;Ulfig 1991;Ulfig & Korcz 1995;Deshmukh 1999). Vanbreuseghem (1952) and Simpanya & Baxter (1996) have used hair and wool as baits to effectively induce the growth of these fungi.…”