Background and aim
Microsporum canis
(
M. canis
) is a dermatophyte fungal pathogen that causes ringworms. Cats are considered to be a dominant reservoir host enabling
M. canis
transmission to humans. The concerns of dermatophyte resistance were raised among the usage of antifungal drugs to treat the ringworm. This study aimed to evaluate the fungal activity of cyclic lipopeptides (CLPs) obtained from
Bacillus subtilis
(
B. subtilis
) as an alternative method for the inhibition of
M. canis
growth.
Materials and methods
The culture plate of
M. canis
from confirmed cats with ringworm infection was provided. The purification of CLP extract, fengycin, iturin A, and surfactin was carried out from
B. subtilis
by preparative thin-layer chromatography (PTLC) coupled with solid-phase extraction (SPE) methods. Half-maximal effective concentration (EC
50
) and agar well diffusion assays were performed to determine the efficacy of
Bacillus
CLP extract, fengycin, iturin A, and surfactin to inhibit the growth of
M. canis
isolated from cats.
Results
All purified
Bacillus
substances displayed antifungal activity to control the growth of
M. canis
when compared with 80% ethanol (control). EC
50
values for CLP extract, fengycin, iturin A, and surfactin were 0.23, 0.05, 0.17, and 0.08 mg/mL, respectively. In agar well diffusion assay, the ability of CLP extract, fengycin, iturin A, and surfactin on fungal inhibition had no statistically significant difference at 24 and 48 h after treatment (p < 0.05). However, CLP extract showed a statistically significant difference on
M. canis
inhibition at 62.21% followed by surfactin with 59.04% at 72 h after treatment.
Conclusion
In vitro
,
Bacillus
CLPs revealed an inhibitory effect on
M. canis
growth which is a zoonotic pathogen that causes ringworms. This study suggests an alternative approach to control the growth of
M. canis
using substances obtained from
B. subtilis
as a biomedicine agent with antifungal activity.