Degradation of wool by saprotrohic fungi

Abstract

Strains of Acremonium roseum and Chaetomium globosum were tested for their ability to attack the protein components of wool by culturing the fungi in basal medium containing wool and monitoring changes in pH and soluble protein levels occurring in the medium. Net increases in soluble protein and pH were detected in the cultures of A. roseum, C. globosum, and the positive control, Trichophyton mentagrophytes. To test for keratin denaturation by sulfite production (sulfitolysis), human hairs were exposed to the fungi in culture. Overgrown hairs were stained by the tetrazonium method, a test specific for compounds produced by sulfitolysis. Isolates of Trichophyton tonsurans, T. rubrum, T. terrestre, Microsporum cookei, and nondermatophytic saprotrophic fungi were also tested for sulfitolysis. Positive results for sulfitolysis were obtained with T. mentagrophytes, T. tonsurans, T. rubrum, T. terrestre, and M. cookei; A. roseum, C. globosum, and the remaining species were negative.