The cutaneous bacterium Janthinobacterium lividum inhibits the growth of Trichophyton rubrum in vitro. (22nd August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ramsey, Jeremy P.; Mercurio, Albert; Holland, Jessica A.; Harris, Reid N.; Minbiole, Kevin P. C.
• Is Part Of: International journal of dermatology. Volume 54:Number 2(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 156
• Page End: 159
• Publication Date: 2013-08-22
• Subjects: Dermatology -- Periodicals; 616.5
• DOI: 10.1111/ijd.12217
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0011-9059

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ijd12217-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ijd12217-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Tinea pedis (athlete's foot) is a fungal infection that is both widespread and challenging to treat. Standard treatments consist of topical and systemic therapies of antifungal agents, such as miconazole, itraconazole, and terbinafine. The extended nature of topical therapy and the toxicity of long‐term systemic therapy limit the utility of current treatments. An alternate approach relies on an understanding of bacterial–fungal interactions. Specifically, a probiotic antifungal bacterium such as <italic>Janthinobacterium lividum</italic> can counter infection; <italic>Janthinobacterium</italic> is a major constituent of the human skin microbiota. <italic>Janthinobacterium lividum</italic> has been shown to ameliorate the effects of the cutaneous fungal disease chytridiomycosis in a vertebrate species (<italic>Rana muscosa</italic>).</p> </sec> <sec id="ijd12217-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Dual‐culture plate challenge assays were performed using <italic>J. lividum</italic> and <italic>Trichophyton rubrum</italic>, the leading cause of athlete's foot.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijd12217-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>In all cases, <italic>T. rubrum</italic> colonies grew significantly smaller when co‐cultured with <italic>J. lividum</italic>.</p> </sec> <sec id="ijd12217-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>These <italic>in vitro</italic> results suggest that <italic>J. lividum</italic> merits further investigation as a human cutaneous probiotic.</p> </sec> </abstract>