''Microsporum'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

that causes

tinea capitis Tinea capitis (also known as "herpes tonsurans", "ringworm of the hair", "ringworm of the scalp", "scalp ringworm", and "tinea tonsurans") is a cutaneous fungal infection ( dermatophytosis) of the scalp. The disease is primarily caused by dermato ...

tinea corporis Tinea corporis is a fungal infection of the body, similar to other forms of tinea. Specifically, it is a type of dermatophytosis (or ringworm) that appears on the arms and legs, especially on glabrous skin; however, it may occur on any superfici ...

ringworm Dermatophytosis, also known as tinea and ringworm, is a mycosis, fungal infection of the skin (a dermatomycosis), that may affect skin, hair, and nails. Typically it results in a red, itchy, scaly, circular rash. Hair loss may occur in the a ...

, and other

dermatophytoses Dermatophytosis, also known as tinea and ringworm, is a fungal infection of the skin (a dermatomycosis), that may affect skin, hair, and nails. Typically it results in a red, itchy, scaly, circular rash. Hair loss may occur in the area aff ...

(

fungal infection Fungal infection, also known as mycosis, is a disease caused by fungi. Different types are traditionally divided according to the part of the body affected: superficial, subcutaneous, and systemic. Superficial fungal infections include common ...

s of the

skin Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation. Other animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have different ...

). ''Microsporum'' forms both

macroconidia A conidium ( ; : conidia), sometimes termed an asexual chlamydospore or chlamydoconidium (: chlamydoconidia), is an Asexual reproduction, asexual, non-motility, motile spore of a fungus. The word ''conidium'' comes from the Ancient Greek word f ...

(large asexual reproductive structures) and

microconidia A conidium ( ; : conidia), sometimes termed an asexual chlamydospore or chlamydoconidium (: chlamydoconidia), is an asexual, non-motile spore of a fungus. The word ''conidium'' comes from the Ancient Greek word for dust, ('). They are also ca ...

(smaller asexual reproductive structures) on short

conidiophores A conidium ( ; : conidia), sometimes termed an asexual chlamydospore or chlamydoconidium (: chlamydoconidia), is an asexual, non- motile spore of a fungus. The word ''conidium'' comes from the Ancient Greek word for dust, ('). They are also ...

. Macroconidia are

hyaline A hyaline substance is one with a glassy appearance. The word is derived from , and . Histopathology Hyaline cartilage is named after its glassy appearance on fresh gross pathology. On light microscopy of H&E stained slides, the extracellula ...

, multiseptate, variable in form,

fusiform Fusiform (from Latin ''fusus'' ‘spindle’) means having a spindle (textiles), spindle-like shape that is wide in the middle and tapers at both ends. It is similar to the lemon (geometry), lemon-shape, but often implies a focal broadening of a ...

, spindle-shaped to obovate, 7–20 by 30–160 um in size, with thin or thick

echinulate This glossary provides an overview of terms used in the description of lichens, composite organisms arising from algae or cyanobacteria living symbiotically among filaments of multiple fungus species. Erik Acharius, known as the "father of lic ...

to verrucose cell walls. Their shape, size and cell wall features are important characteristics for species identification. Microconidia are hyaline, single-celled,

pyriform Piriform, sometimes ''pyriform'', means pear-shaped (from Latin ''pirum'' "pear" and ''forma'' "shape"). It may also refer to: Anatomy * Piriform aperture, more commonly known as anterior nasal aperture * Piriform cortex, a region in the brai ...

to clavate, smooth-walled, 2.5–3.5 by 4–7 um in size and are not diagnostic for any one

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

. The separation of this genus from ''

Trichophyton ''Trichophyton'' is a genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV c ...

'' is essentially based on the roughness of the macroconidial cell wall, although in practice this may sometimes be difficult to observe. Seventeen species of ''Microsporum'' have been described; however, only the more common species are included in these descriptions. The keratinolytic properties that ''Microsporum cookei'' possesses suggests that the fungus can alternatively be used for recycling the large amount of industrial keratinic waste.

Species

*''

Microsporum amazonicum ''Microsporum'' is a genus of fungi that causes tinea capitis, tinea corporis, ringworm, and other dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin). ''Microsporum'' forms both macroconidia (large asexual reproductive structures) and microconidia ...

'' *''

Microsporum audouinii ''Microsporum audouinii'' is an anthropophilic fungus in the genus '' Microsporum''. It is a type of dermatophyte that colonizes keratinized tissues (primarily hair) causing infection. The fungus is characterized by its spindle-shaped macroconidi ...

'' *''

Microsporum boullardii ''Microsporum'' is a genus of fungi that causes tinea capitis, tinea corporis, ringworm, and other dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin). ''Microsporum'' forms both macroconidia (large asexual reproductive structures) and microconidia ...

'' *''

Microsporum canis ''Microsporum canis'' is a pathogenic, asexual fungus in the phylum Ascomycota that infects the upper, dead layers of skin on domesticated cats, and occasionally dogs and humans. The species has a worldwide distribution. Taxonomy and evolution ...

'' *''

'' var. ''distortum'' *''

Microsporum cookei ''Microsporum'' is a genus of fungi that causes tinea capitis, tinea corporis, ringworm, and other dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin). ''Microsporum'' forms both macroconidia (large asexual reproductive structures) and microconidia ...

'' *''

Microsporum distortum ''Microsporum'' is a genus of fungi that causes tinea capitis, tinea corporis, ringworm, and other dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin). ''Microsporum'' forms both macroconidia (large asexual reproductive structures) and microconidia ...

'' *''

Microsporum duboisii ''Microsporum'' is a genus of fungi that causes tinea capitis, tinea corporis, ringworm, and other dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin). ''Microsporum'' forms both macroconidia (large asexual reproductive structures) and microconidia ...

'' *''

Microsporum equinum ''Microsporum'' is a genus of fungi that causes tinea capitis, tinea corporis, ringworm, and other dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin). ''Microsporum'' forms both macroconidia (large asexual reproductive structures) and microconidia ...

'' *''

Microsporum ferrugineum ''Microsporum'' is a genus of fungi that causes tinea capitis, tinea corporis, ringworm, and other dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin). ''Microsporum'' forms both macroconidia (large asexual reproductive structures) and microconidia ...

'' *''

Microsporum fulvum ''Microsporum fulvum'' is a wildly-distributed dermatophyte species in the Fungi Kingdom. It is known to be a close relative to other dermatophytes such as ''Trichophyton and'' ''Epidermophyton.'' The fungus is common within soil environments and ...

'' *''

Microsporum gallinae ''Microsporum gallinae'' is a fungus of the genus ''Microsporum'' that causes dermatophytosis, commonly known as ringworm. Chickens represent the host population of ''Microsporum gallinae'' but its opportunistic nature allows it to enter other po ...

'' *''

Microsporum gypseum ''Microsporum gypseum'' is a soil-associated dermatophyte that occasionally is known to colonise and infect the upper dead layers of the skin of mammals. The name refers to an asexual "form-taxon" that has been associated with four related biol ...

'' *''

Microsporum langeronii ''Microsporum'' is a genus of fungi that causes tinea capitis, tinea corporis, ringworm, and other dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin). ''Microsporum'' forms both macroconidia (large asexual reproductive structures) and microconidi ...

'' *''

Microsporum nanum ''Microsporum nanum'' is a pathogenic fungus in the family Arthrodermataceae. It is a type of dermatophyte that causes infection in dead keratinized tissues such as skin, hair, and nails. ''Microsporum nanum'' is found worldwide and is both zooph ...

'' *''

Microsporum persicolor ''Microsporum'' is a genus of fungi that causes tinea capitis, tinea corporis, ringworm, and other dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin). ''Microsporum'' forms both macroconidia (large asexual reproductive structures) and microconidia ...

'' *'' Microsporum praecox'' *''

Microsporum ripariae ''Microsporum'' is a genus of fungi that causes tinea capitis, tinea corporis, ringworm, and other dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin). ''Microsporum'' forms both macroconidia (large asexual reproductive structures) and microconidia ...

'' *''

Microsporum rivalieri ''Microsporum'' is a genus of fungi that causes tinea capitis, tinea corporis, ringworm, and other dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin). ''Microsporum'' forms both macroconidia (large asexual reproductive structures) and microconidia ...

References

External links

Doctor FungusMycology Unit at the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital
Parasitic fungi Arthrodermataceae Eurotiomycetes genera Taxa described in 1843 {{Eurotiomycetes-stub