Evaluation of melanin production by Sporothrix luriei

• Main Authors: Ingrid Ludmilla Rodrigues Cruz, Maria Helena Galdino Figueiredo-Carvalho, Rosely Maria Zancopé-Oliveira, Rodrigo Almeida-Paes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde
• Series: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz.
• Subjects: Sporothrix luriei; L-tyrosine; pyomelanin
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762018000100068&lng=en&tlng=en

There is a paucity of studies on the cell biology of Sporothrix luriei, the less common of the pathogenic Sporothrix species worldwide. The production of DHN-melanin, eumelanin, and pyomelanin were evaluated on the mycelial and yeast forms of the S. luriei ATCC 18616 strain. The mycelial form of this species produced only pyomelanin, which protected the fungus against environmental stressors such as ultraviolet light, heat, and cold. The yeast form was unable to produce any of the tested melanin types. The lack of melanin in the parasitic form of S. luriei may be an explanation for its low frequency in human infections.