L-Dihydroxyphenylalanine induces melanin production by members of the genus trichosporon

Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laborat orio de Micologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Departments of Medicine. Division of Infectious Diseases Microbiology and Immunology. Bronx, NY, United States of America
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laborat orio de Micologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laborat orio de Micologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Laborat orio de Micologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil

Abstract

Melanization of members of the genus Trichosporon is poorly described. In this study, six strains, including two clinical isolates, from four different species (Trichosporon asahii, T. asteroides, T. inkin, and T. mucoides) were grown in culture media with or without L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA). Each strain produced a brownish pigment compatible with melanin when cultured in presence of L-DOPA, suggesting that these species are able to produce eumelanin. L-tyrosine was not able to elicit any type of pigment production on cultures. As eumelanin is produced by several fungi during parasitism, this pigment may contribute to Trichosporon virulence.

Keywords

Levodopa
Melanins
Trichosporon
Mycoses

DeCS

Levodopa
Melaninas
Trichosporon
Micoses

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Citation

CARVALHO, Maria Helena Galdino Figueiredo et al. L-Dihydroxyphenylalanine induces melanin production by members of the genus Trichosporon. FEMS Yeast Research, v.14, n.6, p.988–991, 2014.

DOI

10.1111/1567-1364.12174

ISSN

1567-1356

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.arca.fiocruz.br/handle/icict/11060

Type

Copyright

Restricted access

Collections

Share

Statistics

Metadata

Author

Affilliation