Microsporum canis Siderophores Identified as Ferrichrome and Ferricrocin Original paper
Researched by:
-
Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Read MoreKaren Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
-
Microbial Metallomics
Microbial Metallomics
Microbial Metallomics is the study of how microorganisms interact with metal ions in biological systems, particularly within the human microbiome.
-
Microsporum canis (M. canis)
Microsporum canis (M. canis)
OverviewMicrosporum canis (M. canis) is a zoophilic dermatophyte common in cats and dogs, responsible for 90% of feline dermatophytoses worldwide.[1][2] It has significant zoonotic potential, transmitting to humans through fomites or direct animal contact, causing severe superficial mycosis. M. canis is considered anthropo-zoophilic and can infect pediatric or immunocompromised patients, causing severe inflammatory responses such […]
-
Karen Pendergrass
Read More
Researched by:
-
Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Read More
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
What was studied?
This study investigated the production and identity of siderophores by six dermatophytic fungal species: Microsporum gypseum, M. canis, M. audouinii, Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, and T. tonsurans. Given the critical role of iron acquisition in microbial virulence, especially in iron-limited host environments where iron is tightly sequestered by transferrin and lactoferrin, the researchers aimed to characterize the types of siderophores secreted under iron-restricted conditions. Identification was performed using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and mass spectrometry.
Who was studied?
Clinical isolates of the six dermatophytic fungi were collected from hospitals and maintained under standardized conditions. Trichophyton species were cultivated for 22 days and Microsporum species for 14 days in iron-limited synthetic media. The fungal cultures were then subjected to extraction, purification, and chemical characterization of their secreted siderophores.
Most important findings
All six dermatophyte species examined in the study were found to produce hydroxamate-type siderophores under iron-deficient conditions. Specifically, M. gypseum, M. canis, M. audouinii, and T. rubrum secreted two siderophores—ferrichrome C and ferricrocin—while T. mentagrophytes and T. tonsurans produced only ferrichrome. These siderophores were identified through their characteristic retention times using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), distinct Rf values on thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and confirmed molecular weights by mass spectrometry (with m/z values of 755 for ferrichrome C, 771 for ferricrocin, and 741 for ferrichrome).
Notably, T. rubrum exhibited a siderophore profile more closely aligned with Microsporum species than with other Trichophyton species, suggesting potential taxonomic or functional overlaps despite genus-level differences. These findings not only differentiate species based on siderophore output but also provide biochemical markers that could aid in fungal taxonomy or therapeutic targeting.
| Fungus | Ferrichrome | Ferricrocin | Ferrichrome C |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. gypseum | + | + | – |
| M. canis | + | + | – |
| M. audouinii | + | + | – |
| T. rubrum | + | + | – |
| T. mentagrophytes | – | – | + |
| T. tonsurans | – | – | + |
Key implications
Iron sequestration is a cornerstone of host immune defense, and fungal survival depends heavily on siderophore production to circumvent this. By defining the siderophore profiles of pathogenic dermatophytes, this study highlights potential molecular targets for antifungal development. Ferrichrome-type siderophores represent a vulnerability; disrupting their synthesis or uptake may impair the fungi’s ability to persist on keratinized tissues. Importantly, Microsporum canis depends on both ferricrocin and ferrichrome C siderophores, both of which could serve as diagnostic biomarkers or therapeutic targets. These results also suggest that antifungal strategies targeting siderophore-mediated iron uptake may have genus- or species-specific efficacy.