Study of lipids in dermatophytes. I. The effect of ketoconazole on fatty acids of Microsporum gypseum and its mutants.

There was studied the spectre of fatty acids and its changes induced by ketoconazole in the strain M. gypseum and its two mutants (UV-1, UV-2). The main saturate fatty acid in MG-155 and in both mutants is palmitic acid, the main unsaturate fatty acid is linoleic acid. In comparison with MG-155, UV-1 and UV-2 manifest a lower amount of stearic and oleic acids and a higher amount of stearic acid) in MG-155 and UV-1, an increase of saturate fatty acids is observed in UV-2. The unsaturate fatty acids affected by ketoconazole increase in MG-155 and UV-1, they decrease in UV-2 (the changes are most marked in linoleic acid). Oleic acid, as the main representant of monounsaturate fatty acids, decreases in MG-155 and in both mutants. There is discussed the relationship of these changes in fatty acids distribution to the eventual damage of membrane function, to the growth characteristics and to the metabolism of ergosterol.