Long-term maintenance of lyophilized fungal cultures of the genera Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Paecilomyces and Trichophyton.

Twenty-six sporulating strains of lyophilized microscopic fungi of the genera Epidermophyton, Microsporum, Paecilomyces and Trichophyton have been maintained at 2-8 degrees C for 8-14 years. In 23 strains the number of viable particles reduced less than 10-fold during this period compared with immediately after lyophilization. The viability of other three investigated strains ranged from 3.4% to 7.1% in comparison with the original values.