Abstract Detail

Poster Session

Hamm, Paris [1], Tobias, Terri [1], Sandona, Katrina [1], Belnap, Jayne [2], Kuske, Cheryl R [3], Porras-Alfaro, Andrea [1].

A study of diversity and abundance of desert keratinophilic fungi.

Keratinophilic fungi can use keratin as the main carbon source. They are commonly found in soil and some species are responsible for skin, hair, and nail infections in humans known as dermatophytosis. The goals of this project were to optimize isolation methods for keratinophilic fungi using different baits and to compare the presence and diversity of these fungi in different soil microenvironments. Soil samples were collected from an arid grassland near Castle Valley, UT and include different types of biological soil crusts. Two types rhizosphere samples from the grasses, Hilaria and Bromus, were also collected. Keratinophilic fungi were baited with llama hair, snake skin, horse hair, and sheep wool which are all substrates rich in keratin. Fungi will be isolated in Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and Malt Extract Agar. After approximately two months, all substrates show abundant mycelial growth and colonization. Snake skin and sheep wool showed the highest levels of fluorescence when using the black light to determine dermatophytic colonization. Preliminary microscopic analysis revealed that the different baits are colonized by a variety of fungi including Fusarium and Aspergillus. Culture collections will be identified using the ITS rDNA region and compared with direct sequence data obtained from the soils at the same site. 

1 - Western Illinois University, Biological Sciences, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL, 61455, USA
2 - US Geological Survey, Climate Variability & Change, 2290 S. West Resource Blvd., Moab, UT, 84532, USA
3 - Los Alamos National Lab, Enviornmental Microbiology, P.O. Box 1663 , Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Offered Paper - Poster
Session: P7
Location: Lincoln Room/Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
Date: Monday, June 9th, 2014
Time: 8:00 PM
Number: P7006
Abstract ID:138
Candidate for Awards:None