In vitro activity of panomycocin, a novel exo-beta-1,3-glucanase isolated from Pichia anomala NCYC 434, against dermatophytes

Killer proteins that are produced and secreted into the environment by certain yeast strains are considered as promising antifungal agents. In this study, in vitro activity of Pichia anomala NCYC 434 (K5) killer protein, panomycocin, which is a 49 kDa glycoprotein with an exo-beta-1,3-glucanase activity was tested against 41 isolates of dermatophytes. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by a broth microdilution method based on the reference document M38-A of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI; formerly NCCLS). For panomycocin MIC determinations two end point criteria MIC-2 (prominent growth inhibition) and MIC-0 (complete growth inhibition) were recorded. All the tested isolates (Microsporum spp. and Trichophyton spp.) were found susceptible to panomycocin. The MIC-2 values ranged from 0.25 to 2 mu g ml(-1) and MIC-0 values ranged from 1 to 8 mu g ml(-1). These results showed that panomycocin is active in vitro against fungal strains that cause superficial infections and highlighted its probable use as a topical antifungal agent