Elastase: production by ringworm fungi.

Isolants of nine species of Trichophyton, one of Epidermophyton, and four of Microsporum were assayed for elastase activity. The species or isolants with elastase activity were obtained from patients with inflammatory ring-worm infection. In Nannizzia fulva (M. fulvum), plus-mating-type strains were elastase-positive and minus-mating-type strains elastase-negative. A genetic study of mating type and elastase activity indicated a monogenic basis for both mating type and elastase activity.