Contribution to the study on fatty acids of Epidermophyton floccosum

The total lipid content of a dermatophyte, Epidermophyton floccosum, grown under controlled environmental conditions, varies with growth stage and represents 7.0 to 19.8% of the dry weight. The main lipid classes, determined by quantitative thin-layer chromatography, were: triglycerides, free fatty acids, sterols and phospholipids. The fatty acid composition was established with the aid of combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major components, linoleic, palmitic and stearic acids represent 42.8, 18.9 and 9.6 per cent respectively. The fatty acid biosynthesis, their taxonomic value and their role in the disease mechanism are discussed.