Dermatophytes and host defence in cutaneous mycoses

Dermatophytosis is the infection of keratinized tissues such as hair, nails and the stratum corneum of the skin by dermatophyte fungi. These fungi are onygenalean anamorphs and anamorphic species belonging to the genera Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton. An important characteristic of the dermatophytes as parasites is their restriction to the dead keratinized tissues, except in rare cases where the patient is immunosuppressed. In contrast to many fungi, including normally non-pathogenic species, which can invade systemically in severely immunocompromised (e.g. neutropenic) patients, dermatophytes appear to be unable to cause systemic infection in this population. Thus, these fungi appear to have an unique interaction with the immune system. A better understanding of this interaction will contribute significantly to our knowledge of mammalian host defences.