Malassezia globosa

Malassezia globosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Malasseziomycetes
Order: Malasseziales
Family: Malasseziaceae
Genus: Malassezia
Species:
M. globosa
Binomial name
Malassezia globosa
Midgley, E.Guého & J.Guillot

Malassezia globosa is a species of yeast-like fungus.[1]

Cause of dandruff and dermatitis

In 2007, it was discovered that the responsible agent is a scalp specific fungus, Malassezia globosa (previously thought to be Malassezia furfur), that metabolizes triglycerides present in sebum by the expression of lipase, resulting in a lipid byproduct: oleic acid.[2]

Identification of Malassezia on skin has been aided by the application of molecular or DNA-based techniques. These investigations show that the Malassezia species causing most skin disease in humans, including the most common cause of dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis, is M. globosa (though M. restricta is also involved).[1] The skin rash of tinea versicolor (pityriasis versicolor) is also due to infection by this fungus.

As the fungus requires fat to grow,[3] it is most common in areas with many sebaceous glands: on the scalp,[4] face, and upper part of the body. When the fungus grows too rapidly, the natural renewal of cells is disturbed, and dandruff appears with itching (a similar process may also occur with other fungi or bacteria).

A project in 2007 has sequenced the genome of dandruff-causing Malassezia globosa and found it to have 4,285 genes.[5][6] M. globosa uses eight different types of lipase, along with three phospholipases, to break down the oils on the scalp. Any of these 11 proteins would be a suitable target for dandruff medications.

The number of specimens of M. globosa on a human head can be up to ten million.[4]

Malassezia globosa has been predicted to have the ability to reproduce sexually,[7] but this has not been observed.

References

  1. 1 2 DeAngelis YM, Saunders CW, Johnstone KR, et al. (September 2007). "Isolation and expression of a Malassezia globosa lipase gene, LIP1". J. Invest. Dermatol. 127 (9): 2138–46. doi:10.1038/sj.jid.5700844. PMID 17460728.
  2. ↑ "Genetic code of dandruff cracked". BBC News. 6 November 2007. Archived from the original on 22 December 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  3. ↑ Guého E, Midgley G, Guillot J (May 1996). "The genus Malassezia with description of four new species". Antonie van Leeuwenhoek. 69 (4): 337–355. doi:10.1007/BF00399623. PMID 8836432. S2CID 31791799.
  4. 1 2 "Genetic code of dandruff cracked". BBC News. BBC. 6 November 2007. Retrieved 10 December 2008.
  5. ↑ Xu J, Saunders CW, Hu P, et al. (November 2007). "Dandruff-associated Malassezia genomes reveal convergent and divergent virulence traits shared with plant and human fungal pathogens". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 104 (47): 18730–5. Bibcode:2007PNAS..10418730X. doi:10.1073/pnas.0706756104. PMC 2141845. PMID 18000048.
  6. ↑ "Scientists Complete Genome Sequence Of Fungus Responsible For Dandruff, Skin Disorders". ScienceDaily. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  7. ↑ Guillot J, Hadina S, Guého E (June 2008). "The genus Malassezia: old facts and new concepts". Parassitologia. 50 (1–2): 77–9. PMID 18693563.
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