Malassezia furfur

From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource
This student page has not been curated.

Classification

Eukarya/Eukaryota/Fungi; Basidiomycota; Exobasidiomycetes; Malasseziales; Malassaziaceae [1]

Malassezia furfur

This is my friend Clay. Remove this or replace with your own files and captions.

Description and Significance

Malassezia furfur is a fungus, specifically a yeast, that is approximately 1.5-4.5 μm wide and 2-6 μm long [2]. It is spherical (coccal) in shape and has a distinguishing bottleneck at one end. Malassezia furfur is believed to be the causative agent in various dermatological disorders including Pityriasis versicolor, Pityriasis folliculitis, Seborrheic dermatitis, and dandruff. Malassezia furfur is usually found in single-cell individuals but unlike most other Malassezia species, Malassezia furfur forms filaments when it becomes its pathogenic form [3]. Like most of its genus, Malassezia furfur is a lipophilic yeast meaning it requires an environment high in fats and oils. Give a brief description of the microorganism and explain why you think it is important. How does it relate to the other organisms in its phylum (bacteria and fungi) or group (archaea, virus, protist). Use the following for each reference in text (change number accordingly)--> [1]

Structure, Metabolism, and Life Cycle

Interesting features of its structure; how it gains energy (how it replicates, if virus); what important molecules it produces (if any), does it have an interesting life cycle?

Ecology and Pathogenesis

Malassezia furfur lives on the epithelial cells of humans where it consumes the natural oils and fats we excrete. It especially loves warm, damp environments like under the arm or inside the crotch region. Malassezia furfur is the primary causative agent of Pityriasis versicolor, a skin disease in humans that causes either hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation of the skin, scaly, slow-growing skin, and itchiness. Natural habitat (soil, water, commensal of humans or animals?)
If relevant, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, or plant hosts? Important virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

References

[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=55194

[2] "Malassezia furfur". Wikipedia http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malassezia_furfur

[3] Gaitanis, G., Magiatis, P., Hantschke, M., Bassukas, I.D., Velegraki, A. 2012. "The Malassezia Genus in Skin and Systemic Diseases". Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 1: 106-141. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3255962/

[4] Mayo Clinic Staff. 2010. "Tinea versicolor: Symptoms". Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tinea-versicolor/DS00635/DSECTION=symptoms

[2] EXAMPLE ONLY. REPLACE WITH YOUR REFERENCES. Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. 2000. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 50: 489-500. http://ijs.sgmjournals.org/cgi/reprint/50/2/489

Author

Page authored by Shayne Haag, student of Mandy Brosnahan, Instructor at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, MICB 3301/3303: Biology of Microorganisms.