The factors which accelerate the spherical cell formation of Trichophyton rubrum were studied. Trichophyton rubrum No-6 was employed in this research. The strain, isolated from the patient suffering from tenea barbae, was maintained on Sabouraud glucose agar at room temperature. During the experiment Sabouraud conservation agar was used.
The test solutions were as follows; 23 amino acids (the concentration of each amino acid solution was 1%, while 1-tyrosine was 0.05% and 1-cystine 0.01%), 0.13% saline solutions, distilled water of pH 310, human serum, 1% creatinine solution, 1 % creatine solution, 1% urea solution, 1 % ammonia solution and 1% lactic acid solution.
Each slide culture of the strain was incubated at 27°C. After 7 days incubation, the cover glass was removed and the blocks of agar (1.5 mm³), in which hyphae grew, were cut from the agar of slide culture with sterile knife. Then, the blocks were placed on sterile microscopic slides (3 per slide) and each test solution was dropped onto them. They were covered with a sterile cover glass (24×50 mm) and incubated again 37°C for 7 days.
The result was as follows; coenocytic mycelium of the fungus was transformed into the spherical cells by the presence of a physiological solution of sodium chloride and 1% ornithine solution.