Immunology Division, Department of Microbiology, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh 515 003, India
*Corresponding author; E-mail: bada_v@yahoo.com Tel: 91(8554)255759, 255760(O), 280588 (R)
Supplementation of 50 µM zinc to Saubourad's agar medium (SAM) increased conidial germination and sporulation of Aspergillus fumigatus, isolated from ABPA patients working in sericulture grainage industry. Higher concentration of Zn inhibited both conidial germination and sporulation. At low concentrations, feuconazole accelerated germination and germ tube elongation of conidia, obtained from zinc amended medium, but at higher levels, it had inhibitory effect. Itraconazole totally inhibited the growth of conidia. The results suggested that conidia obtained at lower concentrations of zinc could be used for in vitro susceptibility studies.
Antifungal agents, Aspergillus fumigatus, conidia, fluconazole, germination, itraconazole, zinc
