{{Short description|Genus of fungi}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Macroconidia Microsporum canis.JPG | image_caption = ''Microsporum canis'' | taxon = Microsporum | authority = Gruby (1843) | type_species = ''Microsporum audouinii'' | type_species_authority = Gruby (1843) | synonyms_ref = <ref name="Species Fungorum synonymy"/> | synonyms = *''Closteroaleurosporia'' {{small|Grigoraki (1924)}} *''Closterosporia'' {{small|Grigoraki (1924)}} *''Nannizzia'' {{small|Stockdale (1961)}} *''Sabouraudites'' {{small|M.Ota & Langeron (1923)}} *''Thallomicrosporon'' {{small|Benedek (1964)}} }} {{More citations needed|date=April 2019}} [[File:Microsporum gypseum (257 17) Microculture.jpg|thumb|''Microsporum gypseum'' ]]

'''''Microsporum''''' is a genus of fungi that causes tinea capitis, tinea corporis, ringworm, and other dermatophytoses (fungal infections of the skin). ''Microsporum'' forms both macroconidia (large asexual reproductive structures) and microconidia (smaller asexual reproductive structures) on short conidiophores. Macroconidia are hyaline, multiseptate, variable in form, fusiform, spindle-shaped to obovate, 7–20 by 30–160&nbsp;μm in size, with thin or thick echinulate to verrucose cell walls. Their shape, size and cell wall features are important characteristics for species identification. Microconidia are hyaline, single-celled, pyriform to clavate, smooth-walled, 2.5–3.5 by 4–7&nbsp;um in size and are not diagnostic for any one species.

The separation of this genus from ''Trichophyton'' is essentially based on the roughness of the macroconidial cell wall, although in practice this may sometimes be difficult to observe. Seventeen species of ''Microsporum'' have been described; however, only the more common species are included in these descriptions.

The keratinolytic properties that ''Microsporum cookei'' possesses suggests that the fungus can alternatively be used for recycling the large amount of industrial keratinic waste.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Moallaei|first=H.|last2=Zaini|first2=F.|last3=Rezaei|first3=S.|last4=Bouchara|first4=J.-P.|last5=Larcher|first5=G.|date=December 2011|title=Purification and characterization of a 33 kDa extracellular proteinase from ''Microsporum cookei''|journal=Journal de Mycologie Médicale|language=en|volume=21|issue=4|pages=241–247|doi=10.1016/j.mycmed.2011.09.004}}</ref>

==Species== *''Microsporum amazonicum'' *''Microsporum audouinii'' *''Microsporum boullardii'' *''Microsporum canis'' *''Microsporum canis'' var. ''distortum'' *''Microsporum cookei'' *''Microsporum distortum'' *''Microsporum duboisii'' *''Microsporum equinum'' *''Microsporum ferrugineum'' *''Microsporum fulvum'' *''Microsporum gallinae'' *''Microsporum gypseum'' *''Microsporum langeronii'' *''Microsporum nanum'' *''Microsporum persicolor'' *''Microsporum praecox'' *''Microsporum ripariae'' *''Microsporum rivalieri''

==References== {{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="Species Fungorum synonymy">{{cite web |title=Synonymy: ''Microsporum'' Gruby, C. r. hebd. Séanc. Acad. Sci., Paris 17: 302 (1843) |url=http://www.speciesfungorum.org/Names/SynSpecies.asp?RecordID=8939 |publisher=Species Fungorum |access-date=6 July 2021}}</ref>

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==External links== *[https://archive.today/20120729165331/http://www.doctorfungus.org/ Doctor Fungus] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070524031748/http://www.mycology.adelaide.edu.au/Fungal_Descriptions/Dermatophytes/Trichophyton/ Mycology Unit at the Adelaide Women's and Children's Hospital ]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q639799}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Parasitic fungi Category:Arthrodermataceae Category:Eurotiomycetes genera Category:Taxa described in 1843

{{Eurotiomycetes-stub}}