Polymorphic exocellular protease expression in clinical isolates of Trichophyton tonsurans

Tinea capitis continues to be an overwhelmingly prevalent disease in childr en. Despite the fact that it was recognized over a century ago, the factors that dictate the divergent clinical presentations seen with tinea capitis (e.g., carrier state, chronic non-inflammatory infection, acute severely-in flammatory infection) remain unknown. Given the pathogenic role of exocellu lar proteases in dermatophyte infections and their potential immunogenic ro le, this investigation was designed to characterize strain-specific variabi lity in fungal protease expression and activity in Trichophyton tonsurans i solates identified from children with tinea capitis.