Ricerc@Sapienza

The potential role played by fungi in the weathering of sulfide abandoned mines and waste rock dumps is scarcely investigated, yet. In particular microfungi may produce biofilms that work as sites of metals and minerals precipitation. This study aimed to investigate interactions, bioalteration, and biocorrosion between three microfungi (Trichoderma harzianum group, Penicillium glandicola, P. brevicompactum) isolated from the Libiola sulfide mine (Liguria, Italy) and pyrite-rich mineralizations occurring within the waste rock dumps.

Tinea pedis and onychomycosis are among the commonest fungal diseases in the world. Dermatophytes and, less frequently, non-dermatophyte moulds are aetiological agents of foot mycosis and are capable of forming biofilms. Fungal biofilm has demonstrated increasing drug resistance. This work aims to evaluate, in vitro, the ability to form biofilm and the susceptibility to antifungal drugs of sessile dermatophytes and non-dermatophyte moulds involved in foot mycosis.