A FUNGISTATIC STRAIN OF BACILLUS SUBTILIS ISOLATED FROM NORMAL TOES

Abstract

One of us¹ has already briefly commented on the possibility of utilizing vital agents like yeasts and other micro-organisms as therapeutic agents against fungus diseases, particularly because they might insure against recurrence. Thus far only one species had been tested, "Johnson's Yeast," and while it inhibited fungus growth in vitro, it failed clinically. It is common knowledge, of course, that many saprophytic fungi which contaminate plantings inhibit or at least overgrow many of the ringworm species in the test tube. This phenomenon is so frequent and so striking as to lead to the perhaps fanciful hypothesis that there might be micro-organisms living on normal skins which were acting as omnipresent biologic protectors against ringworm and other infections. The present communication represents a further examination into the situation, this time so arranged as also to include the bacteria. On actual test, an organism was found on four normal skins which