Antimicrobial susceptibility testing for diverse Malassezia species

The genus Malassezia is an opportunistic lipid-dependent yeast that is associated with common skin diseases and has recently been associated with Crohn’s disease and certain cancers. Understanding the susceptibility of Malassezia to diverse antimicrobial agents is crucial for identifying effective antifungal therapies. Here, we tested the efficacy of isavuconazole, itraconazole, terbinafine and artemisinin against three Malassezia species: M. restricta, M. slooffiae, and M. sympodialis, using microbroth dilution techniques. We found antifungal properties for the two previously-unstudied antimicrobials: isavuconazole and artemisinin. Overall all Malassezia species were particularly susceptible to itraconazole, with a MIC range from 0.0015 to 0.1562 μM. Importance The Malassezia genus is known to be a cause of skin conditions and has recently been associated with diseases such as Crohn’s disease, pancreatic ductal carcinoma and breast cancer. This work was completed to assess the susceptibility to a variety of antimicrobial drugs on diverse Malassezia species, in particular Malassezia restricta.