Pityriarubins, Biologically Active Bis(indolyl)spirans from Cultures of the Lipophilic Yeast Malassezia furfur

摘要

Lipophilic yeasts of the genus Malassezia (earlier: Pityrosporum) belong to the resident flora of the human skin and that of many mammals. One of seven species of such yeasts currently defined, M. furfur exhibits certain biochemical peculiarities. When L-tryptophan is added as the only nitrogen source to cultures of this yeast, it induces the production of numerous indole alkaloids, including colored and fluorescent compounds. This may be of importance for the pathogenesis of pityriasis versicolor, a skin disease associated with Malassezia and characterized by flaky lesions with a hitherto unexplained variation in color and fluorescence.