RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Tabart, Jeremy A1 Baldo, Aline A1 Vermout, Sandy A1 Nusgens, Betty A1 Lapiere, Charles A1 Losson, Bertrand A1 Mignon, BernardYR 2007 T1 Reconstructed interfollicular feline epidermis as a model for Microsporum canis dermatophytosis JF Journal of Medical Microbiology, VO 56 IS 7 SP 971 OP 975 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.47115-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1473-5644, AB Microsporum canis is a pathogenic fungus that causes a superficial cutaneous infection called dermatophytosis. The complexity of mechanisms involved in dermatophytic infections makes relevant in vivo studies particularly difficult to perform. The aim of this study was to develop a new in vitro model of M. canis dermatophytosis using feline fetal keratinocytes in reconstructed interfollicular epidermis, and to investigate its relevance in studying the host–pathogen relationship. Histological analysis of reconstructed interfollicular feline epidermis (RFE) revealed a fully differentiated epidermis. A proliferation assay showed replicating cells only in the basal layer, indicating that RFE is a well-stratified living tissue, leading to the formation of a horny layer. Histopathological analysis of RFE infected by M. canis arthroconidia revealed that the fungus invades the stratum corneum and produces SUB3, a keratinase implicated in the infectious process. In view of these results, an M. canis dermatophytosis model on RFE seems to be a useful tool to investigate mechanisms involved in natural M. canis feline infections., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.47115-0