Fungi Trichophyton mentagrophytes, the cause of athlete's foot (tinea pedis), scalp ringworm (tinea capitus), and nail infection (onychomycosis), illustration. T. mentagrophytes is one of many species of fungi that can grow in human skin, causing inflammation and itching. Athlete's foot, ringworm and onychomycosis are treated with antifungal drugs. Illustration shows two types of conidia (structures which contain fungal spores that transmit infections): branched conidiophores bearing spherical microconidia (unicellular bodies), macroconidium (multicellular body), and spiral hyphae. |