Molecular typing of Trichophyton tonsurans by PCR-RFLP of the ribosomal DNA nontranscribed spacer region

Molecular typing of a collection of Iranian clinical Trichophyton tonsurans isolates based on the non-transcribed spacer region of rDNA and antifungal susceptibility testing of the species

INTRODUCTION

Wrestling, considered the national sport of Iran, has gained immense popularity among Iranians. Wrestlers frequently encounter skin conditions, with dermatophyte fungal infections, particularly tinea gladiatorum (TG), being a common issue. TG, caused by the Trichophyton genus, has emerged as a major health concern for wrestlers and other contact sport athletes worldwide. This study aimed to assess the genotypic diversity and antifungal susceptibility of Trichophyton tonsurans isolates responsible for TG in Iranian wrestlers from Mazandaran province, northern Iran.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 60 clinical T. tonsurans isolates collected from various cities in Mazandaran, were included in the study. The isolates were identified through PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing methods. Genomic DNA was extracted from these isolates, and the non-transcribed spacer (NTS) region of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) was targeted for genotyping using newly designed primers. Haplotype analysis was performed to explore genetic diversity, and antifungal susceptibility to terbinafine (TRB) and itraconazole (ITC) was assessed.

RESULTS

The results revealed five distinct NTS types: NTS-I, NTS-II, NTS-III, NTS-IV and NTS-V, with NTS-IV being the most prevalent. The distribution of NTS types varied across different cities, suggesting potential transmission patterns among wrestlers. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed that all isolates were susceptible to TRB, while one isolate demonstrated resistance to ITC. Genotypic diversity was not correlated with antifungal susceptibility, emphasising the importance of monitoring susceptibility to ensure effective treatment. Haplotype analysis highlighted significant genetic diversity among the T. tonsurans isolates. This diversity may be attributed to factors such as human-to-human transmission, geographic location and lifestyle changes. The study's findings underscore the need for comprehensive genotypic analysis to understand the epidemiology and evolution of T. tonsurans infections in athletes.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the genotypic diversity and antifungal susceptibility of T. tonsurans isolates causing TG in Iranian wrestlers. The presence of multiple NTS types and varying susceptibility patterns highlights the complexity of T. tonsurans infections in this population. Further research is warranted to track the transmission routes and genetic evolution of T. tonsurans strains among wrestlers and develop effective control measures.

Molecular strain typing of Trichophyton mentagrophytes (T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale) using non-transcribed spacer region as a molecular marker

Background & objectives:

Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi that infect keratinized tissues of human and animal origin. Trichophyton mentagrophytes is considered to be a species complex composed of several strains, which include both anthropophiles and zoophiles. Accurate discrimination is critical for comprehensive understanding of the clinical and epidemiological implications of the genetic heterogeneity of this complex. Molecular strain typing renders an effective way to discriminate each strain. The objective of the study was to characterize T. mentagrophytes clinical isolates to sub-species level using molecular techniques and non-transcribed spacer (NTS) region as marker.

Methods:

Sixty four T. mentagrophytes clinical isolates were identified by phenotypic methods. These were subjected to polymerase chain reaction targeting three sub-repeat elements (SREs), TmiS0, TmiS1 and TmiS2 of the NTS region. Sequence analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of different types was also done.

Results:

Strain-specific polymorphism was observed in all three loci. Totally, 13 different PCR types were obtained on combining all the three SREs loci. No variation was observed in the ITS region.

Interpretation & conclusions:

The study described the usefulness of molecular strain typing technique for the discrimination of the T. mentagrophytes isolates. This will help for the future explorations into the epidemiology of T. mentagrophytes and its complex.

Molecular Strain Typing of Clinical Isolates, Trichophyton rubrum using Non Transcribed Spacer (NTS) Region as a Molecular Marker

INTRODUCTION

Dermatophytes are a group of fungi which infect keratinized tissues and causes superficial mycoses in humans and animals. The group comprises of three major genera, Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton. Among them Trichophyton rubrum is a predominant anthropophilic fungi which causes chronic infections. Although, the infection is superficial and treatable, reinfection/coinfection causes inflation in the treatment cost. Identifying the source and mode of transmission is essential to prevent its transmission. Accurate discrimination is required to understand the clinical (relapse or reinfection) and epidemiological implications of the genetic heterogeneity of this species. Polymorphism in the Non Transcribed Spacer (NTS) region of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) clusters renders an effective way to discriminate strains among T. rubrum.

AIM

To carry out the strain typing of the clinical isolates, Trichophyton rubrum using NTS as a molecular marker.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy T.rubrum clinical isolates obtained from April-2011-March 2013, from Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, were identified by conventional phenotypic methods and included in this prospective study. The isolates were then subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting two subrepeat elements (SREs), TRS-1 and TRS-2 of the NTS region.

RESULTS

Strain-specific polymorphism was observed in both subrepeat loci. Total, nine different strains were obtained on combining both TRS-1 and TRS-2, SREs.

CONCLUSION

The outcome has given a strong representation for using NTS region amplification in discriminating the T. rubrum clinical isolates. The method can be adapted as a tool for conducting epidemiology and population based study in T. rubrum infections. This will help in future exploration of the epidemiology of T. rubrum.

Molecular Markers Useful for Intraspecies Subtyping and Strain Differentiation of Dermatophytes

Dermatophytosis is a very common skin disorder and the most frequent infection encountered by practicing dermatologists. The identification, pathogenicity, biology, and epidemiology of dermatophytes, the causative agents of dermatophytosis, are of interest for both dermatologists and medical mycologists. Recent advances in molecular methods have provided new techniques for identifying dermatophytes, including intraspecies variations. Intraspecies subtyping and strain differentiation have made possible the tracking of infections, the identification of common sources of infections, recurrence or reinfection after treatment, and analysis of strain virulence and drug resistance. This review describes molecular methods of intraspecies subtyping and strain differentiation, including analyses of mitochondrial DNA and non-transcribed spacer regions of ribosomal RNA genes, random amplification of polymorphic DNA, and microsatellite markers, along with their advantages and limitations.

Molecular typing of Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale isolated in a university hospital in Japan based on the non-transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal RNA gene

Detecting intraspecies polymorphisms in fungi causing dermatophytoses is important in elucidating routes of infection and determining whether Tinea recurrence is caused by exacerbation or re-infection. In fungi, the non-transcribed spacer region (NTS) of the ribosomal RNA gene shows the greatest accumulation of base sequence mutations. We therefore assessed NTS sequences in 64 clinical isolates of Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale, the second most common species of dermatophytes in Japan. These isolates were among the clinical isolates of dermatophytes in the Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa Medical University Hospital in 2006 and were obtained by morphological and molecular biological identification methods. DNA was extracted from each isolate, as well as from one isolate maintained in our department, to detect length polymorphisms at each of three variable loci, TmiS0, TmiS1 and TmiS2, of the NTS for subtyping. We observed seven patterns for TmiS0, six patterns for TmiS1 and three patterns for TmiS2. The combinations of these patterns enabled us to classify the 65 isolates into 15 types. The most prevalent, constituted 46% (30/65) of all isolates. Eleven types were new combinations, whereas the other four were previously described. These results suggest that this method may be used to determine the molecular epidemiology of T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale in Japan, because it generated results rapidly and in a sensitive manner.

ITS barcodes forTrichophyton tonsuransandT. equinum

Early molecular biosystematic studies of dermatophytes created considerable confusion about the taxonomic status of the horse-associated Trichophyton equinum vis-à-vis the anthropophilic T. tonsurans. Though this matter has recently been clarified, routine identification of these species based on the commonly used ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence has been impractical. This is because, in the available sequences attributed to the species in GenBank, a clear species-level distinction does not appear to exist. In the present study, resequencing the ITS regions of several anomalous isolates is shown to eliminate this problem, which was mainly based on read errors in older sequences. Newly generated sequences and recent GenBank additions are analysed to show that T. equinum appears to be uniform in ITS sequence worldwide, while T. tonsurans is also uniform, excepting a single-base change found in one otherwise typical strain. Analysis also reveals a distinct, as yet incompletely classified Asian genotype that may belong to one or the other of these species. Standard ITS 'barcode sequences' are proposed for T. tonsurans and T. equinum, and a taxonomic neotype is designated to anchor the latter species. T. equinum var. autotrophicum is further evidenced as very closely related to T. equinum var. equinum, and the anomaly of its plesiomorphous phenotype is discussed in a population genetics context.

[Survey of Trichophyton tonsurans infection in Japan. Molecular epidemiology and factors affecting adequate hairbrush sampling]

At the 48th Annual Meeting of The Society for Japanese Medical Mycology, held in October, 2004, we reported our findings from a survey on Trichophyton tonsurans infections in the Hokuriku and Kinki regions of Japan. The survey revealed that a few epidemics had occurred across these regions. In this article, we introduce our subsequent studies relating to 1) molecular epidemiology of isolates taken from people in many parts of Japan and 2) factors affecting adequate sampling of the scalp with hairbrushes, essential for surveying and monitoring the infection. In total, 198 isolates of Trichophyton tonsurans were analyzed using restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the non-transcribed spacer regions of ribosomal RNA genes. The restriction enzyme Mva I indicated two molecular types of strains, implying that the causative agents of the epidemic had different origins. None of the isolates obtained from the epidemic showed the same restriction profile as that of isolates from aged and sporadic cases. The published hairbrush method suitable for obtaining samples from the scalp of Judo trainees was reevaluated by changing several factors. We found that sampling should not be done soon after the students' physical training because other fungal elements may give a false positive, samples should not be obtained from students who have recently applied topical antimycotics, and samples should be taken under the guidance of qualified instructors familiar with the sampling method.

Rapid identification of Trichophyton tonsurans by specific PCR based on DNA sequences of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 region

BACKGROUND

Trichophyton tonsurans, a dermatophyte implicated in an international epidemic of tinea capitis, was also found to be responsible for infecting wrestling and Judo athletes nationwide in Japan since 2001.

OBJECTIVE

A rapid and highly accurate means of identifying this pathogen has been required to control the infection. We have developed a T. tonsurans-specific PCR method based on the DNA sequences of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 region.

SUBJECTS

Eighteen species of six genera of standard strains and 75 strains of clinically isolated Trichophyton species were used in this study.

METHODS

A T. tonsurans-specific PCR primer pair (tonsF1 and tonsR1) was designed on the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 region, located between 18S and 5.8S rDNA. Fungal DNA was extracted from the colonies grown on culture plates, and the specificity of the PCR primers was tested.

RESULTS

The specific PCR product was amplified from the standard strain of T. tonsurans and from five strains isolated from black dot ringworms, but there was no band from the 70 clinical isolates of other Trichophyton species. This T. tonsurans-specific PCR method was able to detect 10 pg of T. tonsurans genomic DNA with ethidium bromide staining.

CONCLUSIONS

A PCR identification system specific for T. tonsurans is rapid, sensitive, and specific.