To establish a simple, sensitive and effective technique for the identification of six common dermatophytes, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) targeting Topoisomerase II gene were used. The DNA of 6 common dermatophytes was amplified by primer dPsD1 and then primers dPsD2. The products generated by dPsD2 were digested with restriction enzyme Hinc II and Hinf I separately. A DNA fragment of about 3390 bp was amplified by using primer dPsD1 from the genomic DNA of each dermatophyte species. The product of dPsD2 was 2380 bp and the restriction profiles of Hinc II and Hinf I were between 58-1670 bp. By using PCR-RFLP, all of the 6 dermatophytoses were diagnosed to species level and no obvious difference identification between Hinc II and Hinf I. It is concluded that the PCR-RFLP identification of dermatophytes by Hinc II or Hinf I is efficient and rapid in clinical practice.
Arthrodermataceae/*classification ; Arthrodermataceae/genetics ; Arthrodermataceae/*isolation & purification ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II/genetics ; DNA, Fungal/analysis ; DNA, Fungal/genetics ; Dermatomycoses/*microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

Previously, we reported that epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (EGCg) has growth-inhibitory effect on clinical isolates of Candida species. In this study, we investigated the antifungal activity of EGCg and antifungal agents against thirty-five of dermatophytes clinically isolated by the international guidelines (M38-A2). All isolates exhibited good susceptibility to EGCg (MIC50, 2-4 microg/mL, MIC90, 4-8 microg/mL, and geometric mean (GM) MICs, 3.36-4 microg/mL) than those of fluconazole (MIC50, 2-16 microg/mL, MIC90, 4-32 microg/mL, and GM MICs, 3.45-25.8 microg/mL) and flucytosin (MIC50, MIC90, and GM MICs, >64 microg/mL), although they were less susceptible to other antifungal agents, such as amphotericin B, itraconazole, and miconazole. These activities of EGCg were approximately 4-fold higher than those of fluconazole, and were 4 to 16-fold higher than flucytosin. This result indicates that EGCg can inhibit pathogenic dermatophyte species. Therefore, we suggest that EGCg may be effectively used solely as a possible agent or combined with other antifungal agents for antifungal therapy in dermatophytosis.
Antifungal Agents/*pharmacology ; Arthrodermataceae/*drug effects/isolation & purification ; Catechin/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests

To find a fast and efficient way of identifying seven common dermatophytes in clinical practice, we used the techniques of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) targeting Topoisomerase II gene. The DNA of 7 dermatophytes, along with Candida albicans, Aspergillus terreus and Aspergillus flavus were amplified by consensus primer dPsD1. They were then subjected to a second PCR with primers dPsD2 and species-specific primers PsT and PsME separately. 6 of the products generated by dPsD2 were digested with restriction enzyme Hinc II. DNA fragments of 3390 bp and 2380 bp was amplified by using consensus primer dPsD1 and dPsD2 from the genomic DNA of each dermatophyte species separately. By combining the results of the two species-specific primer sets (PsT and PsME), all species of dermatophyte yielded unique sizes-set of PCR products expect for T. mentagrophytes and T. tonsurans. From the restriction profiles of Hinc II, 6 of the 7 dermatophytoses were diagnosed to species level including T. mentagrophytes and T. tonsurans. By combining the results of the PCR and PCR-RFLP, the 7 common dermatophytes can be identified to species level. It is conclude that the multiplex PCR and PCR-RFLP identification targeting the DNA topoisomerase II gene is rapid and efficient.
Arthrodermataceae/classification ; Arthrodermataceae/*isolation & purification ; Aspergillus/*isolation & purification ; Candida albicans/isolation & purification ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II/genetics ; Dermatomycoses/microbiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Trichophyton/*isolation & purification

In this study, we used traditional morphological and molecular identification methods to preliminarily identify two strains of dermatophytes. The two strains were observed under the microscope. And then the dermatophytes were cultured on Sabouraud's dextrose agar (SDA). The 18S rRNA regions of the two dermatophyte strains were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the PCR products were sequenced and compared with GenBank data. BLAST tools and DNAMAN software were used to analyze the sequences. To further determine highly homologous sequences, a phylogenetic tree was constructed using the Neighbor-Joining method. The two strains of dermatophytes were identified by traditional morphological identification as Epidermophyton floccosum and Microsporum ferrugineum. The 18S rRNA sequence analyses showed high similarities to Cladosporium cladosporioides isolate C115LM-UFPR and Ascomycete sp. LB68A1A2. Epidermophyton and Cladosporium belong to dermatophyte, while Microsporum ferrugineum and Ascomycete belong to microsporum. The two novel strains of dermatophytes were therefore identified as Cladosporium cladosporioides isolate C115LM-UFPR (JN650537, Cladosporium) and Ascomycete sp. LB68A1A2 (AY770409, Ascomycete sp).
Arthrodermataceae ; cytology ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Hyphae ; cytology ; RNA, Fungal ; genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S ; genetics ; Skin ; microbiology

To find a fast and efficient way of identifying seven common dermatophytes in clinical practice, we used the techniques of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) targeting Topoisomerase II gene. The DNA of 7 dermatophytes, along with Candida albicans, Aspergillus terreus and Aspergillus flavus were amplified by consensus primer dPsD1. They were then subjected to a second PCR with primers dPsD2 and species-specific primers PsT and PsME separately. 6 of the products generated by dPsD2 were digested with restriction enzyme Hinc II. DNA fragments of 3390 bp and 2380 bp was amplified by using consensus primer dPsD1 and dPsD2 from the genomic DNA of each dermatophyte species separately. By combining the results of the two species-specific primer sets (PsT and PsME), all species of dermatophyte yielded unique sizes-set of PCR products expect for T. mentagrophytes and T. tonsurans. From the restriction profiles of Hinc II, 6 of the 7 dermatophytoses were diagnosed to species level including T. mentagrophytes and T. tonsurans. By combining the results of the PCR and PCR-RFLP, the 7 common dermatophytes can be identified to species level. It is conclude that the multiplex PCR and PCR-RFLP identification targeting the DNA topoisomerase II gene is rapid and efficient.
Arthrodermataceae ; classification ; isolation & purification ; Aspergillus ; isolation & purification ; Candida albicans ; isolation & purification ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II ; genetics ; Dermatomycoses ; microbiology ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Trichophyton ; isolation & purification