Abstract
The electrophoretic karyotype of the dermatophyte Trichophyton rubrum was established using contour-clamped homogeneous electric field (CHEF) gel electrophoresis. Five chromosomal bands of approximately 3.0 to 5.8 megabase pairs (Mbp) each were observed and together indicated that 22.05 Mbp of the total genome are organized as chromosomal macromolecules. In addition to establishing the number and size of T. rubrum chromosomes, these results open perspectives for the construction of chromosome-specific libraries and for the physical mapping of genes of interest, thus permitting future gene linkage studies in this pathogen. A detailed understanding of the karyotype and genomic organization of T. rubrum should contribute to further genetic, taxonomic and epidemiological studies of this dermatophyte.
Highlights
Trichophyton rubrum is a cosmopolitan filamentous fungus that can infect human keratinized tissue, and is one of the most frequently encountered dermatophytes (Costa et al, 2002; Jennings et al, 2002; Monod et al, 2002)
Intact chromosomes of strain H6 of T. rubrum were identified by clamped homogeneous electric field (CHEF) gel electrophoresis (Figure 1)
CHEF gel electrophoresis showed that the molecular karyotype of the clinical isolate H6 of T. rubrum consists of five chromosomal bands which range in size from 3.0 megabase pairs (Mbp) to 5.8 Mbp, and correspond to a total genome size of 22.05 Mbp
Summary
Trichophyton rubrum is a cosmopolitan filamentous fungus that can infect human keratinized tissue (skin, nails and, rarely, hair), and is one of the most frequently encountered dermatophytes (Costa et al, 2002; Jennings et al, 2002; Monod et al, 2002). This pathogen, which normally causes well-characterized superficial infections, produces skin infections in unusual parts of the body in immunodepressed patients (Squeo et al, 1998; Sentamilselvi et al, 1998; Smith et al, 2001).
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