Molecular Characterisation and Phylogenetic Analysis of Dermatophytic Fungi Isolated from Tinea Capitis in Northwest Nigeria Using Sequence of the 28S rRNA

Hussain Yahaya Ungo-Kore,Joseph Olorunmola Ehinmidu,Josiah Ademola Onaolapo,Olayeni Stephen Olonitola

doi:10.3390/microbiolres12030046

Hussain Yahaya Ungo-Kore, Joseph Olorunmola Ehinmidu + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/microbiolres12030046

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Abstract

The detection and identification of fungal DNA from clinical samples is one of the fundamental approaches in biomedicine. The incidence, distribution, and control of dermatophytes has progress significantly and the use of phylogenetic species concepts based on rRNA regions have enhanced the taxonomy of dermatophyte species; however, the use of 28S rDNA genes has certain limitations. This gene has been used in dermatophyte taxonomy with limited enumeration; we appraised the sequence disparity within and among groups of the species, the gene ranking in identification, phylogenetic analysis, and taxonomy of 32 strains of eight dermatophyte species. In this study, a set of primers was adopted to amplify the target followed by a partial sequencing of the rDNA. The utilization of a pairwise nucleotide differentiation, an affinity was observed among eight dermatophyte species, with disparity among species ranging from 0 to 197 base pair (bp). Intra-species bp differences were found within strains of Trichophyton eriotrephon, Trichophyton bullosum, Trichophyton simii (Trichophyton genus), Microsporum audouinii, and Trichophyton tonsurans (Microsporum and Trichophyton genus, respectively); however, only some strains of Trichophyton eriotrephon were found to be invariant having three genotypes. Trichophyton tonsurans exhibited most intra-species variability. The characterization and construction of a phylogenetic tree of 28S rDNA gene on dermatophyte species provide a bedrock of an additional finding of connections between species. However, 28S rRNA capture provides a novel method of effective and sensitive detection of dermatophytes lodged in human skin scale. We report for the first time the emergence of T. eriotrephon, T. bullosum, T. simii, T. benhamiae, and Ctenomyces serratus dermatophytes from Tinea capitis in Nigeria.

Highlights

Dermatophytes are a group of fungi with a genera consisting of Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton that causes dermatophytosis by influencing keratinised tissues of human and animal hosts [1]
The use of 28S rRNA gene sequences for differentiation and phylogenetic studies of the dermatophytes species was achieved using a part of the gene that was amplified for strains, with sizes of the region ranging from 239 to 347 base pair
The smallest size was found in Trichophyton simii, comprising of 239 bp, and the longest in Trichophyton tonsurans with 347 bp

Summary

Introduction

Dermatophytes are a group of fungi with a genera consisting of Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton that causes dermatophytosis by influencing keratinised tissues (skin, scalp, hair, and nails) of human and animal hosts [1]. The species of dermatophytes, which tend to cause scalp ringworm, may differ from country-to-country and from region-to-region [2]. Tinea capitis is a dermatophytosis of the hair and scalp skin, correlated with clinical symptoms and signs of inflammation and hair loss, which includes thickened, scaly, and boggy swellings, or as raised red rings (ringworm). Microsporum audouinii and Microsporum canis have been reported to be the main causative agents in western and Mediterranean Europe while Trichophyton species (T. schoenleinii) is the most prevalent agent in Eastern Europe and Africa [6]

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