Metabolomic analysis of Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis during keratin degradation

Abstract

Keratin is important and needed for the growth of dermatophytes in the host tissue. In turn, the ability to invade keratinised tissues is defined as a pivotal virulence attribute of this group of medically important fungi. The host–dermatophyte interaction is accompanied by an adaptation of fungal metabolism that allows them to adhere to the host tissue as well as utilize the available nutrients necessary for their survival and growth. Dermatophyte infections pose a significant epidemiological and clinical problem. Trichophyton rubrum is the most common anthropophilic dermatophyte worldwide and its typical infection areas include skin of hands or feet and nail plate. In turn, Microsporum canis is a zoophilic pathogen, and mostly well known for ringworm in pets, it is also known to infect humans. The aim of the study was to compare the intracellular metabolite content in the T. rubrum and M. canis during keratin degradation using liquid chromatography system coupled with tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS). The metabolite “fingerprints” revealed compounds associated with amino acids metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism related to the glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), as well as nucleotide and energy metabolism. The metabolites such as kynurenic acid, l-alanine and cysteine in case of T. rubrum as well as cysteine and riboflavin in case of M. canis were detected only during keratin degradation what may suggest that these compounds may play a key role in the interactions of T. rubrum and M. canis with the host tissue. The metabolomic results were completed by qPCR gene expression assay. Our findings suggest that metabolomic analysis of T. rubrum and M. canis growing in culture media that mimic the dermatophyte infection could allow the understanding of processes involved in the pathogenesis of dermatophytes.

State-of-the-Art Dermatophyte Infections: Epidemiology Aspects, Pathophysiology, and Resistance Mechanisms

“…A recent report evaluated the primary metabolites obtained from T. rubrum and M. canis under growth in glucose and keratin sources [ 59 ]. This study highlighted the presence of cysteine, alanine, kynurenic acid, and riboflavin during keratin growth, and oxaloacetate, uracil, hydroxyproline, pyridoxine, and glutathione when glucose was used as a nutrient.…”

Trends in the epidemiology of dermatophytosis in the Middle East and North Africa region

“…These scenarios are mainly justified by the common contact of children with household pets, such as cats and dogs, 52 and the common asymptomatic carriage of this fungus in children, making them a reservoir of infection. Another potential explanation is the wide keratinolytic enzymatic profile of M. canis 65 . A cross‐sectional Palestinian study conducted between 2012 and 2013 revealed that M. canis was the sole species isolated from clinically diagnosed patients with Tinea capitis 66 .…”

Dispersal of Aphanoascus keratinophilus by the rook Corvus frugilegus during breeding in East Poland

“…These organisms have the capacity to breakdown keratin, such as feathers, hairs, nails, horns, and claws 14 – 16 . Dermatophytes have been divided into three ecological groups: geophilic and zoophilic (i.e., Trichophyton verrucosum , Microsporum canis ), which can spread the infection to humans, and anthropophilic dermatophytes such as T. rubrum and T. interdigitale, causing dermatophytosis in humans 17 – 19 . The Chrysosporium group comprises over 60 species (i.e., A. keratinophilus , A. fulvescens , Ch.…”