Microsatellite-Primed PCR for Intra-species Genetic Relatedness in <i>Trichophyton ajelloi</i> Strains Isolated in Poland from Various Soil Samples

Abstract

Trichophyton ajelloi is a geophilic dermatophyte that specializes in the decomposition of native keratin. It exists in soil with a permanent influx of keratin matter. In the present study, two PCR-based methods were used for the identification and intra-species differentiation of T. ajelloi strains isolated from 3 types of soils with different physicochemical properties. The first method, employed for molecular identification, was PCR amplification of the 5.8S rRNA gene and its flanking regions encoding internal transcribed spacers (ITSs), followed by restriction enzyme digestion using endonuclease HinfI. The second method, employed for molecular differentiation, was microsatellite-primed PCR (MSP-PCR) using the repetitive oligonucleotide (GACA)4. All the T. ajelloi strains were also identified using a traditional culture method. Our results showed that molecular identification using the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method agreed with the identification made using the traditional approach. On the other hand, PCR-RFLP results showed no strain differentiation, while MSP-PCR using the (GACA)4 primer identified different varieties among the T. ajelloi strains. The reasons for the intra-species differentiation of T. ajelloi have been discussed.

Diversity of Geophilic Dermatophytes Species in the Soils of Iran; The Significant Preponderance of Nannizzia fulva

“…While A. uncinatum is also a geophilic species known to be most frequently isolated from humus-rich soils, the infrequency of this species in the current survey can be attributed to the low degree of acidity in most soils samples from Iran (pH ≥ 7). Statistically substantiated studies from Europe [ 21 , 22 , 24 , 25 ] have reported that A. uncinatum in an exceptionally acidophilic species that is less-abundantly isolated from soils with pH > 6.0. In different inquiries from Iran [ 10 , 12 , 14 ], Tunisia [ 29 ] India [ 1 , 2 , 30 ], Saudi Arabia [ 7 ], the USA [ 18 ] and Brazil [ 27 ], the dermatophytes were isolated from a wide variety of soils, especially from shady and wet places rich in organic substances, e.g., gardens, public grasslands, sludge and cultivated fields, or locations with a high animal keratin content.…”

“…While members of the N. gypsea complex were the dominant species in the soils from different localities in Iran, species other than this complex were more distinguished in the soils from some European countries. In five different reports from 1992 to 2013, T. ajelloi (currently, A. uncinatum ) was the most commonly isolated species from soils in Italy, Poland, Austria and Slovakia [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Such differences in species domination can be justified with differences in the types of soils sampled.…”

Optimization of Conditions for Feather Waste Biodegradation by Geophilic Trichophyton ajelloi Fungal Strains towards Further Agricultural Use

“…One of the more common soil keratinomycetes is Trichophyton ajelloi , which belongs to geophilic dermatophytes [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 29 ]. There is little data in the literature comprehensively describing keratin breakdown by these fungi [ 20 ].…”

Assembly and analysis of the whole genome of Arthroderma uncinatum strain T10, compared with Microsporum canis and Trichophyton rubrum

“…Infected animals sometimes act as vectors to transmit zoophilic fungi to human hosts, which mostly lead to acute, highly inflammatory mycoses. Geophilic fungi reside in soil around the burrows of specific terrestrial mammals 3,4 . Geophilic fungi are regarded as ecological ancestors of anthropophilic fungi, which correspond with molecular phylogeny.…”

“…Geophilic fungi reside in soil around the burrows of specific terrestrial mammals. 3,4 Geophilic fungi are regarded as ecological ancestors of anthropophilic fungi, which correspond with molecular phylogeny. According to the new taxonomy, dermatophyte species are grouped into seven genera: Trichophyton, Epidermophyton, Nannizzia, Paraphyton, Lophophyton, Microsporum and Arthroderma.…”