Verification of a Taxonomy of Dermatophytes Based on Mating Results and Phylogenetic Analyses

Abstract

A newly proposed taxonomy of Trichophyton mentagrophytes and related species was introduced and verified with the grounds for the new classification, phylogenetic analysis, and Templeton s cohesive species concept. So-called asexual species were shown to retain sexual ability and different host preferences were shown not to be comparable to different ecological niches. We showed that genealogical concordance phylogenetic species recognition(GCPSR)can be applied to so-called asexual Trichophyton species.The results of GCPSR analysis and mating experiments demonstrated that Arthroderma simii, A. vanbreuseghemii, T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale, and T. tonsurans may be considered as single phylogenetic species, and that A. benhamiae, T. concentricum, T. verrucosum, and T. mentagrophytes var. erinacei may also be considered as single phylogenetic species. In addition, the conspecificity of three Arthroderma species may also be demonstrated in future.In conclusion, we should not hastily revise the nomenclature based on the phylogenetic tree from only one gene, because different genes can yield different phylogenetic trees. Therefore, we recommend retaining the previous taxonomy until an acceptable taxonomy is proposed.

Taxonomy and epidemiology of <I>Mucor irregularis</I> , agent of chronic cutaneous mucormycosis

“…Similar phenomena are known elsewhere in the fungal Kingdom, e.g. in dermatophytes, where Kawasaki (2011) produced apparent mating between phylogenetically unrelated species by the use of sexually very active strains. In Mucorales , interspecific mating mostly leads to the formation of azygospores (Alastruey-Izquierdo et al 2010, Schell et al 2011).…”

Trichophyton species of Arthroderma benhamiae – a new infectious agent in dermatology

“…Furthermore, there is a genetic relationship between T. species of A. benhamiae and T. verrucosum , the pathogen causing ringworm in cattle, which, according to an initial study , seems to also be corroborated by crossbreeding patterns. This genetic relationship is diagnostically significant, because some molecular detection assays for T. species of A. benhamiae may show a certain degree of cross reactivity.…”

Dermatophytosis in Small Animals

“…Microconidia, usually more abundant than macroconidia, may be globose, pyriform or clavate, or sessile or stalked, and are borne singly along the sides of the hyphae or in grape-like clusters [7][8][9][10][11]. [12].…”