Mating Type Analysis of Dermatophytes using Mating Type Gene

Choi, Jong Soo; Kim, Byeong Su; Kim, Yeon Woong; Choi, Jin Hwa; Shin, Dong Hoon

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Traditionally, mating types of dermatophytes had been identified by mating experiments. It took a long time and there were many limitations. Recently, we can figure out the fungal mating types using molecular mating type analysis by detecting mating type (MAT) genes. The mating type (+) specific gene of the high-mobility-group (HMG) DNA binding domain and the mating type (-) specific gene of alpha-box were found in Arthroderma simii and A. vanbreuseghemii.
OBJECTIVE
We applied this molecular mating type analysis to strains of Trichophyton interdigitale, T. rubrum, Microsporum canis in Korea and compared these results with previous reports.
METHODS
Thirty-four strains of T. interdigitale (12 granular types, 9 powdery types, 8 purple-red types, 5 cottony types), 5 strains of T. rubrum, and 5 strains of M. canis were examined. We analyzed ribosomal RNA internal transcribed space 1, 4 sequencing of T. interdigitale subtypes and investigated the mating type of dermatophytes using alpha-box gene and HMG gene primers.
RESULTS
Among 12 strains of granular type of T. interdigitale, 9 strains were type (-) and other 3 strains were type (+). All of them were zoophilic. All strains of powdery, purple-red and cottony types of T. interdigitale were type (+) and anthropophilic. In T. rubrum and M. canis, all strains were type (-). These results were matched with previously reported studies.
CONCLUSION
The molecular mating type analysis of dermatophytes was quicker method than conventional mating experiments. Moreover, MAT genes are highly conserved even in apparently asexual fungi. The results were well matched with previous reports with traditional mating tests.