Identification and Subtyping of Trichophyton rubrum by Molecular Biological Methods

Kim, Jeong Aee; Huh, Chang Hun; Moon, Sang Eun

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Trichophyton rubrum is one of the major pathogens causing dermatophytoses on human. The identification of this species by mycological methods are sometimes difficult and time-consuming. Moreover, suitable methods for subtyping of this species are not established yet.
OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to identify and subtype T. rubrum by molecular biological methods.
METHODS
Total 65 clinical isolates of T. rubrum were included and classified according to the results of 8 mycological tests. Their identification were done by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Subtyping of this species was performed by analyzing the DNA band patterns produced by amplifying the non-transcribed spacer (NTS) area of ribosomal DNA.
RESULTS
The 65 strains of T. rubrum could be classified into 5 phenotypic varieties according to the results of mycological tests. All clinical isolates produced identical band pattern with those of standard strains of T. rubrum by RAPD analysis. Amplification of NTS area produced 13 PCR patterns.
CONCLUSION
The confirmative identification of T. rubrum could be done by RAPD analysis regardless of their phenotypic variations. Subtyping of T. rubrum was successfully performed by amplifying NTS area but these PCR patterns were not correlated with their phenotypic characteristics.