Ann Dermatol.  2015 Dec;27(6):647-657. 10.5021/ad.2015.27.6.647.

Progress in Malassezia Research in Korea

• Kim SY
• Lee YW
• Choe YB
• Ahn KJ

• KMID: 2157439
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2015.27.6.647

Abstract

Yeasts of the genus Malassezia are part of the normal flora of human skin. However, they are also associated with various skin diseases. Since the introduction of Malassezia to the Korean Dermatologic Society two decades ago, remarkable progress has been made in our knowledge of this genus. In this paper, we review recent developments in Malassezia research, including taxonomy and methods for species identification, recent genome analyses, Malassezia species distribution in healthy conditions and in specific skin diseases, trials investigating the mechanisms underlying Malassezia-related diseases, as well as therapeutic options. This review will enhance our understanding of Malassezia yeasts and related skin diseases in Korea.

Keyword

Atopic dermatitis; Korea; Malassezia; Malassezia folliculitis; Pityriasis versicolor; Seborrheic dermatitis

MeSH Terms

Classification
Dermatitis, Atopic
Dermatitis, Seborrheic
Genome
Humans
Korea*
Malassezia*
Skin
Skin Diseases
Tinea Versicolor
Yeasts

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Key to species of the genus Malassezia. Guého et al. (Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 1996;69:337-355)12 and Ahn (Korean J Med Mycol 1998;3:81-88)2.

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  Fig. 2 Malassezia globosa. (A) Medium-sized, lighter in color, friable and crenated flat colonies with a pointed button center (Leeming and Notman medium, 34℃, 14 days). (B) Spherical, circular cells with buds on a narrow base (Parker Quink-KOH stain, ×1,000). Data from the article of Ahn (Korean J Med Mycol 1998;3:81-88)2.

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  Fig. 3 Malassezia restrica. (A) Small-sized, circular, umbonate, entire, dull colonies (Leeming and Notman medium, 34℃, 14 days). (B) Small, spherical or oval cells with buds on a relatively narrow base (Parker Quink-KOH stain, ×1,000). Data from the article of Ahn (Korean J Med Mycol 1998;3:81-88)2.

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  Fig. 4 Malassezia dermatis. (A) Large-sized, circular, smooth colonies (Leeming and Notman medium, 34℃, 14 days). (B) Spherical, oval, or ellipsoidal vegetative cells with monopolar budding (Parker Quink-KOH stain, ×1,000). Data from the article of Lim et al. (Korean J Dermatol 2007;45:1020-1030)52.

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  Fig. 5 Skin diseases associated with Malassezia species. (A) Pityriasis versicolor, (B) seborrheic dermatitis, (C) Malassezia folliculitis, (D) atopic dermatitis, and (E) psoriasis.

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  Fig. 6 (A) Schematic representation of the rRNA gene in the type strain (CBS 7966) of Malassezia globosa: the 26S rDNA, internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) region, and intergenic spacer 1 (IGS1) region sequences are used for species identification and strain typing. Data from the article of Sugita et al. (J Clin Microbiol 2003;41:3022-3027)48. (B) Sequences of the amplified 26S rDNA products from clinical isolates of Malassezia. Data from the article of Lee et al. (Korean J Med Mycol 2006;11:141-153)51.

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  Fig. 7 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns of the 26S rDNA PCR products digested with (A) Hha1 and (B) BstF51 from Malassezia standard strains. Lane M, 100-bp DNA ladder; Lane 1, Malassezia furfur; Lane 2, M. sympodialis; Lane 3, M. globosa; Lane 4, M. restricta; Lane 5, M. slooffiae; Lane 6, M. pachydermatis; Lane 7, M. japonica; Lane 8, M. nana; Lane 9, M. dermatis; Lane 10, M. obtusa; and Lane 11, M. yamatoensis. Data from the article of Lee et al. (Korean J Med Mycol 2006;11:141-153)51.

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  Fig. 8 A molecular phylogenetic tree constructed by the neighbor-joining method using the internal transcribed spacer 1 sequences of members of the genus Malassezia. Data from the article of Lim et al. (Korean J Dermatol 2007;45:1020-1030)52.

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  Fig. 9 Sequence alignment of the rRNA internal transcribed spacer 2 variable regions (box) of 11 Malassezia standard strains for pyrosequencing. Lane 1, Malassezia dermatis; Lane 2, M. furfur; Lane 3, M. globosa; Lane 4, M. japonica; Lane 5, M. nana; Lane 6, M. obtusa; Lane 7, M. pachydermatis; Lane 8, M. restricta; Lane 9, M. slooffiae; Lane 10, M. sympodialis; and Lane 11, M. yamatoensis. Data from the article of Song et al. (Korean J Med Mycol 2007;12:189-197)54.

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  Fig. 10 Nested polymerase chain reaction: structure of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene region and location of primer sites. Data from the articles of Lim et al. (Korean J Dermatol 2008;46:446-452)55.

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  Fig. 11 Nested polymerase chain reaction products from standard Malassezia species. Lane M, molecular marker; Lane 1, Malassezia dermatis; Lane 2, M. furfur; Lane 3, M. globosa; Lane 4, M. japonica; Lane 5, M. nana; 6, M. obtusa; Lane 7, M. pachydermatis; Lane 8, M. restricta; Lane 9, M. slooffiae; Lane 10, M. sympodialis; Lane 11, M. yamatoensis; and Lane C, negative control. Data from the article of Lim et al. (Korean J Dermatol 2008;46:446-452)55.

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  Fig. 12 Flowchart of the nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods. Data from the article of Oh et al. (Ann Dermatol 2009;21:352-357)58.

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