title: Molecular analysis and mating behaviour of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes species complex.
abstract: Isolates of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex vary phenotypically. Whether the closely related zoophilic and anthropophilic anamorphs currently associated with Arthroderma vanbreuseghemii have to be considered as members of the same biological species remains an open question. In order to better delineate species in the T. mentagrophytes complex, we performed a mating analysis of freshly collected isolates from humans and animals with A. benhamiae and A. vanbreuseghemii reference strains, in comparison to internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 28S rDNA sequencing. Mating experiments as well as ITS and 28S sequencing unambiguously allowed the distinction of A. benhamiae and A. vanbreuseghemii. We have also shown that all the isolates from tinea pedis and tinea unguium identified as T. interdigitale based on ITS sequences mated with A. vanbreuseghemii tester strains, but had lost their ability to give fertile cleistothecia. Therefore, T. interdigitale has to be considered as a humanized species derived from the sexual relative A. vanbreuseghemii.
authors: Scientific Institute of Public Health, Mycology Aerobiology Section, Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Françoise
authors: F
authors: Symoens
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Jousson
authors: Chantal
authors: C
authors: Planard
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Fratti
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Staib
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Mignon
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Monod
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003883:Arthrodermataceae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D049770:Genes, Mating Type, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014005:Tinea / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S