title: Identification of dermatophytes using multiplex polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allows more than two target DNA molecules to be amplified with more than two primers. This method is also useful for detecting various other organisms simultaneously within a single test tube, and the scope of its use has been expanding widely in the field of clinical microbiology in recent years.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the value of multiplex PCR in identification of dermatophytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using three specially-designed primers which contained the ITS1-2, 18S rRNA, and 28S rRNA regions, three cycles of PCR were performed on 11 standard strains and scales were collected from 73 patients with fungal infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 11 standard strains were successfully identified with analysis of band patterns of ITS1-2, 18S rRNA, and 28S rRNA, obtained from PCR. Based on this information, the causative organisms in 73 patients with fungal infection were revealed to be T. rubrum in 69 cases, T. menta in 1 case, T. tonsurans in 2 cases, and M. gypseum in one case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With three cycles of PCR using three sets of primers, 11 standard strains and the clinical strains from 73 patients with fungal infection were successfully identified.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Ji Young
authors: JY
authors: Kim
authors: Yong Beom
authors: YB
authors: Choe
authors: Kyu Joong
authors: KJ
authors: Ahn
authors: Yang Won
authors: YW
authors: Lee