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Molecular Verification of Trichophyton in the Brazilian URM Culture Collection

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Abstract

Trichophyton species cause dermatophytosis in humans, with a high, worldwide frequency of reports and important public health relevance. We evaluated 61 Trichophyton strains from different sources deposited in the University Recife Mycology (URM) culture collection of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil. Strains were phenotypically identified and confirmed by sequencing Internal Transcribed Spacers rDNA and partial beta-tubulin 2-exon. Additionally, we evaluated their susceptibility to terbinafine and itraconazole. Physiological analyses included urease activity and growth in casein medium. Phenotypic methods allowed the reliable identification of T. rubrum only, whereas, for other species, molecular methods were mandatory. All Trichophyton species exhibited susceptibility profiles to itraconazole (0.04–5.33 μg/mL) and terbinafine (0.17–3.33 μg/mL). Our analyses revealed a heterogeneous distribution of T. mentagrophytes, which does not support the current distribution within the species complex of T. mentagrophytes and its genotypes.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Tiago Cavalcante da Silva for his important contributions during the statistical analysis.

Funding

T.F.O. has received research support from the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). This work was supported in part by a Grant from CAPES (88882.380060/2019-01 – finance code 001). J.D.P.B. and C.M.S.M. have a scholarship from the CNPq.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Micologia Prof. Chaves Batista, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil

    Tatiana F. Oliveira, Carlos A. T. Valeriano, M. Daniela S. Buonafina-Paz, Cristina M. Souza-Motta, Alexandre R. Machado, Rejane P. Neves & Oliane M. C. Magalhães

  2. Laboratório de Micologia (LabMicol), Departamento de Biociências e Tecnologia, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública (IPTSP), Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, GO, Brazil

    Jadson D. P. Bezerra & Thales D. Arantes

  3. Center of Expertise in Mycology of Radboud University Medical Center, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Sybren de Hoog

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  1. Tatiana F. Oliveira
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by TFO, CATV, MDSBP, CMSM, ARM, RPN, TDA, JDPB, SH and OMCM The first draft of the manuscript was written by TFO, JDPB, OMCM and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Jadson D. P. Bezerra.

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Oliveira, T.F., Valeriano, C.A.T., Buonafina-Paz, M.D.S. et al. Molecular Verification of Trichophyton in the Brazilian URM Culture Collection. Mycopathologia 189, 2 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-023-00811-4

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