Molecular Markers Useful for Intraspecies Subtyping and Strain Differentiation of Dermatophytes

• Published in: Mycopathologia (1975) Vol. 182; no. 1-2; pp. 57 - 65
• Main Authors: Mochizuki, Takashi, Takeda, Kiminobu, Anzawa, Kazushi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.02.2017; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Arthrodermataceae - classification; Arthrodermataceae - genetics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Dermatology; Drug resistance; Epidemiology; Eukaryotic Microbiology; Genetic Markers; Genomes; Health aspects; Infection; Infections; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; Microbial Ecology; Microbiology; Mitochondrial DNA; Molecular Epidemiology - methods; Molecular Typing - methods; Mycological Typing Techniques - methods; Phylogenetics; Plant Sciences; Ribosomal RNA; Skin; Skin diseases; Virulence (Microbiology); Molecular epidemiology; Molecular marker; Dermatophytosis; Epidemiology; Trichophyton
• ISSN: 0301-486X; 1573-0832
• DOI: 10.1007/s11046-016-0041-4

Dermatophytosis is a very common skin disorder and the most frequent infection encountered by practicing dermatologists. The identification, pathogenicity, biology, and epidemiology of dermatophytes, the causative agents of dermatophytosis, are of interest for both dermatologists and medical mycologists. Recent advances in molecular methods have provided new techniques for identifying dermatophytes, including intraspecies variations. Intraspecies subtyping and strain differentiation have made possible the tracking of infections, the identification of common sources of infections, recurrence or reinfection after treatment, and analysis of strain virulence and drug resistance. This review describes molecular methods of intraspecies subtyping and strain differentiation, including analyses of mitochondrial DNA and non-transcribed spacer regions of ribosomal RNA genes, random amplification of polymorphic DNA, and microsatellite markers, along with their advantages and limitations.