Melanogenesis in dermatophyte species in vitro and during infection

Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi that are the most common cause of fungal skin infections worldwide. Melanin has been isolated from several important human fungal pathogens, and the polymeric pigment is now recognized as an important virulence determinant. This study investigated whether derma...

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Main Authors: Youngchim S., Pornsuwan S., Nosanchuk J.D., Dankai W., Vanittanakom N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: 2014
Online Access:http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79961052748&partnerID=40&md5=e570847211e5da66e6eb7fa099893d52
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21565930
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/2946
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Institution: Chiang Mai University
Language: English
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spelling th-cmuir.6653943832-29462014-08-30T02:25:35Z Melanogenesis in dermatophyte species in vitro and during infection Youngchim S. Pornsuwan S. Nosanchuk J.D. Dankai W. Vanittanakom N. Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi that are the most common cause of fungal skin infections worldwide. Melanin has been isolated from several important human fungal pathogens, and the polymeric pigment is now recognized as an important virulence determinant. This study investigated whether dermatophytes, including Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum and Microsporum gypseum, produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and during infection. Digestion of the pigmented microconidia and macroconidia of dermatophytes with proteolytic enzymes, denaturant and hot concentrated acid yielded dark particles that retained the size and shape of the original fungal cells. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy revealed that particles derived from pigmented conidia contained a stable free radical signal, consistent with the pigments being a melanin. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated reactivity of a melanin-binding mAb with the pigmented conidia and hyphae, as well as the isolate particles. Laccase, an enzyme involved in melanization, was detected in the dermatophytes by an agar plate assay using 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) as the substrate. Skin scrapings from patients with dermatophytoses contained septate hyphae and arthrospores that were reactive with the melanin-binding mAb. These findings indicate that dermatophytes can produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and during infection. Based on what is known about the function of melanin as a virulence factor of other pathogenic fungi, this pigment may have a similar role in the pathogenesis of dermatophytic diseases. © 2011 SGM. 2014-08-30T02:25:35Z 2014-08-30T02:25:35Z 2011 Article 13500872 10.1099/mic.0.047928-0 MROBE http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79961052748&partnerID=40&md5=e570847211e5da66e6eb7fa099893d52 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21565930 http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/2946 English
institution Chiang Mai University
building Chiang Mai University Library
country Thailand
collection CMU Intellectual Repository
language English
description Dermatophytes are keratinophilic fungi that are the most common cause of fungal skin infections worldwide. Melanin has been isolated from several important human fungal pathogens, and the polymeric pigment is now recognized as an important virulence determinant. This study investigated whether dermatophytes, including Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermophyton floccosum and Microsporum gypseum, produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and during infection. Digestion of the pigmented microconidia and macroconidia of dermatophytes with proteolytic enzymes, denaturant and hot concentrated acid yielded dark particles that retained the size and shape of the original fungal cells. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy revealed that particles derived from pigmented conidia contained a stable free radical signal, consistent with the pigments being a melanin. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated reactivity of a melanin-binding mAb with the pigmented conidia and hyphae, as well as the isolate particles. Laccase, an enzyme involved in melanization, was detected in the dermatophytes by an agar plate assay using 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) as the substrate. Skin scrapings from patients with dermatophytoses contained septate hyphae and arthrospores that were reactive with the melanin-binding mAb. These findings indicate that dermatophytes can produce melanin or melanin-like compounds in vitro and during infection. Based on what is known about the function of melanin as a virulence factor of other pathogenic fungi, this pigment may have a similar role in the pathogenesis of dermatophytic diseases. © 2011 SGM.
format Article
author Youngchim S.
Pornsuwan S.
Nosanchuk J.D.
Dankai W.
Vanittanakom N.
spellingShingle Youngchim S.
Pornsuwan S.
Nosanchuk J.D.
Dankai W.
Vanittanakom N.
Melanogenesis in dermatophyte species in vitro and during infection
author_facet Youngchim S.
Pornsuwan S.
Nosanchuk J.D.
Dankai W.
Vanittanakom N.
author_sort Youngchim S.
title Melanogenesis in dermatophyte species in vitro and during infection
title_short Melanogenesis in dermatophyte species in vitro and during infection
title_full Melanogenesis in dermatophyte species in vitro and during infection
title_fullStr Melanogenesis in dermatophyte species in vitro and during infection
title_full_unstemmed Melanogenesis in dermatophyte species in vitro and during infection
title_sort melanogenesis in dermatophyte species in vitro and during infection
publishDate 2014
url http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79961052748&partnerID=40&md5=e570847211e5da66e6eb7fa099893d52
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21565930
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/2946
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