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Arthroconidial formation in Trichophyton raubitschekii

A K Gupta1, I Ahmad, M Porretta

  • 1Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Center (Sunnybrook site), and the University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada N6K 1L6. agupta@execulink.com

Mycoses
|September 3, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Trichophyton raubitschekii, a variant of Trichophyton rubrum, readily produces arthroconidia, the infectious fungal cells responsible for skin and nail infections. This finding offers a practical method for studying these dermatophyte infections.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Dermatophytosis Pathogenesis
  • Fungal Morphology

Background:

  • Arthroconidia from dermatophytic fungi cause human and animal skin/nail infections.
  • Trichophyton rubrum is the leading cause of tinea pedis, but typically forms few conidia.
  • Previous attempts to induce arthroconidia in T. rubrum have been largely unsuccessful.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the arthroconidiation potential of Trichophyton raubitschekii, a recognized variant of T. rubrum.
  • To describe in vitro cultivation parameters for arthroconidia production.
  • To assess the viability and germination of T. raubitschekii-derived arthroconidia.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation and cultivation of two T. raubitschekii strains from clinical samples.
  • Bimonthly subculturing to assess sustained arthroconidiation.
  • Determination of optimal in vitro growth conditions for arthroconidia.
  • Germination assays of arthroconidia in phosphate-buffered saline.

Main Results:

  • Two T. raubitschekii isolates predominantly produced arthroconidia.
  • Sustained arthroconidiation was maintained through multiple subcultures.
  • Optimal in vitro cultivation parameters for arthroconidia were established.
  • Greater than 95% germination of arthroconidia occurred within 21 hours.

Conclusions:

  • Trichophyton raubitschekii consistently produces arthroconidia, unlike typical T. rubrum.
  • This organism provides a viable model for studying dermatophyte arthroconidia.
  • The findings facilitate characterization of infective fungal cells in T. rubrum infections.

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