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Genetic and phenotypic variations among F1 progenies of Arthroderma benhamiae

Masako Kawasaki1, Kazushi Anzawa, Kiminobu Takeda

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan.

Nihon Ishinkin Gakkai Zasshi = Japanese Journal of Medical Mycology
|May 3, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Genetic analysis of Arthroderma benhamiae revealed independent inheritance of nuclear DNA (nDNA) and mating types, with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) inherited from one parent. Phenotypic variations suggest hair perforation may be a key species characteristic.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Arthroderma benhamiae is a dermatophyte fungus with clinical significance.
  • Understanding the genetic and phenotypic diversity within A. benhamiae is crucial for accurate species identification and epidemiological studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the inheritance patterns of genotypes and phenotypes in Arthroderma benhamiae.
  • To evaluate the utility of various phenotypic characteristics for species identification.
  • To explore potential correlations between different genetic markers and observable traits.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 77 isolates derived from ascospores of two genetically distinct Arthroderma benhamiae strains.
  • Analyzed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) type, nuclear DNA (nDNA) type, and mating type.
  • Assessed phenotypic traits including colony texture, growth rate, urease activity, red pigmentation, and hair perforation.

Main Results:

  • Nuclear DNA (nDNA) types, determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and mating types were inherited independently from parents.
  • Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) type showed uniparental inheritance.
  • Most phenotypes, excluding hair perforation and mating type, exhibited significant variation and appeared in diverse combinations, suggesting they are not reliable for species identification or interrelated. Red pigmentation intensity varied even within colonies.
  • Hair perforation was observed in nearly all isolates, indicating its potential as a species-specific characteristic.

Conclusions:

  • Phenotypic characteristics of Arthroderma benhamiae, except for hair perforation, display considerable variability and are not consistently reliable for species identification.
  • Hair perforation emerges as a potentially significant characteristic for identifying Arthroderma benhamiae.
  • Genetic markers like nDNA and mtDNA types, along with mating type, provide insights into the population structure and inheritance within the species.

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