Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Genetic Manipulation of the Plant Pathogen Ustilago maydis to Study Fungal Biology and Plant Microbe Interactions
11:42

Genetic Manipulation of the Plant Pathogen Ustilago maydis to Study Fungal Biology and Plant Microbe Interactions

Published on: September 30, 2016

Genetic advances in dermatophytes

Maria Grumbt1, Michel Monod, Peter Staib

  • 1Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knoell Institute, Junior Research Group Fundamental Molecular Biology of Pathogenic Fungi, Jena, Germany.

FEMS Microbiology Letters
|April 5, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Dermatophytes cause millions of superficial fungal infections annually. Recent advances in molecular tools and genomic data offer new insights into the pathogenicity mechanisms of these important human and animal pathogens.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pathogen Research

Background:

  • Superficial fungal infections, primarily dermatophytosis, affect millions of humans and animals annually.
  • Dermatophytes, filamentous fungi, exclusively infect keratinized tissues, yet their pathogenicity mechanisms remain poorly understood.
  • Limited molecular tools and slow in vitro growth have historically hindered research into dermatophyte virulence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current molecular tools and methodologies for dermatophyte research.
  • To highlight recent advancements facilitating genetic analyses in dermatophytes.
  • To provide a foundation for future investigations into dermatophyte virulence.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent literature on molecular techniques in dermatophyte research.
  • Analysis of advancements in gene manipulation (inactivation, silencing) and transcriptional profiling.
  • Consideration of newly available whole-genome sequences for seven dermatophyte species.

Main Results:

  • Significant progress has been made in developing genetic tools for dermatophytes.
  • Efficient gene inactivation and silencing systems are now available.
  • Broad transcriptional profiling techniques have been successfully applied, even in infection models.

Conclusions:

  • The availability of genome sequences and improved molecular tools marks a timely opportunity to advance dermatophyte research.
  • Future studies can now more effectively investigate the virulence factors of these clinically significant fungal pathogens.
  • Enhanced molecular understanding of dermatophytes is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies against superficial fungal infections.

More Related Videos

Isolation, Behavioral Identification, and Pathogenicity Assessment of Entomopathogenic Fungi from a Forest Wood Borer06:58

Isolation, Behavioral Identification, and Pathogenicity Assessment of Entomopathogenic Fungi from a Forest Wood Borer

Published on: September 29, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Skin Diseases and Disorders01:23

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Modern Molecular Taxonomy01:29

Modern Molecular Taxonomy

Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...
Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets01:29

Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets

Advances in genomics have profoundly influenced drug discovery by increasing both the speed and accuracy of pharmaceutical development. Pharmacogenomics, which examines how genetic variation influences drug response, facilitates the identification of novel therapeutic targets and enables patient stratification for personalized treatment. These strategies contribute to improved drug efficacy, minimized adverse effects, and more efficient clinical trial design.Mapping genetic differences...
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes01:24

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...
Bioreactor Controls-III01:22

Bioreactor Controls-III

Strain improvement is a foundational strategy in industrial microbiology aimed at maximizing microbial productivity, particularly because natural isolates typically yield commercially valuable products in very low concentrations. Although optimizing the culture medium and environmental conditions can improve yields, these adjustments are inherently limited by the organism’s genetic potential. As a result, the focus shifts toward genetic modifications to enhance biosynthetic capacity. The...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...