Introduction: Keratinophilic fungi called dermatophytes exclusively infect the stratum corneum, human hair, and nails. To infect host tissues and cause disease, dermatophytes create virulence factors
such as keratinases and cellulase. Dermatophytes produce virulence factors such as keratinases and cellulase to infect host tissues and spread the disease.
Aim: To detect the metalloprotease gene (MEP1–5) by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction analysis and its relationship with the esistance of dermatophytes against antifungals
Method: Eleven species of dermatophyte isolates obtained from Iraqi patients were diagnosed morphologically and molecularly [internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region], and were found to include the following
types: Keratinophyton indicum, Trichophyton interdigitale, Microsporum ferrugineum, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Arthroderma otae, Trichophyton simii, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton quinckeanum, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Trichophyton verrucosum. All dermatophyte species were tested for antifungal susceptibility using the disk method. The Genomic DNA extraction kit was used to extract
the genomic DNA from the fungal growth.
Results: Trichophyton simii was highly resistant to all antifungals. The percentages of genes found in the species were as follows: MEP1 and MEP2 (70%), MEP3 (81%), MEP4 (54%), and MEP5 (36%). Trichophyton simii contained all five genes MEP1–5, while Microsporum canis and Arthroderma otae contained only one gene.
Conclusion: The study showed that higher the number of genes of a dermatophyte species, higher will be its resistance to antifungals. The presence of MEP5 was found to increase the antifungal resistance. This study was considered to be the first study in Iraq to detect these genes using the qPCR method depending on the DNA extraction and the relationship with antifungal resistance.
