Molecular Identification, Diversity, and Antifungal Susceptibility of Clinical Yeasts Associated with Human Skin Spots

Fakhir R.H. Alshuwaili; Rajaa A.A. Alanbagi; Muslim  S. Hassan; Ahmed H. Jabr; Ahmed  Abd AL-Rahim

doi:10.4308/hjb.33.6.1516-1526

Authors

Fakhir R.H. Alshuwaili Department of Applied Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon51013, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6557-3702
Rajaa A.A. Alanbagi Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon51013, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6543-9845
Muslim S. Hassan Department of Applied Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon51013, Iraq
Ahmed H. Jabr Department of Applied Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon51013, Iraq
Ahmed Abd AL-Rahim Department of Applied Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon51013, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4308/hjb.33.6.1516-1526

Abstract

Fungi associated with different parts of human body and cause approximately a million deaths and a billion superficial infections annually. That need to identify their causes and the optimum antifungal treatments. In this work, biodiversity, morphology and molecular identification using rDNA ITS, and antifungal susceptibility of isolated fungal yeasts associated with collected samples from 30 patients’ skin spots from different regions in Iraq have been investigated. Phenotypic and molecular identification, and a phylogenetic tree were utilized to assess yeasts to species level and their biodiversity. Furthermore, the efficacy of three certain antifungal agents for detected dermophyte fungi was tested. The results in this study revealed the association of the ascomycetous yeasts such as Candida intermedia (12 isolates) and Candida sp. (9 isolates) and basidiomycetous yeasts; Naganishia diffluens (25 isolates), Rhodotorula glutinis (4 isolates), Rhodotorula diobovata (one isolates), Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (one isolates), and Filobasidium magnum (3 isolates) with skin spots. Based on available data, this is the first record of all detected yeast species associated with skin spots in Iraq except R. mucilaginosa. Biodiversity of yeasts revealed that Naganishia diffluens and Candida intermedia were predominant species and the highest diversity across the patients based on diversity indices. Antifungal susceptibility test showed that R. mucilaginosa was resistant to two of three tested antifungals. It is concluded most yeast species were recorded for the first time from the skin spots in Iraq with variant Antifungal susceptibility of three yeast species. These findings could provide insight to fungi associated with skin spots and selecting the optimum antifungals.

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Author Biographies

Fakhir R.H. Alshuwaili, Department of Applied Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon51013, Iraq

Since I got my Ph.D. in cell and Molecular biology/ Mycology form University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, USA, I came back to my country and I worked in Applied Biotechnology Dept. / Al-Qasim Green University. This department established 14 years ago and it has good research activities although there is limited fund.

We hope improve this research line although there is limited fund.
Rajaa A.A. Alanbagi, Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon51013, Iraq

Medical Biotechnology Department considers a new department under good improvement.
Muslim S. Hassan, Department of Applied Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon51013, Iraq

Applied Biotechnology is one of the important department the University. We expect it raises to a good rank in our country in the future.
Ahmed H. Jabr, Department of Applied Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon51013, Iraq

Applied Biotechnology is one of the important department the University. We expect it raises to a good rank in our country in the future.
Ahmed Abd AL-Rahim, Department of Applied Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon51013, Iraq

Applied Biotechnology is one of the important department the University. We expect it raises to a good rank in our country in the future.