MINIPREPARATION OF TOTAL CELLULAR DNA IS USEFUL AS AN ALTERNATIVE MOLECULAR MARKER OF MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF TRICHOPHYTON-MENTAGROPHYTES AND T-RUBRUM

Total cellular DNA was extracted from 18 isolates of Trichophyton ment agrophytes and six isolates of unidentified Trichophyton species taken from tinea corporis, tinea cruris and tinea pedis patients by a minip reparation method. The DNA was digested with the restriction enzymes H aeIII and MspI, followed by electrophoresis on agarose gels. The restr iction enzyme profiles of the DNAs were compared with those of mitocho ndrial (mt) DNA extracted from reference strains of T. mentagrophytes (Arthroderma simii, A. benhamiae and A. vanbreuseghemii) and T. rubrum . All 18 T. mentagrophytes isolates showed the same DNA profiles as mt DNA from A. vanbreuseghemii. The six unidentified Trichophyton isolate s exhibited DNA profiles the same as that of mtDNA from T. rubrum. Con sequently, these isolates were identified as T. rubrum. In conclusion, restriction enzyme analysis of total cellular DNA prepared by the min ipreparation method is considered to be useful as an alternative metho d of mtDNA analysis and is helpful for the identification of these der matophyte species.