Gene Expression of Subtilisin Genes of UV-irradiated Trichophyton indotineae Isolated from Iraqi Patients
Background: Virulence genes in dermatophytes have been a major focus of research in recent years. These fungi have a unique ability to degrade keratin, an essential structural protein in human skin, using protease enzymes. These enzymes play a crucial role in the development and spread of infection...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
College of Medicine University of Baghdad
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | مجلة كلية الطب |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://iqjmc.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/19JFacMedBaghdad36/article/view/3116 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849417158411419648 |
|---|---|
| author | Aseel H. Hendi Alaa M. Al-Araji |
| author_facet | Aseel H. Hendi Alaa M. Al-Araji |
| author_sort | Aseel H. Hendi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Background: Virulence genes in dermatophytes have been a major focus of research in recent years. These fungi have a unique ability to degrade keratin, an essential structural protein in human skin, using protease enzymes. These enzymes play a crucial role in the development and spread of infections.
Objectives: To assess the impact of UV radiation on the expression of subtilisin virulence genes in Trichophyton indotineae isolates obtained from patients in Baghdad, Iraq.
Materials: Seven T. indotineae isolates were analyzed in this study, and their proteolytic activity was qualitatively assessed using skim milk agar. The isolate displaying the largest clearance zone in response to UV radiation (254–365 nm) was selected for further experiments with varying exposure durations. The expression of Subtilisin (SUB) genes was measured using the one-step RT-qPCR technique. These specimens were obtained from patients diagnosed with Tinea at Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital and Al-Zahra Consultative Center for Allergy and Asthma in Baghdad, and the laboratory procedures were conducted in the Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, between October 2022 and February 2023.
Results: Distinct trends in SUB7 gene expression were observed following UV exposure. A significant increase was noted after 6 minutes of exposure to 365 nm UV, while a rapid rise was seen after 3 minutes of exposure to 254 nm UV. All the studied genes (SUB1, SUB3, SUB4, SUB6, and SUB7) exhibited higher expression levels following UV exposure for 3 or 6 minutes. Most genes were upregulated, except SUB3, which was repressed after 12 minutes of exposure to 254 nm UV.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that increased virulence gene expression may be a stress response to UV radiation, potentially influenced by rising global temperatures and increased solar irradiance during Iraqi summers.
|
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6ecc61840d5d4e978f4ea8dc5deabe5c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0041-9419 2410-8057 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | College of Medicine University of Baghdad |
| record_format | Article |
| series | مجلة كلية الطب |
| spelling | doaj-art-6ecc61840d5d4e978f4ea8dc5deabe5c2025-08-20T03:32:55ZengCollege of Medicine University of Baghdadمجلة كلية الطب0041-94192410-80572025-07-0167No. 210.32007/jfacmedbaghdad3116Gene Expression of Subtilisin Genes of UV-irradiated Trichophyton indotineae Isolated from Iraqi PatientsAseel H. Hendi0https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6232-4080Alaa M. Al-Araji1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4347-5976Department of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, IraqDepartment of Biology, College of Sciences, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq. Background: Virulence genes in dermatophytes have been a major focus of research in recent years. These fungi have a unique ability to degrade keratin, an essential structural protein in human skin, using protease enzymes. These enzymes play a crucial role in the development and spread of infections. Objectives: To assess the impact of UV radiation on the expression of subtilisin virulence genes in Trichophyton indotineae isolates obtained from patients in Baghdad, Iraq. Materials: Seven T. indotineae isolates were analyzed in this study, and their proteolytic activity was qualitatively assessed using skim milk agar. The isolate displaying the largest clearance zone in response to UV radiation (254–365 nm) was selected for further experiments with varying exposure durations. The expression of Subtilisin (SUB) genes was measured using the one-step RT-qPCR technique. These specimens were obtained from patients diagnosed with Tinea at Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital and Al-Zahra Consultative Center for Allergy and Asthma in Baghdad, and the laboratory procedures were conducted in the Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Baghdad, between October 2022 and February 2023. Results: Distinct trends in SUB7 gene expression were observed following UV exposure. A significant increase was noted after 6 minutes of exposure to 365 nm UV, while a rapid rise was seen after 3 minutes of exposure to 254 nm UV. All the studied genes (SUB1, SUB3, SUB4, SUB6, and SUB7) exhibited higher expression levels following UV exposure for 3 or 6 minutes. Most genes were upregulated, except SUB3, which was repressed after 12 minutes of exposure to 254 nm UV. Conclusion: The findings suggest that increased virulence gene expression may be a stress response to UV radiation, potentially influenced by rising global temperatures and increased solar irradiance during Iraqi summers. https://iqjmc.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/19JFacMedBaghdad36/article/view/3116DermatophytesGene expressionSubtilisin genesTrichophyton indotineaeUV radiation |
| spellingShingle | Aseel H. Hendi Alaa M. Al-Araji Gene Expression of Subtilisin Genes of UV-irradiated Trichophyton indotineae Isolated from Iraqi Patients مجلة كلية الطب Dermatophytes Gene expression Subtilisin genes Trichophyton indotineae UV radiation |
| title | Gene Expression of Subtilisin Genes of UV-irradiated Trichophyton indotineae Isolated from Iraqi Patients |
| title_full | Gene Expression of Subtilisin Genes of UV-irradiated Trichophyton indotineae Isolated from Iraqi Patients |
| title_fullStr | Gene Expression of Subtilisin Genes of UV-irradiated Trichophyton indotineae Isolated from Iraqi Patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gene Expression of Subtilisin Genes of UV-irradiated Trichophyton indotineae Isolated from Iraqi Patients |
| title_short | Gene Expression of Subtilisin Genes of UV-irradiated Trichophyton indotineae Isolated from Iraqi Patients |
| title_sort | gene expression of subtilisin genes of uv irradiated trichophyton indotineae isolated from iraqi patients |
| topic | Dermatophytes Gene expression Subtilisin genes Trichophyton indotineae UV radiation |
| url | https://iqjmc.uobaghdad.edu.iq/index.php/19JFacMedBaghdad36/article/view/3116 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aseelhhendi geneexpressionofsubtilisingenesofuvirradiatedtrichophytonindotineaeisolatedfromiraqipatients AT alaamalaraji geneexpressionofsubtilisingenesofuvirradiatedtrichophytonindotineaeisolatedfromiraqipatients |