Chlamydoconidium-producing Trichophyton tonsurans strains isolated in Northeastern Brazil have morphological features different from the classic description of this dermatophyte species. This study investigated the phylogenetic relationship of chlamydoconidium-producing T. tonsurans strains isolated in Northeastern Brazil. Also, the effect of terbinafine and farnesol on mature biofilms of T. tonsurans strains was evaluated. The mass spectra of T. tonsurans strains were investigated by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The ITS and LSU loci regions of rDNA and the partial β-tubulin gene were sequenced and the phylogenetic tree was analysed. The effects of terbinafine and farnesol on mature T. tonsurans biofilms were evaluated through the analysis of metabolic activity, quantification of biomass and observation by scanning electron microscopy. MALDI-TOF MS spectra of the chlamydoconidium-producing T. tonsurans strains differed from the spectrum of the control strain (ATCC 28942), presenting an intense ion peak at m/z 4155 Da. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that the chlamydoconidium-producing strains isolated in Northeastern Brazil are allocated to a single cluster, differing from strains isolated from other countries. As for mature T. tonsurans biofilms, farnesol reduced biomass and metabolic activity by 64.4 and 65.9 %, respectively, while terbinafine reduced the biomass by 66.5 % and the metabolic activity by 69 %. Atypical morphological characteristics presented by chlamydoconidium-producing T. tonsurans strains result from phenotypic plasticity, possibly for adaptation to environmental stressors. Also, farnesol had inhibitory activity against T. tonsurans biofilms, demonstrating this substance can be explored for development of promising anti-biofilm drugs against dermatophytes.

中文翻译：

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来自巴西东北部塞阿拉州的非典型产衣原体毛癣菌菌株：通过系统发育分析和生物膜敏感性进行分类学研究

在巴西东北部分离出的产衣藻的毛癣菌菌株具有不同于这种皮肤癣菌物种的经典描述的形态特征。本研究调查了在巴西东北部分离的产衣原体 T.tonsurans 菌株的系统发育关系。此外，还评估了特比萘芬和法呢醇对 T.tonsurans 菌株成熟生物膜的影响。通过基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱 (MALDI-TOF MS) 研究了 T.tonsurans 菌株的质谱。对rDNA和部分β-微管蛋白基因的ITS和LSU基因座区域进行测序并分析系统发育树。通过代谢活性分析评估了特比萘芬和法呢醇对成熟 T.tonsurans 生物膜的影响，生物量的量化和扫描电子显微镜观察。产生衣原体的 T.tonsurans 菌株的 MALDI-TOF MS 光谱与对照菌株 (ATCC 28942) 的光谱不同，在 m/z 4155 Da 处呈现强离子峰。系统发育树分析表明，在巴西东北部分离出的产衣藻菌株属于一个簇，与从其他国家分离的菌株不同。对于成熟的 T.tonsurans 生物膜，法尼醇分别使生物量和代谢活性降低了 64.4% 和 65.9%，而特比萘芬将生物量降低了 66.5%，代谢活性降低了 69%。产生衣原体的 T.tonsurans 菌株呈现的非典型形态特征源于表型可塑性，可能是为了适应环境压力。还，