Differences in protein profiles between Malassezia pachydermatis strains obtained from healthy and infected dogs

ABSTRACT

Malassezia pachydermatis causes infections of the skin and mucous membranes, especially in individuals with metabolic, hormonal, and immunological disorders. The search for M. pachydermatis properties that differentiate isolates from healthy and infected animals may result in the identification of typically commensal and potentially pathogenic strains within the entire species. We aimed to determine and compare protein profiles of M. pachydermatis strains isolated from 30 dogs with clinical symptoms of otitis externa and 34 dogs without symptoms of any disease. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was applied, and proteins distinguishing the two groups of strains were identified by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Significant differences were found between potentially pathogenic and commensal isolates. The most significant finding was the presence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP)-dependent mannitol dehydrogenase and ketol-acid reductoisomerase among M. pachydermatis strains obtained from dogs with otitis externa. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether they are associated directly with the pathogenicity or they play the role of fungal allergen. On the basis of these findings, we can conclude that there may be two distinct groups of M. pachydermatis strains—one typically commensal and the other with properties that enhance the infection process. These results may be used for more precise diagnosis and identification of potentially pathogenic strains in the future.

KEYWORDS:

• Characteristic proteins
• otitis externa
• two-dimensional electrophoresis
• yeasts

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Funding

Yeast cultures were maintained in the Laboratory of Tissue Culture, Institute of Biology, University of Bialystok, which was funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland under the grant “Restructuring of Faculty of Biology and Chemistry” (no. 8636/E342/R/2014). Proteomic analyses were performed in the Laboratory of Applied Microbiology of the University of Bialystok, which was partly financed by “Specific Scientific Equipment” grant of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland (decision no. 8636/E-342/SPUB/2014/1I). This study was supported by the National Science Center grant (DEC-2013/11/N/NZ6/02567) to Urszula Czyzewska.