Differential gene expression in Arthroderma benhamiae during infection of keratinocytes. Trichophyton benhamiae

Millions of humans and animals suffer from superficial infections caused by a group of highly specialized filamentous fungi, the dermatophytes. To provide broad insights into the molecular basis of biological and/or pathogenicity associated traits, the interaction of the Arthroderma benhamiae, a common member of this group, with human keratinocytes was studied by transcriptome profiling. ESTs from fungal cells grown with and without keratinocytes were sequenced using the Roche/454 platform and mapped to the A. benhamiae genome to determine expression levels. Based on the results a set of differentially expressed genes was compiled for further study of the mechanisms of infection in dermatophytes. Details of this study are provided in Burmester et al. 2010 (submitted).