Comprehensive Analysis of Proteins Secreted by <i>Trichophyton rubrum</i> and <i>Trichophyton violaceum</i> under <i>in Vitro</i> Conditions

Dermatophytes cause most superficial mycoses in humans and animals. Their pathogenicity is probably linked with the secretion of proteins degrading keratinised structures. Using 2D-PAGE and a shotgun mass spectrometry approach, we identified 80 proteins from Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton violaceum secretomes, under conditions mimicking those in the host. Identified proteins included endo- and exoproteases, other hydrolases, and oxidoreductases. Our findings can contribute to a better understanding of the virulence mechanisms of the two species and the different types of infection they cause. Keywords: dermatophyte • secreted proteins • secretome • two-dimensional electrophoresis • tandem mass spectrometry • expressed sequence tags