Molecular Identification and Virulence Profiling of Malassezia spp. Associated with Inflammatory Dermatoses in Iraq
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36320/ajb/v18.i2.24575Keywords:
Malassezia; ITS rDNA sequencing; biofilm formation; virulence factors; lipid dependence; inflammatory dermatosesAbstract
Background: Malassezia species are lipid-dependent yeasts that constitute part of the normal human skin microbiota but may contribute to inflammatory dermatoses under certain conditions. Integrated studies combining molecular identification with virulence-associated phenotypic traits remain limited in Iraq.
Objective: This study aimed to characterize Malassezia isolates from inflammatory cutaneous lesions using combined phenotypic and molecular approaches.
Methods: Seventy patients with clinically suspected Malassezia-associated dermatoses were examined between October 2024 and April 2025. Diagnostic evaluation included Wood’s lamp examination, direct microscopy, and culture. Phenotypic characterization involved assessment of lipid dependence and virulence-associated traits, including catalase activity, biofilm formation, adherence to buccal epithelial cells, and extracellular enzyme activity. Molecular identification was performed by amplification and sequencing of the ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 region, with representative sequences deposited in GenBank (accession numbers PZ193669–PZ193671).
Results: Culture growth was obtained in 82.9% of specimens. Three species were identified: Malassezia globosa (46.5%), Malassezia furfur (32.7%), and Malassezia pachydermatis (20.6%). Phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences confirmed species-level identification, with isolates clustering into distinct clades corresponding to the identified species. Significant interspecies differences were observed in lipid dependence, biofilm formation, and extracellular enzymatic activity (p < 0.001), whereas catalase activity and epithelial adherence were consistently detected among isolates.
Conclusion: These findings demonstrate species-specific variation in virulence-associated traits and highlight the value of integrating molecular identification, phylogenetic validation, and phenotypic profiling for improved understanding and diagnosis of Malassezia-associated dermatoses.
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