Comparative genomics and proteomics of ABC transporters in dermatophytes

Infections caused by dermatophytes affect around 20-25% of the world's population, and the occurrence of the disease is higher in underdeveloped countries. Although dermatophyte diseases in most cases are not fatal, they can be chronic or develop resistance against antifungal treatments. Antifungal resistance in fungi is closely related to the ABC Transporters, which enable drug efflux. The host-fungus interaction is still poorly understood in terms of virulence, adhesion, and pathogenicity. The identification of ABC transporters across clinically relevant dermatophytes along with their phylogenetic tree is discussed here. Trichophyton benhamiae was the reference set for ABC transporter proteins in dermatophytes. The genomes were compared based on coding regions and identified genes related to pathogenicity and antifungal resistance. The analysis of the dN/dS ratio aids in identifying protein-coding genes with selective pressure acting on them that diverge the species evolutionarily.