en قارچ شناسی پزشکی Medical Mycology مقاله پژوهشی Original Research Article <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size:16px;"><b><span style="background:#1f497d"><span style="color:white"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">Background and Aim:</span></span></span></b> <i><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black">Scopulariopsis brevicaulis</span></span></i><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black"> (<i>S. brevicaulis</i>) is an opportunistic </span></span><span style="color:black">pathogen causing</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black"> both </span></span><span style="color:black">localized</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black"> and systemic infections. Recent studies indicated DNA sequence variation among <i>S. brevicaulis</i> isolates from different clinical sources. In this study we aimed to isolate and diagnose <i>S. brevicaulis</i> from nail and skin samples of diabetic patients and investigate their phylogenetic diversity based on the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS) sequencing</span></span><span style="color:black">.</span><br> <b><span style="background:#1f497d"><span style="color:white"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">Materials and Methods:</span></span></span></b> <span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black">Fifty nail and skin samples were collected from diabetic patients suffering from skin lesions. Conventional diagnostic methods were </span></span><span style="color:black">utilized</span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black"> to identify the bacterial and fungal isolates. Fungal DNA was extracted and ITS 1 region was amplified by PCR and sequenced using Sanger method. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis were conducted using Clustal W and MEGA software. Finally, antifungal susceptibility test was performed by disc diffusion method</span></span><span style="color:black">. </span><br> <b><span style="background:#1f497d"><span style="color:white"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">Results:</span></span></span></b> <span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black">Based on the culture, microscopic evaluation, and biochemical tests, various types of bacteria and fungi were isolated. Among 50 nail and skin samples, 25 fungal isolates (50%) and 5 bacterial isolates (10%) were recovered. Interestingly, one of the fungal isolates was identified as <i>Scopulariopsis brevicaulis</i>. This isolate was associated with a clinical case involving a 52-year-old male. Phylogenetic analysis of the ITS region showed our isolate (<i>Scopulariopsis brevicaulis</i>) closely matched and clustered in the same clade as those reported in the US, differing from those reported in Iraq (Basrah), Iran, and Turkey. Furthermore, our isolate exhibited a multi-drug resistance pattern against antifungal agents</span></span><span style="color:black">.</span><br> <b><span style="background:#1f497d"><span style="color:white"><span style="letter-spacing:-.1pt">Conclusion:</span></span></span></b> <span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color:black">This study highlights the importance of identifying <i>S. brevicaulis</i> in diabetic patients due to its multi-drug resistance. DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed genetic divergence from the strains within the same country and other different countries</span></span><span style="color:black">.</span></span></span></p> Diabetes, Fungal infection, Iraq, Onychomycosis, Phylogenetic, Scopulariopsis 247 256 http://ijmm.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-2618-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Bari Lateef Mohammed dr.pary.mycology@uokirkuk.edu.iq 100319475328460029905 100319475328460029905 No Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq Iman Tajer Abdullah imantajer@uokirkuk.edu.iq 100319475328460029906 100319475328460029906 Yes Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq Sanaa Hussein Mohammed sanaabioyl@uokirkuk.edu.iq 100319475328460029907 100319475328460029907 No Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq Shakhawan Beebany sh.beebany@uokirkuk.edu.iq 100319475328460029908 100319475328460029908 No Department of Chemistry, College of Science, University of Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq