Investigation of TruMDR2 gene expression of Trichophyton rubrum in response to terbinafine and nanoterbinafine

Trichophyton rubrum is one of the most common causes of dermatophytosis. Increasing the expression of the TruMDR2 gene, which codes efflux pumps, results in resistance to T., rubrum versus terbinafine. Researching on new antifungal agents that can reduce the expression of this gene leading to decreases resistance to terbinafine is undeniable. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of TruMDR2 gene on clinical isolates of T., rubrum against terbinafine and nanotrobinifin. In this study, two isolates of T. rubrum isolated from the onychomycosis lesions were identified by phenotyping and genotyping, and the anti-fungal susceptibility testing of terbinafine and nano-terbinafine was done by Broth microdilution according to the CLSI method. Then gene expression of TruMDR2 in two distinct isolates were investigated in sub MIC concentrations of terbinafine and nano-terbinafine. The results showed that in the presence of sub-MIC concentrations of terbinafine, the expression of the gene was 16/222 and 18/636, while the expression of the gene was in the sub MIC concentrations of nano-terbinafine 7/913 and 9/190. According to the findings of this study, the expression of TruMDR2 gene expression in both two isolates was lower increasing in present of sub MIC concentration of nano terbinafine in compared to terbinafine.