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SUB6 Subtilisin is Involved During the Initial Adhesion of Trichophyton benhamiae and T. mentagrophytes onto Reconstructed Human Epidermis

Summary

Researchers studied a fungal protease called SUB6 produced by common skin infection-causing fungi. Using engineered fungi lacking this protein, they found that SUB6 helps fungi initially stick to skin but isn’t absolutely required for infection. The fungi can compensate by producing other proteases, suggesting SUB6 might be better used as a diagnostic marker to detect fungal infections rather than as a drug target.

Background

Dermatophytoses are common fungal infections with increasing antifungal resistance. Subtilisin proteases, particularly SUB6, have been identified as potential virulence factors in dermatophytes. SUB6 was initially discovered as an allergen and has been detected during natural skin infections.

Objective

To investigate the specific role of SUB6 during Trichophyton benhamiae and T. mentagrophytes infection using genetically engineered strains in a reconstructed human epidermis model. The study aimed to determine whether SUB6 is an essential virulence factor.

Results

SUB6-deleted strains showed weaker initial adhesion to the epidermal surface during the first 2 hours of infection but eventually invaded the epidermis normally. The deleted strains were even more invasive than reference strains in T. benhamiae. SUB9 expression was upregulated in ΔSUB6 strains, suggesting compensatory mechanisms.

Conclusion

SUB6 plays a role in the initial adhesion steps of dermatophyte spores but is not essential for infection development due to compensatory mechanisms. SUB6 is a robust marker of dermatophyte infection associated with the infectious phenotype and represents a potential diagnostic target rather than a therapeutic target.
  • Published in:JID Innovations,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40416790, DOI: 10.1016/j.xjidi.2025.100370
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