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Trichophyton concentricum fungal infections and skin microbiomes of Indigenous Peninsular Malaysians


Citation

Er, Yi Xian and Lee, Soo Ching and Aneke, Chioma and Conlan, Sean and Muslim, Azdayanti and Deming, Clay and Che, You and Yap, Nan Jiun and Tee, Mian Zi and Abdull-Majid, Nurmanisha and Shahrizal, Shezryna and Leong, Kin Fon and Han, Jungmin and Shen, Zeyang and Than, Leslie Thian Lung and Park, Morgan and Mohd Sayed, Izandis and Seyedmousavi, Amir and Kong, Heidi H. and Loke, P'ng and Segre, Julia A. and Lim, Yvonne Ai Lian (2025) Trichophyton concentricum fungal infections and skin microbiomes of Indigenous Peninsular Malaysians. Cell, 188 (16). 4257-4274.e13. ISSN 0092-8674; eISSN: 1097-4172

Abstract

Recent outbreaks of multidrug-resistant fungi infecting human skin emphasize the importance of understanding fungal pathophysiology and spread. In efforts to address health concerns with various Indigenous Peninsular Malaysians (Orang Asli [OA]), tinea imbricata—a Trichophyton concentricum fungal skin infection—emerged as a particular concern. We investigated the etiology and transmission of tinea imbricata by culturing, testing antifungal sensitivities, and sequencing T. concentricum isolates in remote OA villages. Among regionally conserved isolates, we identified the emergence of terbinafine-resistant T. concentricum microbiologically and genomically. Investigating the skin microbiomes of 82 Indigenous OA, we found unique microbiota and lower relative abundances of bacterial commensals (Cutibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis) among OA versus Malaysian and US urban populations, emphasizing how understudied populations provide unprecedented knowledge on host-microbiome co-evolution. These findings provide valuable insights into clinical, microbiological, and genomic features of chronic fungal skin infections, offering the potential to inform strategies to address drug resistance and effective therapy.


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Additional Metadata

Item Type: Article
Subject: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (all)
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
DOI Number: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2025.05.034
Publisher: Elsevier
Keywords: Fungi; Indigenous; Metagenome-assembled genomes; Skin microbiome; Strain sharing; Terbinafine resistance; Tinea; Trichophyton; Urbanization
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Depositing User: Ms. Nur Faseha Mohd Kadim
Date Deposited: 21 May 2026 13:37
Last Modified: 21 May 2026 13:37
Altmetrics: http://www.altmetric.com/details.php?domain=psasir.upm.edu.my&doi=10.1016/j.cell.2025.05.034
URI: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/124146
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