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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, October 2003, p. 4695-4699, Vol. 41, No. 10
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.10.4695-4699.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Description of a New Yeast Species, Malassezia japonica, and Its Detection in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis and Healthy Subjects

Takashi Sugita,1* Masako Takashima,2 Minako Kodama,3 Ryoji Tsuboi,4 and Akemi Nishikawa3

Department of Microbiology,1 Department of Immunobiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Kiyose,3 Department of Dermatology, Tokyo Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo,4 Japan Collection of Microorganisms, Bioscience Technology Center, RIKEN (The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research), Wako, Saitama, Japan2

Received 16 April 2003/ Returned for modification 15 May 2003/ Accepted 24 July 2003

Lipophilic yeasts of the genus Malassezia are part of the normal cutaneous microflora and are considered one of the factors that trigger atopic dermatitis (AD). We isolated two strains of Malassezia from a healthy Japanese female. Analysis of the D1/D2 26S ribosomal DNA and internal transcribed spacer region sequences of the isolates suggested that they are new members of the genus Malassezia. We propose the name Malassezia japonica sp. nov. for the isolates. M. japonica is easily distinguished from the seven known lipophilic species by its ability to assimilate Tween 40 and Tween 60 and its inability to assimilate Tween 20 and Tween 80 and to grow at 40°C. Furthermore, by applying transparent dressings to the skin lesions of 36 patients with AD and the skin of 22 healthy subjects, M. japonica DNA was detected by a non-culture-based method consisting of nested PCR with M. japonica species-specific primers. M. japonica DNA was detected from 12 of the 36 patients (33.3%) and 3 of the 22 healthy subjects (13.6%). Although it is not known whether M. japonica plays a role in AD, this species was part of the microflora in both patients with AD and healthy subjects.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University, 2-522-1 Noshio, Kiyose, Tokyo 204-8588, Japan. Phone: 81-424- 95-8762. Fax: 81-424-95-8762. E-mail: sugita{at}my-pharm.ac.jp.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, October 2003, p. 4695-4699, Vol. 41, No. 10
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.10.4695-4699.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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