Detection of Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale in onychomycosis using monoclonal antibodies against Sub6 (Tri r 2).

Background: Onychomycosis is the most prevalent nail disease and is mainly caused by two dermatophyte species Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton interdigitale with a frequency in the range of 80% and 20%, respectively. The secreted protease Sub6 of the subtilisin family, which was never detected in vitro growth conditions, was found to be a robust marker of onychomycosis.

Objective: The aim of this work was to detect tinea unguium using anti-Sub6 monoclonal antibodies in proteins extracted from clinical nail samples.