Gholamreza Shokoohi - Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Jahrom University of Medical Sciences, Jahrom, Iran
Hamid Badali - Mazandaran university of medical sciences
Bahram Ahmadi - University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
Kazuo Satoh - General Medical Education and Research Center, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
Sadegh Nouripour-Sisakht - Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
Mahnaz Nikaeen - Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Mohsen Geramishoar - ۵) Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Nilufar Jalalizand - National Institute of Health Research Isfahan Health Research Station, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sahar Kianipour - Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Hossein Mirhendi - Department of Medical Parasitology & Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Koichi Makimura - Laboratory of Space and Environmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan. ۵ General Medical Education and Research Center, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan

Background and Purpose: The frequency and genetic diversity of black fungi in environmental and clinical settings have not been fully studied in Iran. This study aimed to identify and evaluate intra- and inter-species DNA sequence variation and also understand the phylogenetic relationships of melanized fungi and relatives isolated from different geographical regions of Iran.Materials and Methods: In total, ۱۱۱ clinical and environmental strains of dematiaceous fungi were isolated, and their internal transcribed spacer ribosomal DNA(rDNA) regions were sequenced and analyzed.Results: An inter-species nucleotide sequence diversity rate of ۱ to ۴۶۴ nucleotides was observed between the species. Intra-species differences were found in the strains of Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Alternaria tenuissima, Curvularia spicifera, Aureobasidium pullulans, Curvularia hawaiiensis, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum,Alternaria terricola, Alternaria chlamydospora, Didymella glomerata, and Drechslera dematioidea by ۰–۵۹, ۰–۲۲, ۰–۴, ۰–۴, ۰–۳, ۰–۲, ۰–۲, ۰–۲, ۰–۲, ۰–۱, and ۰–۱ nt, respectively.Conclusion: The internal transcribed spacer rDNA is useful for the discrimination of several taxa of dematiaceous fungi. However, a better understanding of the taxonomy of species of Alternaria requires a larger rDNA region or a library of other gene sequences.

Dematiaceous fungi, Iran, ITS rDNA region, Molecular identification