Simple method to accurately differentiate Candida albicans isolates concurrently using polymorphic patterns of PCR-amplified, species-specific nuclear and mitochondrial targets

Curr Microbiol. 2009 Feb;58(2):164-9. doi: 10.1007/s00284-008-9300-z. Epub 2008 Nov 19.

Abstract

We describe a simple method to accurately differentiate Candida albicans isolates by concurrent use of the restriction enzyme digestion patterns for PCR products, targeting two species-specific DNA regions originating from genetically different sources, the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. The target sequence we used as the nuclear gene was derived from the PHO85 gene, a negative regulator of the PHO system, in which we found a restriction size polymorphism within the two alleles of PHO85 in the diploid genome of this fungus. The mitochondrial target was derived from EO3, a species-specific DNA fragment possessing a small size polymorphism among various clinical isolates. Our results should provide a new tool for molecular epidemiological surveys of patients suffering from candidiasis caused by C. albicans.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Candida albicans / genetics
  • Candida albicans / isolation & purification*
  • Candidiasis / microbiology*
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics*
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mitochondria / genetics*
  • Mycological Typing Techniques / methods
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length*
  • Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique / methods*
  • Species Specificity

Substances

  • Fungal Proteins
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases