Molecular Characterization of Clinical and Environmental Strains of Cryptococcus neoformans Isolated from Busan, Korea.
- Author:
Soo Myung HWANG
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Cryptocococcus neoformans; Random amplified polymorphic DNA; PCR-fingerprinting
- MeSH: Bacteriophage M13; Cryptococcus; Cryptococcus neoformans; DNA; HIV; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Korea; Yeasts
- From:Journal of Bacteriology and Virology 2010;40(2):91-98
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
- Abstract: Cryptocococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast that can cause life-threatening infections in immunocompromised patients. In this study, the genetic variability and epidemiological relationships of clinical and environmental isolates of C. neoformans from Busan, Korea, 2000~2005 were investigated. A total of 12 strains of C. neoformans, 7 clinical and 5 environmental isolates were analyzed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using three different primers and PCR-fingerprinting with a minisatellite-specific core sequence of phage M13. All strains belonged to C. neoformans serotype A and mating type MATa. Two different RAPD profiles (I and II) and a single pattern by M13 PCR-fingerprinting were identified. The major RAPD profile was pattern I (8 of 12 strains) and pattern II was identified from 2 clinical and 2 environmental strains, which clearly distinguished among isolates. Clinical strains with pattern II were isolated from the patients with HIV positive. Taken together, molecular patterns provide a good characterization of strains of C. neoformans as a heterogeneous group and epidemiological relationships in clinical and environmental strains.
