Identification of Candida spp. by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis and differentiation between Candida...

Because Candida species have innately highly variable antifungal susceptibilities, the availability of a fast and reliable species identification test is very important so that suitable and effective therapeutic measures may be taken. Using three oligonucleotide primers, we established a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis method that enabled direct identification of the most common opportunistic pathogenic Candida species. RAPD analysis revealed a characteristic molecular fingerprint for each Candida species. Differences between the profiles for Candida albicans and C. dubliniensis were evident. RAPD analysis is a relatively easy, reproducible, and reliable technique that can be useful in providing genetic fingerprints for the identification of strains. In addition, a collection of different C. albicans strains was identified by a specific PCR based on multiple secreted aspartic proteinase (SAP) genes and the dipeptidyl aminopeptidase (DAP2) gene. Our findings demonstrate that PCR based upon the SAP and DAP2 sequences is a simple, rapid, clear, and direct technique for the identification and differentiation of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis.