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Random amplified polymorphic DNA for strain delineation within Candida tropicalis
1Department of Microbiology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43699-0008, USA.
Summary
Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis effectively differentiated Candida tropicalis isolates. This molecular technique distinguished between related and unrelated strains, aiding in infection outbreak investigations.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Candida tropicalis is an opportunistic fungal pathogen.
- Accurate strain identification is crucial for infection control and epidemiological studies.
- Distinguishing C. tropicalis from similar species like Candida paratropicalis can be challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) for typing Candida tropicalis isolates.
- To differentiate C. tropicalis from C. paratropicalis using RAPD.
- To assess the genetic relatedness of C. tropicalis isolates from clinical samples, including an outbreak.
Main Methods:
- DNA extraction from Candida isolates.
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification using 10-mer primers to generate Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles.
- Screening of multiple primers and isolates, including epidemiologically related and unrelated strains, and related species.
Main Results:
- RAPD profiles showed high similarity among epidemiologically related C. tropicalis isolates from an outbreak.
- Unrelated C. tropicalis isolates exhibited greater variability in their RAPD profiles.
- RAPD successfully differentiated C. tropicalis from C. albicans and C. parapsilosis.
- RAPD profiles of C. paratropicalis were consistent with it being a variant of C. tropicalis.
Conclusions:
- RAPD is a valuable molecular tool for the epidemiological typing of Candida tropicalis.
- The technique can aid in tracking the transmission of C. tropicalis during outbreaks.
- RAPD supports the classification of C. paratropicalis as a variant of C. tropicalis.