title: Identification by random amplification of polymorphic DNA of a common molecular type of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans in patients with AIDS or other immunosuppressive conditions.
abstract: Sixty clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans were analyzed by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using 12- to 22-mer primers in pairs. Five major profiles, which clearly distinguished between serotypes A (profiles I-III), AD (profile IV), and D (profile V), were identified. Forty-two of 58 serotype A isolates were assigned to profile I, 13 to profile II, and 3 to profile III. Profile I compromised 5 subtypes (profiles Ia-Ie), with 37 to 42 isolates in profile Ia. Twenty-seven of 28 isolates from patients with AIDS belonged to profile Ia (P<.001), as did 7 of 10 isolates from otherwise immunocompromised patients. Isolates from immunocompetent hosts were broadly distributed (profile I, 8 isolates; profile II, 10 isolates; profile III, 2 isolates). RAPD profiles were independent of body site and geographic origin of isolates. Isolates pairs from 3 patients produced identical profiles. A predominant genetic profile among serotype A strains from AIDS patients has not been reported previously.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, University of Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Brownlee
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Sorrell
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruma
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nimmo
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004271:DNA, Fungal