RFLP analysis reveals marked geographical isolation between strains of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.
Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was performed on 32 isolates of the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis from geographically separated regions of South America. The use of HinfI and HincII gave clear RFLP patterns, for which high discriminatory indices could be calculated. Computational analysis of the RFLP patterns for the 32 isolates suggested that at least five groups of strains existed, each of which was geographically distinct and corresponded closely with present country borders. These results underline the belief that P. brasiliensis infections are acquired from exogenous sources and that this fungus occupies specialist endemic niches within the natural environment.
Niño-Vega
G A
GA
Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Centro de Microbiología y Biología Celular, Caracas, Venezuela. gnino@pasteur.ivic.ve
Calcagno
A M
AM
San-Blas
G
G
San-Blas
F
F
Gooday
G W
GW
Gow
N A
NA
D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; D006801:Humans; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010228:Paracoccidioides / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D010229:Paracoccidioidomycosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology
D004271:DNA, Fungal; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; C032229:GANTC-specific type II deoxyribonucleases; C024400:GTYRAC-specific type II deoxyribonucleases