[Overview of lipophilic yeast Malassezia: the current status of the molecular diagnosis].
The lipophilic yeast, genus Malassezia is a part of the normal cutaneous microflora of human and warm-blooded vertebrates. Species of the genera were re-classified to seven species; M. pachydermatis, M. globosa, M. furfur, M. obtusa, M. restricta, M. slooffiae and M. sympodialis. However, the means of species identification in conventional clinical laboratories have not been reported and the clinical significance of each species is not clearly understood. Species identifications of genus Malassezia which depend on the morphological, physiological characters are difficult and time-consuming. Recently, many molecular techniques have been developed for identification or typing of Malassezia. PCR-mediated methods, PCR-direct sequencing and nested-PCR using specific primers, are useful to identify the spices. The basic information obtained from these approaches have been contributing to the understanding of these pathogenic yeasts and related diseases.
Yamada
Yohko
Y
Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Japan Women's University, 2-8-1 Mejirodai, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8681.
Osumi
Masako
M
Makimura
Koichi
K
Yamaguchi
Hideyo
H
D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008290:Malassezia / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity