title: Genetic variability among Blastoschizomyces capitatus isolates from different clinical sources.
abstract: Sixteen clinical isolates and nine ATCC reference strains of Blastoschizomyces capitatus were analysed genetically, examined for the cellobiose, arbutin and salicin assimilation and tested for the aspartyl-proteinase secretion. The restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) with HpaII and HinfI enzymes and the electrophoretic karyotype (EK) were investigated. Both the restriction enzymes revealed two groups (I, II) constituted by the same isolates: 17 isolates (68%) in group I and 8 (32%) in group II. The EK analysis revealed sixteen groups. These data prompts for a genetic variability of the isolates of Blastoschizomyces capitatus and their account in two distinct genetic groups as suggested by REA. This grouping was confirmed by examining the utilisation of cellobiose, arbutin and salicin. The tests for secretory aspartyl proteinase (Sap) were positive only for three isolates, suggesting a marginal role of this specific enzyme in pathogenesis for these isolates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Microbiology, University of L'Aquila, Italy. eugenio.pontieri@univaq.it
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pontieri
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caracciolo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ceddia
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Girmenia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Antonio
mesh_terms: D001104:Arbutin / Q000378:metabolism; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism; D002475:Cellobiose / Q000378:metabolism; D015825:Chromosomes, Fungal; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005848:Geotrichum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005960:Glucosides; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D000091402:Prohibitins
chemical_list: D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D004271:DNA, Fungal; D005960:Glucosides; C000717331:PHB2 protein, human; D000091402:Prohibitins; D002475:Cellobiose; C005696:salicin; D001104:Arbutin; D004262:DNA Restriction Enzymes; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C058921:endoproteinase Asp-N