title: Rapid and accurate identification of isolates of Candida species by melting peak and melting curve analysis of the internally transcribed spacer region 2 fragment (ITS2-MCA).
abstract: Rapid identification of clinically important yeasts can facilitate the initiation of anti-fungal therapy, since susceptibility is largely species-dependent. We evaluated melting peak and melting curve analysis of the internally transcribed spacer region 2 fragment (ITS2-MCA) as an identification tool for distinguishing between 16 Candida spp., i.e. Candida albicans, Candida bracarensis, Candida dubliniensis, Candida famata, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida inconspicua, Candida kefyr, Candida krusei, Candida lipolytica, Candida lusitaniae, Candida nivariensis, Candida norvegensis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis and Candida sojae, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae and one species pair, i.e. Candida metapsilosis/Candida orthopsilosis. Starting from a cultured isolate, ITS2-MCA led to differentiation of these species within 6 h. According to our findings, ITS2-MCA offers a simple, rapid and cost-effective method for identification of cultured isolates of the clinically most relevant and prevalent Candida species. Further studies will be necessary to evaluate how it performs on mixed samples and clinical samples.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical and Exact Sciences, Faculty of Education, Health & Social Work, University College Ghent, Keramiekstraat 80, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. Ellen.decat@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Decat
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Mechelen
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Saerens
authors.forename: Stefan J T
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Vermeulen
authors.forename: Teun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Boekhout
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Blaiser
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaneechoutte
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deschaght
mesh_terms: D002175:Candida / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D008828:Microbiological Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D009172:Mycology / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D013997:Time Factors; D044366:Transition Temperature
chemical_list: D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer