title: Viability and molecular authentication of Coccidioides spp. isolates from the Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo culture collection, Brazil.
abstract: Coccidioidomycosis is an emerging fungal disease in Brazil; adequate maintenance and authentication of Coccidioides isolates are essential for research into genetic diversity of the environmental organisms, as well as for understanding the human disease. Seventeen Coccidioides isolates maintained under mineral oil since 1975 in the Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo (IMTSP) culture collection, Brazil, were evaluated with respect to their viability, morphological characteristics and genetic features in order to authenticate these fungal cultures. Only five isolates were viable after almost 30 years, showing typical morphological characteristics, and sequencing analysis using Coi-F and Coi-R primers revealed 99% identity with Coccidioides genera. These five isolates were then preserved in liquid nitrogen and sterile water, and remained viable after two years of storage under these conditions, maintaining the same features.
authors: Departamento de Dermatologia, Hospital das Clínicas, FM, USP. sarahdbc@usp.br
authors: Sarah Desirée Barbosa
authors: SD
authors: Cavalcanti
authors: Mônica Scarpelli Martinelli
authors: MS
authors: Vidal
authors: Maria da Glória Teixeira de
authors: Mda G
authors: Sousa
authors: Gilda Maria Barbaro
authors: GM
authors: Del Negro
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D003045:Coccidioides / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008899:Mineral Oil; D010641:Phenotype; D011309:Preservation, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008899:Mineral Oil