title: Current methods for identifying clinically important cryptic Candida species.
abstract: In recent years, the taxonomy of the most important pathogenic Candida species (Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis and Candida glabrata) has undergone profound changes due to the description of new closely-related species. This has resulted in the establishment of cryptic species complexes difficult to recognize in clinical diagnostic laboratories. The identification of these novel Candida species seems to be clinically relevant because it is likely that they differ in virulence and drug resistance. Nevertheless, current phenotypic methods are not suitable to accurately distinguish all the species belonging to a specific cryptic complex and therefore their recognition still requires molecular methods. Since traditional mycological techniques have not been useful, a number of molecular based methods have recently been developed. These range from simple PCR-based methods to more sophisticated real-time PCR and/or MALDI-TOF methods. In this article, we review the current methods designed for discriminating among closely related Candida species by highlighting, in particular, the limits of the existing phenotypic tests and the development of rapid and specific molecular tools for their proper identification.
authors: Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Criseo
authors: Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Scordino
authors: Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy. Electronic address: oromeo@unime.it.
authors: Orazio
authors: O
authors: Romeo
mesh_terms: D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D041221:Candida glabrata / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D058889:Molecular Typing; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal
keywords: Candida africana; Candida albicans; Candida glabrata; Candida parapsilosis; Cryptic Candida species; Molecular identification; Pathogenic yeasts