Molecular Analysis of Exophiala Species Using Molecular Markers

ABSTRACT

Genetic relatedness of medically important Exophiala species such as E. dermatitidis, E. mansonii, and three E. jeanselmei varieties jeanselmei, lecanii-corni, and heteromorpha was examined using PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) of ribosomal DNA, M-13, (GTG)5, and nucleotide sequences of ribosomal ITS (internal transcribed space) II regions. Three E. jeanselmei varieties showing distinct band patterns for each DNA markers as well as different nucleotide sequences of ribosomal ITS II regions could be considered as a separate species. E. dermatitidis and E. mansonii demonstrated the identical band patterns of RFLP of ribosomal DNA, M-13, and (GTG)5 markers. However, nucleotides sequences of ribosomal ITS II region were different between these two species.