PCR-RFLP assays for species-specific identification of fungi belonging to Scopulariopsis and related genera

Milena Kordalewska; Joanna Kalita; Zofia Bakuła; Anna Brillowska-Dąbrowska; Tomasz Jagielski

doi:10.1093/mmy/myy106

PCR-RFLP assays for species-specific identification of fungi belonging to Scopulariopsis and related genera

Med Mycol. 2019 Jul 1;57(5):643-648. doi: 10.1093/mmy/myy106.

Authors

Milena Kordalewska¹, Joanna Kalita², Zofia Bakuła², Anna Brillowska-Dąbrowska¹, Tomasz Jagielski²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk, Poland.
² Department of Applied Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.

PMID: 30329089
DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myy106

Abstract

Fungi of the Scopulariopsis genus, commonly found in the environment, are opportunistic pathogens that can cause various types of human infections. So far, no efficient molecular method has been developed for species differentiation among Scopulariopsis and related genera. In order to advance this field, we have evaluated performance of polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assays, based on cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and β-tubulin genes. The assays resulted in 2-10 restriction patterns, depending on the gene amplified and restriction enzyme applied. Pooled analysis of the patterns allowed to propose an algorithm, that can be successfully used for an accurate species-specific identification of 21 species of the Scopulariopsis-like fungi.

Keywords: Scopulariopsis; PCR; RFLP; identification; opportunistic pathogens.