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Comparative Study
. 2006 Aug;44(8):2977-82.
doi: 10.1128/JCM.00687-06.

Identification of Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Coccidioides species by repetitive-sequence-based PCR

Affiliations
Comparative Study

Identification of Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Coccidioides species by repetitive-sequence-based PCR

June I Pounder et al. J Clin Microbiol. 2006 Aug.

Abstract

The performance of repetitive-sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) using the DiversiLab system for identification of Coccidioides species, Blastomyces dermatitidis, and Histoplasma capsulatum was assessed by comparing data obtained to colony morphology and microscopic characteristics and to nucleic acid probe results. DNA from cultures of 23 Coccidioides, 24 B. dermatitidis, 24 H. capsulatum, 3 Arthrographis, and 2 Malbranchea isolates was extracted using a microbial DNA isolation kit as recommended by Bacterial Barcodes, Inc. Rep-PCR and probe results agreed for 97.2% of the dimorphic fungi when > or =85% similarity was used as the criterion for identification. Two H. capsulatum isolates were not identified, but no isolates were misidentified. From 43 of those cultures (15 Coccidioides, 14 B. dermatitidis, 14 H. capsulatum, 3 Arthrographis, and 2 Malbranchea), DNA also was extracted using an IDI lysis kit, a simpler method. Rep-PCR and probe results agreed for 97.7% of the dimorphic fungi when a criterion of > or =90% similarity was used for identification. One H. capsulatum isolate could not be identified; no isolates were misidentified. Using > or =85% similarity for identification resulted in one misidentification. These data suggest that the DiversiLab system can be used to identify Coccidioides and B. dermatitidis and, possibly, H. capsulatum isolates.

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Figures

FIG. 1.
FIG. 1.
Dendrogram and gel-like images of dimorphic fungal isolates and fungi with similar culture characteristics analyzed in phase 1 and phase 2. DNA from all cultures was extracted using Mo Bio. Samples analyzed in phase 1 are designated with a letter after the genus name; samples in phase 2 are designated with a number after the genus name. Gel-like images of samples with ≥98% similarity were condensed.
FIG. 2.
FIG. 2.
Dendrogram and gel-like images of dimorphic fungal isolates and fungi with similar culture characteristics tested in phase 2 of the study, using the IDI kit for DNA extraction. Gel-like images of samples with ≥98% similarity were condensed.
FIG. 3.
FIG. 3.
Dendrogram and gel-like images of Coccidioides cultures tested in phase 2, with the locations of the laboratories submitting the sample specified.

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