GENOTYPIC IDENTIFICATION OF SEQUENTIAL CANDIDA-ALBICANS ISOLATES FROMAIDS PATIENTS BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION TECHNIQUES

Random amplification of polymorphic DNA and inter-repeat polymerase ch ain reaction (IR-PCR) were compared with restriction fragment length p olymorphism (RFLP) analysis as methods for DNA typing of Candida albic ans. Forty-seven strains of Candida albicans isolated from the oral ca vities of five AIDS patients undergoing fluconazole therapy were analy zed. There was an excellent correspondence between the DNA types obtai ned by both PCR-based techniques and by RFLP. With the exception of on e patient who was infected with three DNA types of Candida albicans du ring a five-year observation period, the patients each harboured only one major strain, which became progressively less susceptible to fluco nazole. Each DNA type was unique to a patient, The data suggest that t hese typing methods are suitable for investigating the epidemiology of oropharyngeal candidiasis in this patient group.