RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF CANDIDA SPECIES BY DNA-FINGERPRINTING WITH PCR

DNA polymorphisms in different species and strains of the genus Candid a were assessed by amplifying genomic DNA with single nonspecific prim ers. This PCR method employed an arbitrary primer (the 10-mer AP3), a primer derived from the intergenic spacer regions (T3B), and the micro satellite primers (GTG)(5) and (AC)(10). Distinctive and reproducible sets of amplification products were observed For 26 different Candida and 8 other fungal species. The numbers and sizes of the amplification products were characteristic for each species. All yeast species test ed could be clearly distinguished by their amplification patterns. Wit h all primers, PCR fingerprints also displayed intraspecies variabilit y. However, PCR profiles obtained from different strains of the same s pecies were far more similar than those derived from different Candida species. By comparing species-specific PCR fingerprints of clinical i solates with those of reference strains. clinical isolates could be id entified to the species level even if they could not be identified by routine biochemical methods.