Clustering of Acanthamoeba isolates from human eye infections by means of mitochondrial DNA digestion patterns

A total of 90 Acanthamoeba isolates from human eye infections from 15 count ries were clustered into distinct genotypes according to their mtDNA restri ction fragment patterns. Closely related digestion phenotypes (sequence dif ference 0.1-1.5%) were integrated into a single genotype, whereas phenotype s with greater than 4.76% difference were considered distinct. Approximatel y 80% of the human isolates studied fell into 7 of 22 genotypes. indicating that virulence may be associated with specific clusters of cladistic group s of Acanthamoeba. This technique is useful for large-scale surveying of th is particular pathogen.