RANDOM AMPLIFICATION OF POLYMORPHIC DNA IS USEFUL FOR THE DIFFERENTIATION OF SEVERAL ANTHROPOPHILIC DERMATOPHYTES

The efficacy of random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysi s, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technology, as a tool for d ifferentiation of several anthropophilic dermatophytes, that is, Trich ophyton mentagrophytes var, interdigitale, T. rubrum and Epidermophyto n floccosum, was examined. Total cellular DNA extracted hv a mini-prep aration method were used as template DNAs and PCRs were performed usin g five primers, all of which were synthesized 10-mers. All of the prim ers generated PCR products and their electrophoresed profiles were cha racteristic for each of the species. Since these anthropophilic dermat ophyte species could be differentiated clearly by the RAPD analysis, t his method may be useful for identification of these species. Minimal intraspecies polymorphisms were observed between the isolates of T. me ntagrophytes var. interdigitale. The banding patterns were reproducibl e using template DNAs prepared at different times from each of stock c ultures.