RAPID DETECTION OF SPECIES OF THE OPPORTUNISTIC YEAST TRICHOSPORON BYPCR

Trichosporon species are opportunistic pathogens, associated with a hi gh mortality rate in immunocompromised patients. Oligonucleotide prime rs were used to amplify a 170-bp fragment of small-subunit ribosomal D NA of all species in the genus Trichosporon by PCR. The primers amplif y DNAs of all species in the genus Trichosporon, including six causati ve agents of trichosporonosis. DNAs of other medically important yeast s, such as Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, are not ampli fied by this detection system.