Chitin synthase 2 gene sequence of Malassezia species

Nucleotide sequences of the chitin synthase 2 (CHS2) gene of seven species, Malassezia furfur, M, globasa, M, obtusa, M. pachydermatis, M. restricta, M. slooffiae and M, sympodialis, were analyzed for their phylogenetic relat ionship. About 620-bp genomic DNA fragments of the CHS2 gene were amplified from these Malassezia species by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and seque nced. The CHS2 nucleotide sequences of these Malassezia species showed more than 95% similarity between the species. A phylogenetic analysis of the nu cleotide sequences of CHS2 gene fragments of seven Malassezia species revea led that the species were genetically distinct from each other.