A new PCR primer for the identification of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis based on rRNA sequences coding the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and 5.8S regions

Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) genes including the 5.8S ribosomal (r)RNA of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis were amplified and the DNA sequences were determined. Based on a comparison of the sequence information, a new polym erase chain reaction (PCR) primer pair was designed for specific amplificat ion of DNA for P. brasiliensis. This primer pair amplified a 418-bp DNA seq uence and was 100% successful in identifying 29 strains of P, brasiliensis (including the reference strains) isolated from the regions of Brazil, Cost a Rica, Japan, Argentina or from different sources. The results of specific ity tests of these primers to compare the fungus with those of Aspergillus fumigatus, Blastomyces dermatitidis, Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoform ans, Histoplasma capsulatum and Penicillium marneffei are also reported.