ELECTROPHORETIC KARYOTYPE OF CLINICAL ISOLATES OF PARACOCCIDIOIDES-BRASILIENSIS

Chromosomal DNA molecules were obtained from eight clinical isolates o f Paracoccidioides brasiliensis during the early stages of the yeast t o mycelial transformation process and were separated by contour-clampe d homogeneous electric field gel electrophoresis. In seven of the isol ates, it was possible to separate five bands, albeit with two differen t migration patterns (A and B). In the remaining isolate only four ban ds were observed (pattern C). The isolated chromosomes showed molecula r sizes ranging from 3.2 to 10 Mb according to Schizosaccharomyces pom be molecular size standards. The three different patterns observed had bands of 3.2, 3.8, 4.1, 5.2, 6.7, 7.2, 8.8, and 10 Mb. These data imp ly that at least 30 Mb of the genome are organized as chromosomal macr omolecules. Due to the fact that P. brasiliensis spheroplasts are diff icult to obtain, technical details are provided. (C) 1997 Academic Pre ss.