Abstract

LIBKIND, D.. Assessment of the MSP-PCR technique for the molecular characterization of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa isolates from northwestern Patagonia. Rev. argent. microbiol. [online]. 2007, vol.39, n.3, pp.133-137. ISSN 0325-7541.

The rapid identification of environmental or clinical yeast isolates is important for biodiversity studies and the detection of probable pathogens. Rhodotorula mucilaginosa is a ubiquitous and pigmented yeast capable of infecting immunocompromised patients. In this study, we evaluated the Micro/mini satellite-primed PCR (MSP-PCR) fingerprinting method for the characterization and identification of R. mucilaginosa isolates from natural environments in northwestern Patagonia. There were selected 110 putative R. mucilaginosa isolates from 200 environmental pigmented yeast isolates on the basis of phenotypic criteria. (GTG)₅, (GAC)₅ and M13 primers were initially evaluated in representative R. mucilaginosa isolates. (GTG)₅ allowed a good grouping of these isolates and, at the same time, a good differentiation among closely related species, and thus was selected for subsequent studies. R. mucilaginosa isolates (87%) presented similar (> 60%) MSP-PCR profiles to those of the reference strain CBS 316^T. The MSP-PCR technique was effective, both, for the characterization and identification of a large number of R. mucilaginosa environmental isolates as well as for the detection of polymorphisms within the species.

Keywords : Yeasts; Micro-satellites; Mini-satellites; Patagonia; PCR fingerprinting.

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