Molecular Identification of Cryptococcus neoformans Serotypes

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening infections primarily in immunocompromised hosts. Based on the genetic characteristics and serologic properties of capsular polysaccharides, three varieties and five serotypes have been defined: C. neoformans var. neoformans (s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Clinical Microbiology 2007-04, Vol.45 (4), p.1261-1265
Main Authors: Enache-Angoulvant, A, Chandenier, J, Symoens, F, Lacube, P, Bolognini, J, Douchet, C, Poirot, J.L, Hennequin, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cryptococcosis - microbiology
Cryptococcus neoformans
Cryptococcus neoformans - classification
Cryptococcus neoformans - genetics
Cryptococcus neoformans - immunology
DNA, Fungal - genetics
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fungal Proteins - genetics
Humans
Infectious diseases
Medical sciences
Microbiology
Miscellaneous
Mycology
Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods
Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
Sensitivity and Specificity
Serotyping
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Summary:Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening infections primarily in immunocompromised hosts. Based on the genetic characteristics and serologic properties of capsular polysaccharides, three varieties and five serotypes have been defined: C. neoformans var. neoformans (serotype D), C. neoformans var. grubii (serotype A), hybrid serotype AD, and C. neoformans var. gattii (serotypes B and C). Epidemiologic features, such as geographic distribution and ecologic niche, and clinical characteristics have been shown to be associated with serotypes. At the present time, serotyping is based on agglutination tests with either commercial or "homemade" antisera or on immunofluorescence assays using a monoclonal antibody directed against the capsule polysaccharide. In this paper, we describe two molecular methods (PCR-restriction enzyme analysis and length polymorphism analysis) for C. neoformans serotype identification. Both are based on the sequence characteristics of a fragment of the CAP59 gene required for capsule biosynthesis. Testing of 72 C. neoformans strains including representatives of the five serotypes demonstrated the reliability of these methods.
ISSN:0095-1137
1098-660X
1098-5530
DOI:10.1128/JCM.01839-06