Molecular taxonomy of cryptococcus neoformans varieties displaying phenotypic similarities

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans is a pathogenic fungus and can cause life-threatening infections in humans, especially in immunocompromised patients. According to the current classification, the species consist of three varieties. The taxonomic position of these varieties is debated. We applied fluorescent Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (FAFLP) genotyping to analyze clinical isolates, serotypes A and D of C. neoformans. The FAFLP genotyping suggested a considerable genetic divergence between the varieties of serotypes A, D and the clinical isolates. Our FAFLP typing strategy confirms the divergence between the varieties. The FAFLP analysis might prove to be a reliable method for taxonomy, identification and typing of Cryptococcus neoformans varieties on the basis of their specific FAFLP pattern. © 2006 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.