Mycobiology

The Korean Society of Mycology (한국균학회)
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Isolation and Characterization of Cryptococcus neoformans from Environmental Sources in Busan

  • Oh, Kwang-Seok (Maritime Safety Team, Korea Institute of Maritime and Fisheries Technology) ;
  • Hwang, Soo-Myung (Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Catholic University of Pusan)
  • Published : 2005.12.31
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Abstract

Twenty nine samples of pigeon droppings (n = 12) and soil contaminated with avian excreta (n = 19), collected from different sites in Busan, were examined for isolation and characterization of Cryptococcus neoformans. Of these samples, 5 strains of C. neoformans were recovered from pigeon droppings (5/12 : 41.7%). All isolates were belonged to C. neoformans var. grubii (serotype A). The extracellular enzyme activities of the strains by using the API-ZYM system showed two different enzymatic patterns. The genetic variability among C. neoformans isolates was analyzed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using three 10-mer primers. Two different RAPD patterns, which clearly distinguished the isolates, were identified. Analysis of RAPD patterns provided a good characterization of environmental strains of C. neoformans serotype A as a heterogeneous group and were in good agreement with enzymatic profiles.

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References

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