Open AccessRapid PCR‐based test for identifying Candida albicans by using primers derived from the pH‐regulated KER1 gene
Author(s) -
Galán Amparo,
Veses Verónica,
Murgui Amelia,
Casanova Manuel,
Martínez José P.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
fems yeast research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1567-1364
pISSN - 1567-1356
DOI - 10.1111/j.1567-1364.2006.00114.x
Subject(s) - biology , amplicon , candida albicans , corpus albicans , candida krusei , polymerase chain reaction , dna extraction , dna , gene , genomic dna , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
A PCR‐based method in combination with a simple, reliable and inexpensive DNA extraction procedure for rapid detection of Candida albicans clinical isolates is described here. The extraction protocol is based on a combination of chemical (NaOH and detergents) and physical (boiling) treatments, thus avoiding many of the problems inherent in the currently available DNA extraction protocols (basically the use of expensive and/or toxic chemical reagents), and may be useful for daily clinical routine. The PCR‐based system described here uses a single pair of primers (SC1F and SC1R) deduced from the C. albicans ‐specific KER1 gene sequence. These primers amplify a 670‐bp fragment of the KER1 gene. All the clinical C. albicans isolates generated the expected 670‐bp amplicon. Other non‐ albicans Candida species, including the azole‐resistant C. krusei and C. glabrata , and the very closely related C. dubliniensis , failed to amplify any DNA fragment. The PCR results reported here suggest that amplification with SC1F and SC1R primers is species specific and, consequently, may be useful for specifically identifying C. albicans strains.