Open AccessPrevalence of the VNIc genotype of Cryptococcus neoformans in non‐HIV‐associated cryptococcosis in the Republic of Korea
Author(s) -
Choi Young Hwa,
Ngamskulrungroj Popchai,
Varma Ashok,
Sionov Edward,
Hwang Soo Myung,
Carriconde Fabian,
Meyer Wieland,
Litvintseva Anastasia P.,
Lee Wee Gyo,
Shin Jong Hee,
Kim EuiChong,
Lee Kyung Won,
Choi Tae Yeal,
Lee Yeong Seon,
KwonChung Kyung J.
Publication year - 2010
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.1567-1364.2010.00648.x
Subject(s) - cryptococcus neoformans , cryptococcosis , biology , genotype , serotype , cryptococcus gattii , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , mating type , cryptococcus , typing , genotyping , genetics , gene
PCR fingerprinting and multilocus sequence typing were applied to determine the major molecular types of the Cryptococcus neoformans / Cryptococcus gattii species complex in the Republic of Korea. Of the 78 strains isolated from patients diagnosed with cryptococcosis between 1990 and 2008, 96% were C. neoformans serotype A, mating type MAT α and molecular type VNI. The remaining 4% were C. gattii , serotype B, mating type MAT α and either molecular type VGIIb or VGIII. Of the 62 strains with known HIV status, only 14 (22.6%) were isolated from HIV‐positive patients and belonged to molecular type VNI. Remarkably, 93% of the C. neoformans isolates had identical PCR fingerprint profiles with the VNIc genotype that has been identified recently as the major genotype among C. neoformans strains in China. Most strains (81.8%) of the VNIc genotype were associated with non‐HIV patients compared with strains of the non‐VNIc genotype (20%) ( P =0.009). Unlike the Chinese strains, a majority (60%) of the non‐HIV patients infected with strains of the VNIc genotype in the Republic of Korea had serious underlying conditions, with cancer and liver disease being the most common. This study affirms VNIc to be the most prevalent genotype of C. neoformans isolated from non‐HIV patients with cryptococcosis.