1887

Microbiology

Volume 149, Issue 1

Molecular and genetic characterization of a serotype A isolate Free

Abstract

comprises two varieties ( and ) and four serotypes (A, B, C and D). Fertile isolates of both mating types have been identified in serotypes B, C and D; however, a fertile serotype A strain has not been confirmed, although serotype A α strains will mate with serotype D strains. Preliminary analysis of a recent Italian environmental isolate (IUM 96-2828) suggested that this strain was haploid, serotype A and . In this study, IUM 96-2828 has been characterized in detail. A mating reaction between IUM 96-2828 and H99 (serotype A α) produced abundant spores with an equal distribution of and α progeny, all of which were serotype A. Karyotypic analysis of F spores revealed evidence of recombination, confirming that IUM 96-2828 was fertile. The pheromone gene from IUM 96-2828 was sequenced and found to be most closely related to the serotype D pheromone gene. Phylogenetic comparisons of other genes not linked to mating type also suggested IUM 96-2828 was most closely related to serotype A strains. Biochemical analysis showed that the carbon assimilation profiles of H99 and IUM 96-2828 were identical for 97 % (30/31) of the substrates while isozyme analysis showed 89 % (17/19) identity. Assays of major virulence factors found no difference between H99 and IUM 96-2828. Virulence studies using the mouse model demonstrated that IUM 96-2828 was virulent for mice, although it was less virulent than H99. These data strongly suggest that IUM 96-2828 is a true haploid serotype A isolate that is fertile.

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2003-01-01
2021-04-19
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Molecular and genetic characterization of a serotype A MATaCryptococcus neoformans isolate
Microbiology 149, 131 (2003); https://doi.org/10.1099/mic.0.25921-0
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