Phylogenetic relationship of the genus Malassezia based on mitochondrial cytochrome B gene]

Mitochondrial cytochrome b genes of pathogenic yeasts and fungi were analyzed for identification and phylogenetic relationship. The species of genus Malassezia also were analyzed and each sequence was specific in the same domain of cytochrome b gene. Some species represented intraspecies variation. The structure and function of cytochrome b protein was retained and its substitution rates may be in proportion to the evolutionary period. The deduced amino acid sequence was encoded by each nucleotide sequence of cytochrome b gene, and the phylogenetic tree of eukaryote and basidiomycetous yeast was obtained using this sequence. The species of genus Malassezia formed one cluster in this tree, meaning that the concepts of this genus reflect its evolution. The mitochondrial cytochrome b gene analysis was valuable for the identification and phylogenetic analysis of the genus.