Analysis of the strain relatedness of oral Candida albicans in patients with diabetes mellitus using polymerase chain reaction‐fingerprinting

To increase our understanding of Candida pathogenicity, the identification of those strains most frequently associated with infections is of paramount importance. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based methods are extremely effective in differentiating and determining reproducibility, they require minimum starting material and are rapid and simple to perform. In this study, the genetic relatedness of Candida albicans was assessed for two geographically different patient groups (London, UK and Parma, Italy) affected by diabetes mellitus. C. albicans samples from the oral cavities of non‐diabetic healthy subjects were also examined by PCR fingerprinting to evaluate the possible genetic differences among endogenous strains in individuals with and without diabetes mellitus. PCR fingerprinting, with subsequent phylogenetic analysis of C. albicans isolates from the diabetic patients from London and Italy and from the non‐diabetic subjects, revealed that there were significant differences (P < 0.0001) between C. albicans isolates indicative of the distinct ecological niches that occur in the oral cavities of these patient cohorts. The most diverse group comprised the isolates from the diabetic patients in the UK, possibly reflecting the antifungal treatment that these patients had received. Further studies that include isolates from patient cohorts with systemic diseases other than diabetes mellitus, and from more diverse geographic localities are required to explain the relatedness of C. albicans isolates in the mouth.     

Standardized molecular typing of Candida albicans strains

Summary. A method is presented for the standardization of Candida albicans DNA fingerprinting, which is based on Southern hybridization of Eco RI-digested chromosomal DNA with the moderately repetitive DNA element CARE-2 and the subsequent rehybridization of the blots with a molecular size marker also included in each DNA sample. This method resulted in extremely precise alignment of all strain-specific CARE-2 hybridization patterns, even when analysed on different gels, and will enhance the accuracy of genetic relationship determinations in epidemiological studies including large numbers of strains.
Zusammenfassung. Zur Standardisierung des DNA-Fingerprinting von Candida albicans wurde eine Methode entwickelt, die auf der Southern Hybridisierung Eco RI-gespaltener chromosomaler DNA mit dem mittelrepetitiven DNA-Element CARE-2 und der darauffolgenden Rehybridisierung der Blots mit einem auch in den Proben enthaltenen molekularen Größenmarker beruht. Dies resultierte in einer äußerst präzisen Größen-bestimmung der hybridisierenden Fragmente, so daß alle stammspezifischen CARE-2-Hybridisierungsmuster exakt verglichen werden konnten, auch wenn die Isolate auf verschiedenen Gelen analysiert wurden. Die Methode erhöht die Genauigkeit der Bestimmung genetischer Verwandtschaftsbeziehungen in epidemiologischen Untersuchungen, in denen eine große Anzahl von Stämmen analysiert wird.     

用PCR—RFLP和16SrDNA指纹图法分析幽门螺杆菌基因型

本文建立了PCR－RFLP和16srDNA指纹图法．对19株幽门螺杆菌（HP）进行基因型分析：HP尿素酶C基因的PCR扩增产物．分别用HindⅢ、HaeⅢ、AluⅠ酶切，结果显示：每个酶均将19株HP分为3种RFLP图谱．综合HindⅢ，HaeⅢ和AluⅠ酶切结果，19株HP分为10个酶切带型；PCR扩增HP标准株16SrRNA基因，地高辛标记制备550bp探针，19株HPDNA分别经HaeⅢ和EcoRⅠ酶切、电泳后，通过Southern杂交获16SrDNA指纹图，结果显示：HaeⅢ酶切分为14个杂交带型，EcoRⅠ酶切19株HP杂交带型均不同。本实验表明：上述两种方法重复性好，分群力高，可准确有效地对HP作出鉴定并将其分型。19株HP株间存在基因型差异。     

广东省结核病流行菌株研究

目的：从分子流行病学的角度探讨广东省结核分支杆菌菌株流行的分布。方法：构建广东省74株临床分离的以RFLP为基础的结核分支杆菌的IS6110 DNA指纹图谱技术，确诊结核分支杆菌菌株的流行分布。结果：24．3％（18／74）的结核菌株的IS6110 DNA指纹相似值在1－0．65之间，鉴定结果为它们均是“北京家族”结核分支杆菌菌株。结论：广东省结核菌株流行主要存在着遗传关系接近，在基因水平上相关程度较高的“北京家族”结核分支杆菌菌株，且该家族菌株正以一定的比例在我省流行。     

副溶血弧菌染色体DNA指纹图及其质粒图谱研究

对不同来源、不同血清型的７１株副溶血弧菌染色体ＤＮＡ指纹图及其质粒图谱进行了分析研究。结果表明：不同血清型、不同来源菌株的ＤＮＡ指纹图有显著的不同，相同血清型而来源不同的菌株其ＤＮＡ指纹图亦有区别，来自同一起暴发的同一克隆菌株的ＤＮＡ指纹图则极为相似，而且该ＤＮＡ指纹图具有极好的稳定性和精确性。质粒分析显示，其检出率为８７．３２％，且图谱呈多样性，但未发现质粒分布与血清型及来源的相关性。     

Methodological Studies on Genomic DNA Extraction and Purification from Plant Drug Materials

本文探讨了菊科９种植物和地胆草的４种对口商品药材基因组ＤＮＡ提取与纯化的原理、方法通过对３种常用植物基因组ＤＮＡ提取方法（ＣｓＣｌ梯度超速离心法、ＣＴＡＢＣｓＣｌ梯度超速离心法和ＣＴＡＢ微量提取法）的条件摸索在ＤＮＡ产率、纯度以及提取纯化过程中影响ＰＣＲ扩增因子方面进行比较，认为ＣＴＡＢ微量提取法是植物类药材基因组ＤＮＡ一种比较省时、有效、经济的提取方法     

DNA fingerprinting of Ascochyta rabiei with synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides

Summary The ascomycete fungus Ascochyta rabiei, an important pathogen of the grain legume crop chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in the Mediterranean region, has not been adequately characterized in molecular terms. We therefore used DNA fingerprinting, with synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides complementary to simple repetitive sequences, to pathotype different isolates of the fungus. Six single-spored A. rabiei isolates were first categorized using a host differential set of nine chickpea genotypes. Seedlings were inoculated under controlled environmental conditions, and disease severity was recorded 9 days after inoculation. DNA was extracted from in vitro-grown mycelia of the six purified fungal isolates, restricted with EcoRI, HinfI, MboII and TaqI, and fingerprinted with radiolabeled (GATA)₄, (GTG)₅, (CA)₈, and (TCC)₅, respectively. High levels of polymorphism were detected with optimal enzyme/probe combinations that allow one to discriminate between the isolates. The potential of DNA fingerprinting with simple repetitive sequences can thus be expanded to the identification of fungal races and pathotypes. The characterization of the geographic distribution and genetic variability of pathotypes will facilitate the selection of suitable host cultivars to be grown in specific regions.     

DNA fingerprinting of sister blastomeres from human IVF embryos

BACKGROUND: Previously published single cell DNA fingerprinting systems have been plagued by high rates of allele drop-out (ADO) and preferential amplification (PA) preventing clinical application in preimplantation genetic diagnosis. METHODS: Tetranucleotide microsatellite markers with high heterozygosity, known allelic size ranges and minimal PCR stutter artefacts were selected for chromosomes X, 13, 18 and 21 and optimized in a multiplex fluorescent (FL)-PCR format. FL-PCR products were analysed using the ABI Prism 377 DNA sequenator and Genescan software. Validation of the DNA fingerprinting system was performed on single diploid (n = 50) and aneuploid (n = 25) buccal cells and embryonic blastomeres (n = 21). RESULTS: The optimized pentaplex PCR DNA fingerprinting system displayed a high proportion of successful amplifications (>91%) and low ADO and PA (<6%) when assessed on 50 human buccal cells. DNA fingerprints of single cells from a subject with Down's syndrome detected the expected tri-allelic pattern for the chromosome 21 marker, confirming trisomy 21. In a blind study on 21 single blastomeres, all embryos were identifiable by their unique DNA fingerprints and shared parental alleles. CONCLUSIONS: A highly specific multiplex FL-PCR based on the amplification of five highly polymorphic microsatellite markers was developed for single cells. This finding paves the way for the development of a more complex PCR DNA fingerprinting system to assess aneuploidy and single gene mutations in IVF embryos from couples at genetic risk.     

国内110株新生隐球菌临床株变种、基因型和交配型分析

目的 对国内部分地区的新生隐球菌(Cryptococcus neoformans)临床株进行分子流行病学调查,分析其变种、基因型和交配型的构成和分布.方法 (1)PCR指纹分型法:以野生型噬菌体M13中针对小卫星DNA的核心序列为单引物对模板进行PCR扩增,将所有受试菌株鉴定到8种主要基因型水平.(2)利用变种和交配型特异性引物扩增分型法,区分格鲁比变种(C.neoformans var.grubii)、新生变种(C.neoformans var.neoformans)和格特变种(C.neoformans var.gattii),同时鉴定α和a交配型.结果 110株临床株中,98株(89.1%)为格鲁比变种,均为VNI基因型和α交配型;9株(8.2%)格特变种,包括VGⅠ基因型、α交配型8株(7.3%)和VGⅡ基因型、α交配型1株(0.9%);2株(1.8%)为AD杂合体,VNⅢ基因型,-/α和α/-交配型各1株;1株(0.9%)为新生变种,VNⅣ基因型和a交配型.结论 我国新生隐球菌临床株包含3个变种和AD杂合体.与国外情况比较,相似的是国内临床株中绝大部分为α交配型菌株,且格鲁比变种中的VNⅠ基因型占了其中的大部分;但未发现VNⅡ、VGⅢ和VGⅣ基因型菌株.