Dematiaceous fungal pathogens: analysis of ribosomal DNA gene polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) of ribosomal gene small subunit (SSU rDNA) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions was examined in 12 isolates of dematiaceous agents of chromoblastomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis. The amplicon length of the fragment ITS1-ITS4, comprising the 5.8 rDNA and ITS1-ITS2 spacers, ranged in size from 620 to 690 bp. This result indicated a polymorphism of size in this region. Additionally the RFLP profiles showed a high degree of inter- and intra-specific variability. In contrast, the SSU rDNA amplification, using NS1-NS2 primers, originated a fragment of approximately 570 bp and its restriction profile proved to be well conserved among the species studied and was clustered into only two genetically heterogeneous groups, the first one formed by Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Fonsecaea compacta and the second one formed by Cladophialophora (Cladosporium) carrionii, Cladophialophora (Xylohypha) bantiana, Phialophora verrucosa and Rhinocladiella species.