Direct PCR of Cryptococcus neoformans MATalpha and MATa pheromones to determine mating type, ploidy, and variety: a tool for epidemiological and molecular pathogenesis studies.

Cryptococcus neoformans MATalpha and MATa pheromones were amplified by direct PCR. Nucleotide sequence analyses revealed unique restriction enzyme sites. Sixty strains were used to devise a restriction fragment length polymorphism typing scheme that yielded three variety-specific patterns. Additionally, pheromone-specific PCR allowed easier identification of diploid C. neoformans strains than flow cytometry.