Identification of Candida species by restriction enzyme analysis

Background/aim: The identification of Candida species isolated from clinical specimens provides information about antifungal susceptibility and sheds light on the choice of empirical treatment. In the present study, restriction enzyme analysis of C. albicans and non-albicans Candida species previously identified by conventional methods was done to evaluate the utility of restriction enzyme analysis for more rapid and reliable identification of Candida species. Materials and methods: A total of 146 Candida strains isolated from various clinical specimens and ATCC strains were included. PCR products were digested with MwoI for all species and with BslI for C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis strains. Results: The strains were identified by conventional methods as 40 C. albicans, 27 C. parapsilosis, 26 C. tropicalis, 25 C. glabrata, 11 C. kefyr, 10 C. krusei, and 7 C. guilliermondii strains. Restriction digestion with MwoI was able to distinguish between five different species (C. albicans, C. krusei, C. guilliermondii, C. kefyr, and C. glabrata), while BslI digestion could distinguish between C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis. Conclusion: Restriction enzyme analysis with MwoI and BslI can be used for the identification of Candida species in situations where rapid identification is necessary or conventional methods are problematic.