ROLE OF FLUORESCENT AMPLIFIED FRAGMENT LENGTH POLYMORPHISM ANALYSIS IN TAXONOMY, IDENTIFICATION AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS OF YEAST PATHOGENS

ABSTRACTMolecular typing of genomes is essential to taxonomy, phylogenetic relatedness and microbial epidemiology. Medically important yeast species are increasingly being isolated over the last two decades. Yeast genomes are relatively complex for genetic analysis. Correct identification of the isolate to the species level is essential. Identification of some pathogenic yeast species remains problematic due to the high degree of phenotypic similarity. The use of Fluorescent Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (FAFLP) analysis as an identification and typing method was investigated. FAFLP patterns demonstrate clear differences among different yeast species and genus. FAFLP analysis might prove to be a reliable tool for taxonomy, identification and typing of yeast isolates.