A rapid method for the identification and characterization of strains and/or species of yeasts and filamentous fungi, based on restriction analysis of mitochondrial DNA

摘要

This invention proposes a rapid method for the differentiation and characterization of strains and/or species of yeasts and filamentous fungi, based on restriction analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This method is based on extraction of total DNA and subsequent digestion thereof with restriction endonucleases which recognize few targets in the mitochondrial genome and many in the nuclear genome. In this way the mitochondrial restriction patterns are visualized perfectly without any need for purification of this molecule. This new method is simple and easy to apply both at industrial and at clinical level because of its simplicity, speed and the absence of any use of dangerous compounds or complex apparatus. This method can be used to differentiate strains of industrial or clinical interest belonging to different species of the genera Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, Candida, Pichia, Kloeckera and Hanseniaspora it is also used effectively in the characterization of other yeasts and filamentous fungi.