Identification and Characteriztion of Prevalent Malassezia Species in Iran by PCR-RFLP

Lipophilic yeasts of the genus Malassezia has been placed among the Basidiomycota phylum in the family of Cryptococcaceae. The genus Malassezia comprises yeasts with a natural habitat of the skin of many warm-blooded vertebrates, and human, but they are also associated with several skin diseases such as tinea versicolor, seborrehoeic dermatitis and even systemic infections. The genus Malassezia has recently been revised to include nine species by biochemical, morphological and molecular findings. This study was aimed at the development of a DNA-based procedure applicable to rapid laboratory confirmation and identification of each Malassezia species. At first, conventional identification methods based on macroscopic, and microscopic features and physiological properties was performed. In the molecular findings a specific and unique restriction pattern was determined for each of the three currently recognized Malassezia species. The primers ITS/4 produced a large amplificon (about 800 bp for M. furfur, and M. globosa) and the other amplificon is smaller (about 600 bp for M. sympodialis). For further species distinction with this amplicon, one restriction endonuclease proved tobe useful. Restriction patterns obtained by ECOR1 digestion of amplified products from the ITS region was distinguish. Application of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology for molecular diagnostics allows early and accurate identification of Malassezia Spp. The PCR-RFLP results were well correlated with those obtained from traditional identification procedures.