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The diversity ofMalassezia yeasts confirmed by rRNA sequence and nuclear DNA comparisons

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Abstract

One hundred and fourMalassezia strains (52 isolated from humans and 52 from animals) were compared using large subunit (LSU) ribosomal RNA sequence similarity and nuclear DNA complementarity. Eight groups of strains were recognized as genetically distinct species. Each taxon was confirmed by a homogeneous mole % GC and percentages of DNA/DNA reassociations higher than 85%. The non-lipid-dependentMalassezia yeasts were maintained as the unique taxonM. pachydermatis. In contrast, lipid-dependent strains were shown to be distributed among seven species:M. furfur, M. sympodialis andM. species 1–5. These taxa matched remarkably well with morphological and serological differences documented by previous investigators. The LSU rRNA sequences allowed a further intraspecific resolution with most of genomic taxa represented by several closely related sequences:M. pachydermatis counted up to seven sequences,M. furfur four sequences,M. species 1 comprised three sequences andM. species 2 andM. species 5 two sequences. Three species,M. sympodialis, M. species 3 andM. species 4, displayed a unique type of sequence. Thus, the present report demonstrates the usefulness of sequencing for both taxonomic and epidemiological purposes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, École nationale vétérinaire d'Alfort, 7, Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94704, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France

    Jacques Guillot

  2. Unité de Mycologie, Institut Pasteur, 25, Rue du Docteur Roux, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France

    Jacques Guillot & Eveline Guého

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  1. Jacques Guillot
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  2. Eveline Guého
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Guillot, J., Guého, E. The diversity ofMalassezia yeasts confirmed by rRNA sequence and nuclear DNA comparisons. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 67, 297–314 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00873693

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