Cryptococcus neoformans encapsulated yeast causes localized or disseminated infections, which may be acute, sub-acute or chronic in nature, in immunocompromized and apparently immunocompetent patients. Unfortunately, knowledge concerning the genetic variability in relation to the pathophysiology of the disease remains controversial. Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique is a novel molecular approach for detection of genetic variability of fungal strains. A RAPD technique using arbitrary primers R28, OPH-02 and OPH-20 clearly indicates genetic variability in C. neoformans. To find out relationship between genetic variability and pathogenicity of the C. neoformans, we carried out the in- vitro and in-vivo pathogenicity test in mice model, infected with four different RAPD types of Cryptococci. Mice showed a high susceptibility to Pattern I and Pattern IV of C. neoformans. This variation in susceptibility is associated with some minute difference in their genotypes but not related with the in-vitro virulence factors i.e. urease activity and melanin production.

Download this article as