Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis of culture collection strains of Candida species

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles, obtained when screening culture collection strains of Candida spp., showed several species to be highly heterogeneous. The RAPD-defined groups were as follows: C. catenulata, two groups among five strains; Debaryomyces hansenii (anamorph C. famata), three groups among five strains; C. sake, three groups among three strains; C. intermedin, two groups among two strains; C. rugosa, two groups among three strains and C. parapsilosis, three groups among four strains. The five strains of Issatchenkia or orientalis (anamorph C. krusei) belonged to a single RAPD-defined group. The two strains of the teleomorphic yeast Arxiozyma telluris had distinct RAPD profiles but neither resembled profiles of its anamorph, C. pintolopesii. The two varieties of C. pintolopesii had different RAPD profiles. Researchers are cautioned that organisms with the same name may not be closely related.