Electrophoretic Karyotype of the Pathogenic Yeast Cryptococcus neoformans

Department of Clinical Microbiology, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Hadassah Medical Center, PO Box 12000, Jerusalem 91120, Israel ABSTRACT The electrokaryotype of the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans is described for the first time. Three different patterns were seen: ( a ) serotypes B and C (variety gattii ) are similar and consist of nine chromosome mobility groups of >580 kb; ( b ) serotype A (variety neoformans ) revealed eight chromosome-like groups > 700 kb; ( c ) serotype D (the second serotype of variety neoformans ) not only differs from those described above, but each D isolate tested showed a different distribution of bands. The discrepancy, and the importance of electrokaryotyping as a taxonomic tool, are discussed.