Protocol describes a safe and convenient method of extracting DNA from Coccidioides immitis fungi in which the culture is killed by steaming, allowing removal from the containment facilities, as soon as possible. The method was first developed with the non-pathogen Neurospora crassa, has worked well for both C. immitis and H. capsulatum, and should be useful for extracting DNA from any pathogenic fungus. - [Read A Safe Method of Extracting DNA from Coccidioides immitis Protocol]
Certain fluorescent dyes such as Blankophor have a high affinity for the b -glycosidically linked polysaccharides such as glucan and chitin, which are main the constituents of the fungal cell wall. Therefore, these fluorescent dyes can be used for screening clinical samples for the presence of fungal elements. This procedure can be performed using the following specimens: Nail, Skin, Bronchial alveolar lavage fluid, Sputum and Biopsies. - [Read Detection of Fungi by Fluorescence Microscopy Using Fluorescent Brighteners]
Microsatellite markers, also referred to as STMS (SequenceTagged Microsatellite Sites) or STR (Short Tandem Repeats) are widely used as molecular markers for intraspecific genotyping, molecular mapping and breeding purposes. The method described is an efficient,fast and relatively inexpensive way to obtain microsatellite markers without post-cloning selection methods. So far, the method has been successful in onion (Allium cepa L.), a plant with a large genome and for pathogenic fungi. - [Read Enrichment for Microsatellite Sequences in Onion (Allium cepa L.) Protocol]