Isolation and characterization of a species-specific DNA probe for Candida albicans

As a model for the isolation of species-specific sequences of ONA, we Isolated and characterized a species-specific DNA fragment from the Candida albicans genome. We used a series of differential colony hybridization experiments, in which a C. albicans genomic library was hybridized with genomic DNA probes from related organisms to minimize the number of potentially specific C. albicans DMA fragments to bs tested. Sin clones were tested by dot blot analysis, and one of them, a 1348 bp EcoRI ONA fragment, was confirmed as specific for C. albicans. his species-specific fragment could be utilized as a DNA probe for rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnosis of C. albicans DNA in clinical specimens.