Detection ofCandida albicansDNA in cerebrospinal fluid

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify a 273-base-pair Candida albicans DNA. The primers for PCR were selected from the gene encoding the secretory aspartate proteinase of C. albicans. Gene amplification was observed clearly with DNA extracted from C. albicans and Candida stellatoidea. Subsequent Southern blot analysis using oligonucleotide probe confirmed the specificity of amplified DNA fragments. This PCR amplification was used to detect C. albicans in cerebrospinal fluid and proved useful in the diagnosis of meningitis due to C. albicans.