Using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis to investigation of genetic diversity, and relationships among a set of clinical Aspergillus fumigatus isolates

This study is an attempt to determine the genetic diversity and relationships among fourteen local isolate isolated from patients with Aspergillosis (Aspergillus fumigatus) by using the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. Twelve universal primers used in this study produced 94 bands across fourteen isolates. Of these bands, 67 bands or 71.2% were polymorphic. The size of the amplified bands ranged between 100-2000 bp. The genetic polymorphism value of each primer was determined and ranged between 33-100%. In terms of unique banding patterns, determine the finger print for six isolates the most characteristic banding pattern was for the (AFU1, AFU2, AFU3, AFU4, AFU8 and AFU14) with primer (OP F-16 , OP I-06, OP F-16, OP X-01, OP X- 01and OP A-06). Genetic distances ranged from 0.12419 to 0.64404 among A. fumigatus isolates. Cluster analyses were performed to construct a dendrogram among studied A. fumigatus isolates. The cluster analysis places most of the A.fumigatus isolates isolated from patient come from yhe same area into a close relation (subcluster) showing a high level of genetic relatedness and were distinct from isolates from another area (the other subcluster). Interestingly, a number of isolates originating from the same sources did form well defined groups, indicating association between the RAPD patterns and the geographic origin of the isolates. The information generated from this study can be used in the future for controlling of Aspergillosis programs.