ISOLATION OF DNA AND THE ANALYSIS OF MATING TYPES BASED ON GENETIC AND ENVIROMENTAL INFLUENCE IN CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMANS

immunocompromised patients. Cryptococcus neoformans var. neoformans is found mainly in temperate climates and is often isolated from pigeon droppings. It is the causative agent of Cryptococcosis and is believed to arise after inhalation of yeast cells or basidiospores from environmental sources. For the purpose of this research, two strains of Cryptococcus neoformans; one clinical FBC and one environmental NBM5 were selected and confirmed using urease medium, based on their melanin production on Niger seed agar and ability to grow at 37oC. An antifungal susceptibility test was carried out on the clinical and the environmental isolates using Fluconazole as the antibiotic agent. Fluconazole is an antifungal therapeutic agent used in the treatment of Cryptococcosis. Responses of both isolates to Fluconazole showed similar results. Both isolates were also subjected to environmental stressors using sodium nitrate (NaNO2) to induce nitrosative stress and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to induce oxidative stress. The response of both isolates to this environmental stressors were similar. The selected isolates; clinical isolates FBC and environmental isolates NBM5 were determined to be of the same mating types based on their responses to antifungal susceptibility test and environmental tressors. DNA was isolated from both strains for detailed genetic analysis in the near future. This study provides new insights into how the mating type can greatly influence responses of Cryptococcus neoformans to genetic and environmental factors. Thus, serve as a possible instrument for further study of the genetics of C. neoformans.