DNA base alignment and taxonomic study of genus Malassezia based upon partial sequences of mitochondrial large subunit ribosomal RNA gene.

The sequences of the large subunit of mitochondrial ribosomal RNA (LsmtrRNA) gene of Malassezia species were analysed. The sequences of the seven species of Malassezia are well separated in each species. Therefore the LsmtrRNA gene is thought to be one of the gene targets for species identification in the genus Malassezia. The dendrogram obtained from this gene supports the previous study of Malassezia species based upon the chromosomal genes. This is the first report of taxonomic analysis of Malassezia species based upon the mitochondrial gene.