Mitochondrial DNA analysis of Exophiala jeanselmei and Exophiala dermatitidis.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis with Hae III, Hind III and Msp I was performed in 45 Exophiala jeanselmei strains (30 Phialophora jeanselmei and 154 Phialophora gougerotii strains) and 31 Exophiala dermatitidis strains. The results were as follows, 1) P. jeanselmei and P. gougerotii are identical, 2) E. jeanselmei is classified into 18 types based on restriction profiles, 3) two strains of E. jeanselmei CBS 577.76 and CBS 578.76 are identified as E. dermatitidis, 4) E. dermatitidis has no intraspecific variation and is definitely distinct from E. jeanselmei, 5) E. jeanselmei is suggested to be a complex organism because of extensive mtDNA polymorphism.