Causative agent of rhinosporidiosis

• Published in: Journal of clinical microbiology Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 413 - 415
• Main Authors: AHLUWALIA, Karvita B, MENDOZA, Leonel, HERR, Roger A, AJELLO, Libero
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 2001; American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cyanobacteria - classification; Cyanobacteria - genetics; Cyanobacteria - isolation & purification; Cyanobacteria - ultrastructure; DNA, Ribosomal - analysis; DNA, Ribosomal - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human mycoses; Humans; Infectious diseases; Letters to the Editor; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Microscopy, Electron; Mitochondria - ultrastructure; Mycological methods and techniques used in mycology; Mycology; Mycoses; Rhinosporidiosis; Rhinosporidiosis - microbiology; Rhinosporidium; Rhinosporidium - classification; Rhinosporidium - genetics; Rhinosporidium - ultrastructure; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - genetics; Tropical mycoses; Mycosis; Ribosomal DNA; Identification; Sporangium; Phylogeny; Electron microscopy; 18S-RNA; Rhinosporidiosis; Fungi; Infection; Mitochondria; Diagnosis; Rhinosporidium seeberi; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0095-1137; 1098-660X
• DOI: 10.1128/JCM.39.1.413-415.2001

I have read the paper by Herr et al. describing 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) in Rhinosporidium seeberi and its phylogenetic similarities with protoctistan fish parasites known as the DRIP clade. For extraction of DNA, the authors either dissected sporangia and purified them by centrifugation to remove human cells or used 100 mg of human tissue containing R. seeberi. This procedure without enzymatic digestion is insufficient for removing human cells that are always associated with sporangia. Thus, contaminating human cells are the source of 18S rDNA amplified in this study.