5 kb PCR and semi-nested BMS345541 cell line PCR applied to DNA of cultured of Coccidioides spp. and controls Direct PCR with primers specific for Coccidioides spp. (RFA12/P2) was able to identify 19 out of the

21 Coccidioides spp. isolates tested, which presented the specific 375-bp band. However, semi-nested PCR using the same primers, RFA12/RFA13 and RFA12/P2, was able to identify all the 21 isolates tested (Figures 1 and 2). The same direct and semi-nested PCR methodologies presented negative SP600125 chemical structure results when applied to DNA of all species of other different pathogenic fungi and bacteria. These results demonstrate the high specificity of the primers developed in this study and highlight the increased sensitivity, expected in semi-nested PCR reactions from environmental samples. Figure 1 1.2% agarose gel showing results of semi-nested PCR with primers RFA12/RFA13 and RFA12/P2 specifics for Coccidioides spp., lines 1-4 DNA isolated of C. immitis (US), lines 5-9 DNA isolated of C. posadasii (Piauí/Brazil), and line 10 negative control (DNA C. neoformans ). MW = 1 Kb DNA Ladder (Promega).

Figure 2 1.2% agarose gel showing results of semi-nested PCR with primers RFA12/RFA13 and RFA12/P2 specifics for Coccidioides spp. lines 1-2 DNAs Rhodococcus equi 33701 e Mycobacterium avium 13956, lines GW-572016 cost 3-4 DNA isolated of C. immitis (US), lines 5-6 DNA isolated of C. posadasii (Argentina) and lines 7-13 DNA isolated of C. posadasii (Piauí/Brazil) MW = 1 Kb DNA Ladder (Promega). PCR and semi-nested PCR applied to soil DNA samples The DNA obtained from the soil samples was submitted to direct PCR and

semi-nested PCR using the same primer system. Only 8 out of 24 (33.3%) soil samples presented the specific 375-bp band by direct PCR: 2/10 from Elesbão Veloso and 6/14 from Caridade do Piauí (Data not shown). However, using semi-nested PCR with the primers RFA12/RFA13 and RFA12/P2, all the soil samples presented the specific 375-bp Neratinib band indicative of Coccidioides spp. (Figure 3). By the same molecular method, the DNA obtained from the soil of central Brazil presented 100% negative results. The results comparing both classical and molecular methods to detect Coccidioides spp. in soil samples are summarized in Table 1. Figure 3 1.2% agarose gel showing results of semi-nested PCR with primers RFA12/RFA13 and RFA12/P2 specific for Coccidioides spp., lines 2-11 soil samples from Elesbão Veloso (EV), lines 12 and 13 Caridade do Piauí (CP). Line 1 = white and MW = 1 Kb DNA Ladder (Promega). Table 1 Detection of C. posadasi i in soil samples by classical and molecular methods in Piauí, Brazil.