Molecular epidemiology for the detection of outbreaks of nosocomial aspergillosis

The most important molecular techniques used in the diagnosis of Aspergillus spp. and typing of the most pathogen species of this genus are described and discussed. The former, are mainly based in PCR amplification of a concrete DNA fragment and posterior confirmation with Southern-blot; RAPD techniques and less frequently microsatellite markers analysis and DNA-DNA hybridization to a moderately repeated, inactive, retrotransposon-like DNA Afut1 are used in typing clinical isolates.