Resumen

CANELO D, Carlos y CASQUERO C, José. Fenoloxidasa Modificada: Clave para identificar cepas de Cryptococcus neoformans. Rev. perú. med. exp. salud publica, 2000, vol.17, no.1-4, p.5-8. ISSN 1726-4634.

Cryptococcus neoformans is the only pathogenic yeast capable of forming melanin pigment by enzymatic activity of phenoloxidase. The objective of this study was to establish and standardize, the phenoloxidase test as a complementary technique for identifying C. neoformans strains. We studied 21 strains identified through conventional methods. The phenoloxidase test was modified because its use caused 9,6% (2/21) false negatives. The test was modified and optimized to 28°C using a medium with low glucose concentration. No false negative results were found in three repeated assays using each one of the strains; melanin pigment was quickly detected.

Palabras llave: Monophenol Monooxigenasa; Cryptococcus neoformans; Pigments.