en Parasitology and Mycology Parasitology and Mycology Original Research: Basic Science in Medicine Original Research: Basic Science in Medicine Invasive aspergillosis (1 is a life-threatening condition in immunocompromised patients. An early diagnosis is of great importance because early treatment may resolve this potentially fatal infection. Recently, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been used successfully in detecting specific DNA of several pathogen. In this study, nested PCR was used to detect DNA specific for A!.pergiflus species isolated from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from patients with TA. In single PCR using the outer primers a specific 384-bp fragment was amplified. Similarly, y nested PCR with inner primers, a 357-bp fragment was amplified with DNA from Aspergillus fumigatus but not from the other microorganisms. The Southern blot hybridizations confirm the specificity of the PCR procedure for A. fumigatus using the cloned 374-bp PCR product probe. In conclusion, the nested PCR method appears to be quite rapid and specific. 61 66 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-298-425&slc_lang=en&sid=1 TAHEREH SHOKOHI 20031947532846005803 20031947532846005803 Yes From the Department of Parasitology, Mycology and Entomology. Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Islamic Republic of Iran JULIE C. SILVER 20031947532846005804 20031947532846005804 No the Division of Life Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Scarborough Campus. University of Toronto, Ontario. Canada