You have no items in your shopping cart.
ABSTRACT
An experiment to develop auxotrophic mutants of Cryptococcus neoformans was conducted. Cryptococcus neoformans strains were isolated from environmental samples obtained from 4 different markets in Benin city and clinical samples taken obtained from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). A clinical isolate from UBTH and an environmental isolate from Uselu Market were screened using Urea Base test and Niger seed medium and selected for the purpose of the research. Sodium azide (NaN3) is a chemical mutagen whose mutagenicity is mediated through the production of an organic metabolite of azide compound was used in causing mutation in the isolates. The mutagen was applied in concentrations of 3mg/ml, 6mg/ml and 10mg/ml. it was discovered that all concentrations of the mutagen were able to cause mutation in the organism. The auxotrophic mutants thus created were tested on their ability to synthesize basic nutrients and thus grow on minimal medium. The minimal medium lacked sufficient amount of basic nutrients required for growth. By the method of replica plating, the auxotrophic mutants were obtained. Auxotrophic mutants were thus created for future genetic analysis of Cryptococcus neoformans
