Extraction of genomic DNA from filamentous fungi in biofilms on water-based paint coatings

A method has been developed which can be used to extract DNA efficiently from spores of the genera Acremonium, Alternaria, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium and Epicoccum on painted surfaces. The method involves spore lysis by incubation of the specimen with the enzyme Lyticase for 60 min, followed by bead beating for 15 min. DNA is then purified from the lysate with the QIAamp DNA Mini kit. The extracted DNA is of high molecular weight and can be used in PCR for amplification using fungal-specific primers.