Macrorestriction analysis (PFGE) of serologically cross-reactive serovars of Acinetobacter baumannii and genospecies 3.
Forty-two serovar reference strains of Acinetobacter baumannii and genospecies 3, which yielded major or minor, one-way or two-way (reciprocal) serological cross-reactions, were subjected to macrorestriction (SmaI, ApaI) analysis with the aid of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The PFGE patterns of serovars 3 and 21 of genospecies 3 differed by 3 (SmaI) and 2-4 (ApaI) DNA fragments and thus were closely/possibly related in their genotype. Serovars 13 and 26 of genospecies 3 differed by only 2 DNA fragments (SmaI), suggesting close genetic relatedness; however, these two particular serovars of genospecies 3 appeared to be genotypically indistinguishable following restriction with ApaI. Serovars 2, 4, and 12 of genospecies 3 appeared to be unrelated to serovar 13 of genospecies 3 (SmaI); however, restriction with ApaI indicated a possible relatedness. Genospecies 3 serovars 2 and 26 differed by 5 DNA fragments (SmaI and ApaI), implying a possible relatedness. All other cross-reactive serovars examined proved to be genotypically unrelated, i.e., differed by > or = 7 DNA fragments (SmaI restriction).