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RAPD-PCR typing of Acinetobacter isolates from activated sludge systems designed to remove phosphorus microbiologically.

AIMS: This study investigated whether there were differences in RAPD fingerprints between already described genomic species of Acinetobacter and those from activated sludge systems. Whether plant-specific populations of acinetobacters exist was also examined. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-two isolates of Acinetobacter from four biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) systems of different configurations, and the known genomic species, were characterized using RAPD-PCR, and fragments separated on agarose gels. Patterns were analysed using Gel Pro software and data analysed numerically. RAPD-PCR produced patterns suggesting that many environmental isolates differ from known genomic species. In two cases, strains from individual plants clustered closely enough together to imply that there may be plant-specific populations of acinetobacters. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that current understanding of the taxonomic status of Acinetobacter may need modifying to accommodate non-clinical isolates, as many of the clusters emerging after numerical analysis of RAPD-PCR fragments from activated sludge isolates were quite separate from the clusters containing the already described genomic species. Some evidence was also obtained from the clusters generated to support a view that particular populations of Acinetobacter may occur in individual activated sludge plants. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These data suggest that the current understanding of the systematics of Acinetobacter, based as it is almost exclusively on clinical isolates, may need drastic revision to accommodate environmental strains. They also suggest that a re-examination of the importance and role of Acinetobacter in the activated sludge process may be appropriate.

Acinetobacter↗

Ralstonia pickettii traced in blood culture bottles.

Over a 9-month period, 14 strains of Ralstonia pickettii were isolated from various biological samples inoculated in a blood culture medium. Molecular epidemiological investigation confirmed the relatedness of the strains. The source of the contamination proved to be the blood culture bottle caps.

Bacteriological Techniques↗

Evaluation of amplified rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) for the identification of cultured mycobacteria in a diagnostic laboratory.

BACKGROUND: The development of DNA amplification for the direct detection of M. tuberculosis from clinical samples has been a major goal of clinical microbiology during the last ten years. However, the limited sensitivity of most DNA amplification techniques restricts their use to smear positive samples. On the other hand, the development of automated liquid culture has increased the speed and sensitivity of cultivation of mycobacteria. We have opted to combine automated culture with rapid genotypic identification (ARDRA: amplified rDNA restriction analysis) for the detection resp. identification of all mycobacterial species at once, instead of attempting direct PCR based detection from clinical samples of M. tuberculosis only. RESULTS: During 1998-2000 a total of approx. 3500 clinical samples was screened for the presence of M. tuberculosis. Of the 151 culture positive samples, 61 were M. tuberculosis culture positive. Of the 30 smear positive samples, 26 were M. tuberculosis positive. All but three of these 151 mycobacterial isolates could be identified with ARDRA within on average 36 hours. The three isolates that could not be identified belonged to rare species not yet included in our ARDRA fingerprint library or were isolates with an aberrant pattern. CONCLUSIONS: In our hands, automated culture in combination with ARDRA provides with accurate, practically applicable, wide range identification of mycobacterial species. The existing identification library covers most species, and can be easily updated when new species are studied or described. The drawback is that ARDRA is culture-dependent, since automated culture of M. tuberculosis takes on average 16.7 days (range 6 to 29 days). However, culture is needed after all to assess the antibiotic susceptibility of the strains.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

Single-step polymerase chain reaction for combined gene detection and epidemiological typing in three bacterial models.

We describe a new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for combined gene detection and epidemiological typing (COGEDET), which allows bacterial typing and gene detection in a one-step assay. This assay, in which target gene-specific primers are used under low-stringency annealing conditions, was evaluated on 32 Staphylococcus aureus strains using toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (tst) primers, 30 Clostridium difficile strains using toxin A (toxA) primers, and 30 Escherichia coli strains using cytotoxic necrotizing factor (cnf) primers. Typing performances with COGEDET were compared to those of conventional random amplification polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and gene detection performances, to those of conventional PCR followed by Southern blot hybridization. Concordances between conventional PCR/Southern blot and COGEDET were 96.9, 100 and 96.7% for the detection of the tst, toxA and cnf genes, respectively. Discriminatory indexes for the conventional RAPD and COGEDET techniques were similar in the three bacterial species tested. These results show that the COGEDET assay can replace two separate assays for typing and genes detection respectively, thus saving both technicians' time and reagents.

Bacterial Toxins↗

The use of (GTG)5 oligonucleotide as an RAPD primer to type Campylobacter concisus.

AIM: DNA fingerprinting using (GTG)(5) oligonucleotide as a primer in a random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay was assessed by typing isolates of Campylobacter concisus strains, collected over a period of 8 years. METHODS AND RESULTS: RAPD analysis using the (GTG)(5) oligonucleotide as a primer was used to type 100 isolates of C. concisus comprising mostly isolates from children with diarrhoea. Using this method, 86% of the isolates were found to be genotypically diverse. Of these heterogeneous isolates, 25 of the strains were also shown to be genetically distinct in a previous study using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. The remaining isolates (14) could be classified into five profile groups based on the DNA fingerprinting patterns. The assay successfully identified epidemiologically linked strains from the unrelated genetically diverse pool of strains. CONCLUSIONS: Laboratory RADP typing using the (GTG)(5) primer proved to be useful in distinguishing related strains of C. concisus from a large pool of unrelated strains of this organism. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: RAPD typing using (GTG)(5) is a simple method that could be used to investigate the epidemiology of C. concisus. The results suggest that homologous lineages of C. concisus may exist within an otherwise heterogeneous species complex. However, these data need to be confirmed using a more robust typing method.

Adult↗

Identification of Eucalyptus citriodora clones micropropagated in tissue culture.

The extent of genetic identity observed in the young individuals which were micropropagated from a single Eucalyptus individual was analyzed by using DNA-fingerprinting. Among 40,000 tissue-cultured-seedings of E.citriodora, 200 plants were randomly chosen so that each total DNA might be extracted from their leaves. Using these DNAs as template, PCR was performed with some primers we found in advance that leads polymorphism for DNA of E. citriodora. In this study, all over the 200 cases, the band pattern formed cDNA fragment on a gel after electrophoresis was the identical one mutually.

Base Sequence↗

Genetic diversification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as a function of prolonged geographic dissemination and as measured by binary typing and other genotyping methods.

The aim of the present study was to determine the extent of genome evolution among methicillin-resistant Staghylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. Three different collections of strains were analysed, comprising locally, nationally and internationally disseminated genotypes. Various genotyping assays displaying different levels of resolution were used. Geographically and temporally diverse MRSA strains comprised the international group. MRSA strains recovered during an outbreak in a New York City hospital and Portuguese MRSA isolates, all resembling the so-called Iberian clone, were included in the local and national collections, respectively. Genotypes were determined by genome scanning typing techniques and procedures which analyse specific DNA elements only. The outbreak strains showed subclonal variation, whereas the Portuguese isolates displayed an increased number of genotypes. Among the epidemiologically unrelated MRSA strains, the different genotyping techniques revealed a wide heterogeneity of types. Different typing techniques appeared to show different levels of resolution, which could be correlated with the extent of geographic spread; the more pronounced the spread, the higher the degree of genome evolution. Binary typing and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis are the typing methods of choice for determining (non)identity among strains that have a recent common ancestor and have undergone yet limited dissemination.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Modified AFLP technique for rapid genetic characterization in plants.

The standard amplified fragment-length polymorphism (AFLP) technique was modified to develop a convenient and reliable technique for rapid genetic characterization of plants. Modifications included (i) using one restriction enzyme, one adapter molecule and primer, (ii) incorporating formamide to generate more intense and uniform bands and (iii) using agarose gel electrophoresis. Sea oats (Uniola paniculata L.), pickerel-weed (Pontederia cordata L.), Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) and Penstemon heterophyllus Lindl. were used to determine the ability to generate adequate resolution power with both self- and cross-pollinated plant species including cultivars, ecotypes and individuals within populations. Reproducibility of bands was higher in all the AFLP experiments compared to random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Formamide with or without bovine serum albumin improved band intensities compared to dimethyl sulfoxide and the standard reaction mixture with no organic solvents. Comparison between RAPD and modified AFLP using sea-oats population samples proved that modified AFLP exhibits (i) a low number of faint bands with increased specificity of amplified bands, (ii) a significantly higher number of polymorphic loci per primer, (iii) less primer screening time, (iv) easy scoring associated with fewer faint bands and (v) greatly enhanced reproducibility. The technique described here can be applied with a high degree of accuracy for plant genetic characterization.

Plants↗

Typification of Oenococcus oeni strains by multiplex RAPD-PCR and study of population dynamics during malolactic fermentation.

AIMS: The goal of this study was to develop a reproducible method for molecular typing strains of Oenococcus oeni, and also to apply it in the study of population dynamics of these strains during malolactic fermentation of wine. METHODS AND RESULTS: A new method of multiplex randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR has been developed, based on the combination of one random 10-mer and one specific 23-mer oligonucleotide in a single PCR. This method generates unique and discriminant DNA profiles for strains of O. oeni. The strains of this species were also clearly distinguished from other species of lactic acid bacteria. The method was applied to study the dynamics of O. oeni strains during malolactic fermentation, in three vintages in the same cellar. CONCLUSIONS: A fast and reliable method for typing strains of O. oeni has been designed and optimized. It improves the reproducibility and rapidity of conventional RAPD-PCR, and it has been validated monitoring the population dynamics during malolactic fermentation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This method will be a good tool to study the population dynamics of bacteria during malolactic fermentation and to evaluate the performance of new malolactic starter cultures and their dominance over the native microbiota.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

PCR typing of Corynebacterium diphtheriae by random amplification of polymorphic DNA.

The usefulness of random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis with Ready-To-Go RAPD beads was investigated for the rapid differentiation of Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolates from Eastern Europe and neighbouring countries. A selection of 45 C. diphtheriae isolates of known origin, biotype, toxigenicity status and ribotype were examined by RAPD. Twenty RAPD profiles (designated Rp1-Rp20) were revealed among the 45 isolates. There was 100% correlation between RAPD profiles and ribotypes. Preliminary studies showed that the use of crude DNA preparations resulted in poor amplification and the patterns were not reproducible. Different thermal cycler models produced different RAPD profiles from the same DNA sample. Reproducibility of the technique was good when the same thermal cycler was used throughout. RAPD proved to be a simple and a rapid method for analysing C. diphtheriae and it is a method which can be used as a potential alternative to ribotyping or as a screening technique during outbreak investigations.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae↗

Phylogenetic analysis of cichlid fishes using nuclear DNA markers.

The recent explosive adaptive radiation of cichlids in the great lakes of Africa has attracted the attention of both morphologists and molecular biologists. To decipher the phylogenetic relationships among the various taxa within the family Cichlidae is a prerequisite for answering some fundamental questions about the nature of the speciation process. In the present study, we used the random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique to obtain sequence differences between selected cichlid species. We then designed specific primers based on these sequences and used them to amplify template DNA from a large number of species by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We sequenced the amplified products and searched the sequences for indels and shared substitutions. We identified a number of such characters at three loci--DXTU1, DXTU2, and DXTU3--and used them for phylogenetic and cladistic analysis of the relationships among the various cichlid groups. Our studies assign an outgroup position to Neotropical cichlids in relation to African cichlids, provide evidence for a sister-group relationship of tilapiines to the haplochromines, group Cyphotilapia frontosa with the lamprologines of Lake Tanganyika, place Astatoreochromis alluaudi to an outgroup position with respect to other haplochromines of Lakes Victoria and Malawi, and provide additional support for the monophyly of the remaining Lake Victoria haplochromines and the Lake Malawi haplochromines. The described approach holds great promise for further resolution of cichlid phylogeny.

Africa, Eastern↗

Use of multiplex PCR patterns as genetic markers for Burkholderia pseudomallei.

A simple PCR-based typing method was developed to differentiate between strains of Burkholderia pseudomallei. Two pairs of primers, based on sequences from two specific DNA probes, were used to amplify the bacterial DNA by multiplex PCR. We evaluated the PCR method for epidemiological typing of B. pseudomallei and compared this with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) methods. In RFLP, the DNA of B. pseudomallei was digested with HindIII and the pKKU-S23L was used as a probe while 5' GTTTCGCTCC 3' primer was used in RAPD. DNA was obtained from 37 B. pseudomallei environmental and clinical isolates from humans or animals. These isolates were also classified by their ability to assimilate L-arabinose. A total of 21 type patterns were identified by multiplex PCR. Among human and animal isolates, multiplex PCR revealed ten types, all of which were arabinose negative (Ara-), whereas six of the 11 types of environmental isolates were Ara-. There are two environmental patterns that also were found in clinical isolates. The RFLP technique showed 12 different types in the 37 isolates, and three of these contained both Ara+ and Ara- isolates. The RAPD technique revealed 33 different types in the 37 isolates. Multiplex PCR, therefore, is the genetic marker that best correlates with the ability of the organism to assimilate L-arabinose. Moreover, two types (M4, M15) correlated with disseminated septicemic melioidosis in the northeast Thailand. If a greater number of isolates are tested, the multiplex PCR technique may prove to be useful for rapid epidemiological typing of B. pseudomallei.

Animals↗

External quality assessment of molecular typing of Staphylococcus aureus isolates by a network of laboratories.

A network of laboratories designated Centres for Molecular Diagnosis was funded in 2000 by Belgian National Health Insurance to provide clinically relevant molecular diagnostic tests. These included typing of nosocomial pathogens as a service to local hospital infection control programs. Two external quality assessment (EQA) surveys were performed in 2001 and 2003 to evaluate the proficiencies of the laboratories at Staphylococcus aureus typing. EQA panels included S. aureus isolates with either indistinguishable, clonally related, or unrelated pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns. A hypothetical hospital outbreak problem was also submitted for analysis. Typeability, reproducibility, discrimination (D) index, and epidemiological concordance were evaluated. Ten centers participated in each survey. Seven centers performed PFGE analysis, while others used repetitive-element or randomly amplified polymorphic DNA PCR, amplified fragment length polymorphism, or spa typing. Full typeability (100%) was achieved by all centers, and all but one showed 100% reproducibility. Discrimination was appropriate (D index, >or=96%) for centers performing PFGE analysis but not for all those using other methods (D index range, 72% to 97%). Correct answers to the epidemiological questions were provided by 7/10 and 10/10 centers in 2001 and 2003, respectively. Individual feedback of results was provided to each center together with specific technical recommendations for improving performance. Our findings indicate that surveys of lab proficiency are useful for validation and optimization of molecular typing services to local hospital infection control programs.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗

Identification and characterization of Leuconostoc fallax strains isolated from an industrial sauerkraut fermentation.

Lactic acid bacterial strains were isolated from brines sampled after 7 days of an industrial sauerkraut fermentation, and six strains were selected on the basis of susceptibility to bacteriophages. Bacterial growth in cabbage juice was monitored, and the fermentation end products were identified, quantified, and compared to those of Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Identification by biochemical fingerprinting, endonuclease digestion of the 16S-23S intergenic transcribed spacer region, and sequencing of variable regions V1 and V2 of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that the six selected sauerkraut isolates were Leuconostoc fallax strains. Random amplification of polymorphic DNA fingerprints indicated that the strains were distinct from one another. The growth and fermentation patterns of the L. fallax isolates were highly similar to those of L. mesenteroides. The final pH of cabbage juice fermentation was 3.6, and the main fermentation end products were lactic acid, acetic acid, and mannitol for both species. However, none of the L. fallax strains exhibited the malolactic reaction, which is characteristic of most L. mesenteroides strains. These results indicated that in addition to L. mesenteroides, a variety of L. fallax strains may be present in the heterofermentative stage of sauerkraut fermentation. The microbial ecology of sauerkraut fermentation appears to be more complex than previously indicated, and the prevalence and roles of L. fallax require further investigation.

Brassica↗

DNA amplification polymorphisms of Mucor piriformis.

Mucor piriformis can cause postharvest decay in various fruits and vegetables stored at low temperatures. Thirty isolates of this fungus, collected from infected fruit, were subjected to random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Seven different 10-bp primers were used to determine the type and extent of intraspecific genetic polymorphisms. Nineteen composite amplification types were identified, indicating a higher degree of variability than found in previous isoenzyme studies. Numerical analysis with the UPGMA technique revealed three clusters, which correlated with the mating competency of the isolates or their place of origin. These results demonstrate that RAPD analysis can identify isolates and subspecific populations of M. piriformis.

DNA Primers↗

Clonal expansion of Staphylococcus epidermidis strains causing Hickman catheter-related infections in a hemato-oncologic department.

The detailed analysis of 411 strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) obtained from 40 neutropenic hemato-oncologic patients (61 Hickman catheter episodes) on intensive chemotherapy is described. By random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis, a total of 88 different genotypes were detected: 51 in air samples and 30 in skin cultures prior to insertion, 12 in blood cultures after insertion, and only 5 involved in catheter-related infections (CRI). Two RAPD genotypes of Staphylococcus epidermidis predominated, and their prevalence increased during patient hospitalization. At insertion, these clones constituted 11 of 86 (13%) CoNS isolated from air samples and 33 of 75 (44%) CoNS isolated from skin cultures. After insertion, their combined prevalence increased to 33 of 62 (53%) in catheters not associated with CRI and 139 of 188 (74%) in catheters associated with CRI (P = 0.0041). These two predominant S. epidermidis clones gave rise to a very high incidence of CRI (6.0 per 1,000 catheter days) and a very high catheter removal rate for CRI, 70%, despite prompt treatment with vancomycin. A likely source of S. epidermidis strains involved in CRI appeared to be the skin flora in 75% of cases. The validity of these observations was confirmed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of SmaI DNA macrorestriction fragments of blood culture CoNS isolates. Again, two predominant CoNS genotypes were found (combined prevalence, 60%). RAPD and PFGE yielded concordant results in 75% of cases. Retrospectively, the same two predominant CoNS clones were also found among blood culture CoNS isolates from the same hematology department in the period 1991 to 1993 (combined prevalence, 42%) but not in the period 1978 to 1982. These observations underscore the pathogenic potential of clonal CoNS types that have successfully and persistently colonized patients in this hemato-oncology department.

Air Microbiology↗

Use of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA as a means of developing genus- and strain-specific Streptomyces DNA probes.

We have analyzed 20 randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers against 36 Streptomyces strains, including 17 taxonomically undefined strains, 25 nonstreptomycete actinomycetes, and 12 outgroups consisting of gram-positive and -negative species. Most of the primers were useful in identifying unique DNA polymorphisms of all strains tested. We have used RAPD techniques to develop a genus-specific probe, one not necessarily targeting the ribosomal gene, for Streptomyces, and a strain-specific probe for the biological control agent Streptomyces lydicus WYEC108. In the course of these investigations, small-scale DNA isolations were also developed for efficiently isolating actinomycete DNA. Various modifications of isolation procedures for soil DNA were compared, and the reliability and specificity of the RAPD methodology were tested by specifically detecting the S. lydicus WYEC108 in DNA isolated from soil.

Blotting, Southern↗