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GyrA sequence-based typing of Legionella.
A Feddersen1, H G Meyer, P Matthes
1Institute of Medical Microbiology und Hygiene, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Germany. makowiec@mail.uni-mainz.de
Medical Microbiology and Immunology
|October 18, 2000
Summary
Analyzing the gyrA gene
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Legionella species cause significant human infections.
- Accurate typing methods are crucial for understanding Legionella epidemiology.
- Current typing methods like serotyping and PFGE have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate comparative sequence analysis of the gyrA gene's quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) as a novel typing method for Legionella.
- To assess its discriminatory power for identifying species, serogroups, and strains.
- To correlate QRDR sequence with in vitro quinolone resistance.
Main Methods:
- Comparative sequence analysis of a 423-bp gyrA gene fragment (including QRDR).
- Study included 29 reference Legionella strains (11 species) and 13 L. pneumophila clinical isolates.
- Comparison with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and serotyping for clinical isolates.
Main Results:
- QRDR sequencing demonstrated high discriminatory power for Legionella typing.
- The method successfully identified species, serogroups, and strains within serogroup 1.
- No quinolone resistance was observed in vitro, correlating with the absence of QRDR mutations.
Conclusions:
- Comparative sequence analysis of the gyrA QRDR is a valuable tool for Legionella typing beyond serogroup level.
- This method can identify species, serogroups, and strains.
- QRDR typing may be useful for detecting future quinolone resistance mutations in Legionella.