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Correlation between two DNA-based typing methods applied to Streptococcus pneumoniae strains: BOX-PCR assay as an
1Cantacuzino Institute, Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory, Bucharest, Romania.
Roumanian Archives of Microbiology and Immunology
|February 20, 2002
Summary
Molecular typing of Streptococcus pneumoniae using ribotyping and BOX-PCR revealed comparable discrimination capabilities. These methods effectively clustered pneumococcal strains, aiding in epidemiological studies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Streptococcus pneumoniae is a significant human pathogen.
- Accurate molecular typing methods are crucial for tracking pneumococcal strains and understanding transmission dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the discriminatory power of ribotyping and BOX-PCR for characterizing Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates.
- To assess the correlation between these two molecular typing techniques.
Main Methods:
- Seventy-nine Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates were analyzed using both ribotyping and BOX-PCR.
- Ribotyping involved DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis with HindIII and PvuII enzymes.
- BOX-PCR utilized the BoxA primer for amplification.
Main Results:
- Both ribotyping and BOX-PCR generated a high number of distinct patterns (54 ribotypes and 51 BoxA-PCR patterns).
- A close, though not absolute, correlation was observed between the two molecular techniques.
- The discrimination index for ribotyping, combining data from both enzymes, was calculated as D = 0.985, comparable to BOX-PCR.
Conclusions:
- Ribotyping and BOX-PCR are both highly effective molecular typing methods for Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- The genetic clustering deduced from both techniques was comparable, supporting their utility in epidemiological investigations.