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Intraspecies genomic groups in Enterococcus faecium and their correlation with origin and pathogenicity.
Marc Vancanneyt1, Angiolella Lombardi, Christian Andrighetto
1BCCM/LMG Bacteria Collection, Laboratory of Microbiology, University of Ghent, Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Marc.Vancanneyt@rug.ac.be
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
|March 2, 2002
Summary
Genomic analysis of Enterococcus faecium strains revealed two main groups. Group I strains, linked to clinical origins and vancomycin resistance, showed higher pathogenicity and bacteriocinogeny.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Enterococcus faecium is an opportunistic pathogen.
- Understanding E. faecium strain diversity is crucial for infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To genetically characterize Enterococcus faecium strains from diverse sources.
- To investigate potential correlations between genomic groups and strain characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR
- Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP)
- Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of SmaI restriction patterns
- DNA-DNA hybridization
Main Results:
- Two main genomic groups (I and II) were identified by RAPD-PCR and AFLP.
- DNA-DNA hybridization showed 71% reassociation between groups.
- PFGE revealed high genetic diversity within groups.
- Group I included clinical, vancomycin-resistant, and beta-hemolytic strains.
- Subclusters within Group I correlated with origin, pathogenicity, and bacteriocinogeny.
Conclusions:
- E. faecium strains exhibit significant genomic diversity.
- Genomic grouping can correlate with pathogenicity and origin, but host specificity was not confirmed.
- Phenotypic differentiation using the rapid ID 32 STREP system was not achieved between the main genomic groups.