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Simple Algorithm for Identification of Bordetella pertussis Pertactin Gene Variants
Gaëtan Muyldermans1, Denis Piérard, Nathalie Hoebrekx
1Belgian Reference Laboratory for Pertussis, Department of Microbiology, Academisch Ziekenhuis Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|April 9, 2004
Summary
A new, simple algorithm efficiently identifies Bordetella pertussis pertactin variants. This method aids in tracking pertussis strains not covered by current vaccines, crucial for public health surveillance.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Emergence of Bordetella pertussis strains with vaccine-escape variants (pertactin, pertussis toxin) is a global concern.
- Current methods for pertactin gene variant identification are time-consuming and costly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple, reliable, and scalable algorithm for typing Bordetella pertussis pertactin (prn) gene variants.
- To assess the algorithm's performance in identifying diverse prn types in clinical isolates.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel pertactin typing algorithm.
- Validation using representative Bordetella pertussis strains.
- Application of the algorithm to 231 clinical isolates from Belgium.
Main Results:
- The developed algorithm accurately identified all tested pertactin alleles.
- The assay demonstrated suitability for large-scale screening.
- The algorithm successfully identified less frequent prn types, such as prn9 and prn11, in Belgian clinical strains.
Conclusions:
- A simple and reliable pertactin typing algorithm has been established.
- This tool facilitates efficient surveillance of Bordetella pertussis strains with vaccine-escape variants.
- The algorithm is valuable for public health monitoring of pertussis epidemiology.