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Updated: Aug 22, 2026
Multiplex PCR Assay for Typing of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Mec Types I to V in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Published on: September 5, 2013
Sequence-selective recognition of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase GES-2 by a competitive, peptide nucleic acid-based
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, P.O. Box 2034, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. gweldhagen@medic.up.ac.za
Abstract:
Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, such as GES-2, which compromises the efficacy of imipenem, tend to be geographically restricted. The CC-to-AA base pair substitution at positions 493 and 494 of the bla(GES-2)-coding region distinguishes this ESBL from bla(GES-1) and the bla(IBC)-type genes, making it an ideal target for the development of a novel sequence-specific, peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-based multiplex PCR detection method. By using two primer pairs in conjunction with a PNA probe, this method provided an accurate means of identification of bla(GES-2) compared to standard PCR and gene sequencing techniques when it was used to test 100 P. aeruginosa clinical isolates as well as previously published, well-described control strains encompassing all presently known genes in the bla(GES-IBC) ESBL family. This novel method has the potential to be used in large-scale, cost-effective screening programs for specific or geographically restricted ESBLs.
