[Streptococcus agalactiae sak0192 gene contains direct repeats and spacers that are genetic markers for...

A new approach to differentiation of the Streptococcus agalactiae strains was suggested. The approach is based on the nucleotide polymorphism of the sak0192 gene containing variable number of 16 bp direct repeats and 44 bp spacer regions in different S. Agalactiae strains. In general, the direct repeats were identical, while the spacers were variable. Overall, the structure of the sak0192 gene of S. Agalactiae was analogous to direct repeat cluster of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Streptococcus pyogenes. The applicability of the sak0192 gene polymorphism as a novel genetic marker to identification of S. Agalactiae and differentiation of the strains was demonstrated.