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Multi-locus Variable-number Tandem-repeat Analysis of the Fish-pathogenic Bacterium Yersinia ruckeri by Multiplex PCR and Capillary Electrophoresis
Published on: June 17, 2019
Use of multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis in molecular subtyping of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi
Yung-Yen Tien1, Hiroshi Ushijima2, Masashi Mizuguchi3
1Department of International Trade, Tamkang University, New Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Abstract:
We evaluated 11 variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) markers for the epidemiological investigation of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) infection and compared the results to those obtained by PFGE. PFGE, using one or two restriction enzymes (XbaI and BlnI), was insufficient to differentiate between some isolates that were epidemiologically unlinked. Multilocus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA)-8, based on analysis of the eight most variable VNTRs, displayed a high level of discrimination when distinguishing between epidemiologically unlinked isolates that could not be discerned by PFGE with two enzymes. An MLVA-8 typing scheme could be implemented as a routine subtyping tool for the epidemiological investigation of S. Typhi infections. Because seven of the 11 VNTRs are highly variable, the VNTR markers may only be useful in determining genetic relationships among very closely related isolates in short-term epidemiological studies and not for discerning S. Typhi clones.
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