[Use of multiple locus variable number tandem repeats analysis for the Brucella systematization].

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Genetics
• Epidemiology

Context:

• Brucellosis remains a significant global health concern, necessitating precise methods for tracking bacterial strains.
• Strain-level differentiation is crucial for effective brucellosis control and epidemiological investigations.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the efficacy of multiple locus variable number tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) for molecular-genetic differentiation of Brucella strains.
• To assess the stability, discriminatory power, and concordance of MLVA with conventional phenotypic methods for Brucella identification.

Summary:

• MLVA successfully differentiated 26 Brucella strains, including reference, vaccine, and field isolates, across three pathogenic species.
• The analysis confirmed high locus stability and discriminatory power (HGDI 0.9969), with results aligning with phenotypic identification.
• A dendrogram revealed distinct clustering of Brucella strains by species and biovar, identifying 25 unique genotypes and highlighting a separate cluster for Australian rodent isolates.

Impact:

• MLVA is a powerful tool for the systematization of Brucella strains, including those with unresolved taxonomic status.
• The development of an MLVA genotype catalogue will enhance the brucellosis surveillance system in Russia.
• This molecular typing method supports accurate identification and tracking of Brucella species, contributing to better disease management.