Brucella 'HOOF-Prints': strain typing by multi-locus analysis of variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Currently, there are very few tools available for subtyping Brucella isolates for epidemiological trace-back. Subtyping is difficult because of the genetic homogeneity within the genus. Sequencing of the genomes from three Brucella species has facilitated the search for DNA sequence variability. Recently, hypervariability among short tandem repeat sequences has been exploited for strain-typing of several bacterial pathogens.

Results

An eight-base pair tandem repeat sequence was discovered in nine genomic loci of the B. abortus genome. Eight loci were hypervariable among the three Brucella species. A PCR-based method was developed to identify the number of repeat units (alleles) at each locus, generating strain-specific fingerprints. None of the loci exhibited spec

SUBMITTER: Bricker BJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC183870 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature