The utility of the PCR melting profile technique for typing Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolates. (5th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zasada, A. A.; Formińska, K.; Wołkowicz, T.; Badell, E.; Guiso, N.
• Is Part Of: Letters in applied microbiology. Volume 59:Number 3(2014:Sep.)
• Page Start: 292
• Page End: 298
• Publication Date: 2014-05-05
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 660.62
• DOI: 10.1111/lam.12274
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-8254

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="lam12274-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="lam12274-sec-0101" sec-type="section"> <p>Selection of appropriate typing method depends on a number of factors, including the scale of the investigation, the rapidity required of the results and the financial and technical resources available. Several typing methods have been applied to <italic>Corynebacterium diphtheriae</italic> genotyping, but most are laborious and time‐consuming or require expensive equipment. We report an evaluation of the utility of the PCR melting profile technique for simple and easy‐to‐perform genotyping of <italic>C. diphtheriae</italic>. We compared the method with ribotyping—the 'gold standard' for <italic>C. diphtheriae</italic> typing—and PFGE, MLST, AFLP, RAPD and spoligotyping.</p> </sec> <sec id="lam12274-sec-0102" sec-type="section"> <title>Significance and Impact of the Study</title> <p>Occurrence of <italic>Corynebacterium diphtheriae</italic> infections—in the form of diphtheria in endemic countries and in the form of invasive infections in countries with high antidiphtheria vaccination coverage—indicates the need for maintenance of ability to genotype this pathogen by laboratories. Application of an appropriate typing method is essential not only in outbreak investigations for understanding and predicting epidemics but also in monitoring of the evolution and spread of epidemic clones of <italic>C. diphtheriae</italic>. The PCR melting profile method presented in the study is a good alternative for <italic>C. diphtheriae</italic> typing.</p> </sec> </abstract>