Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing of Hafnia alvei isolated from chub-packed and retail ground beef

Thirty-eight isolates of Hafnia alvei were characterized by biochemical profiles, ribotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns. The isolates were recovered from chub-packed (19 isolates) or retail (nine isolates) ground beef, or were obtained from culture repositories (10 isolates). Biochemical profiling differentiated the 38 isolates into five groups and a commercial ribotyping method recognized 11 groups, whereas PFGE differentiated the same 38 isolates into 19 groups. These data substantiate that PFGE is a highly discriminatory tool for establishing the relatedness among Hafnia alvei strains.     

Phylogeny, ribosomal RNA gene typing and relative abundance of new Pseudomonas species (sensu stricto) isolated from two pinyon-juniper woodland soils of the arid southwest U.S.

Rhizosphere-inhabiting Pseudomonas species interact with plant roots and may be important for plant performance under stressful environmental conditions. A comparison was conducted of culturable Pseudomonas isolates associated with pinyon rhizosphere and between-tree interspace areas in a hot, dry, volcanic cinder field and an adjacent sandy loam soil, in order to identify Pseudomonas species which may be involved in pinyon pine survival under stressful conditions. From a collection of 800 isolates, eleven isolates exhibiting different colony morphology were selected for 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of rDNA sequences from the eleven field isolates, forty-six described Pseudomonas species, and thirty-four previously characterized environmental isolates indicated that the isolates from the cinders and sandy loam soil clustered into three groups. The field isolates were distinct from any of the named species or other environmental isolates. Oligonucleotide primer pairs that differentiated three field isolate groups were designed from the 16S rDNA sequences, and eight hundred Pseudomonas field isolates cultured from pinyon rhizospheres and interspaces in the cinders and sandy loam soils were typed into the three groups using PCR assays. The composition of Pseudomonas populations in four environments was significantly different. The relative abundance of the three rDNA-based groups appeared to be affected by both the soil type and the pinyon rhizosphere.     

The use of ribotyping and antibiotic resistance patterns for identification of host sources of Escherichia coli strains

AIMS: To compare antibiotic resistance and ribotyping patterns ability to identify triplicate isolates sent from a group of 40 Escherichia coli taken from seven host sources. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of the 120 isolates, 22 isolates were resistant to ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline and trimethoprim and 98 isolates were susceptible. Antibiotic patterns identified 33 of the triplicates and three of the six groups had isolates from multiple hosts. Ribotyping divided the isolates into 27 ribotype groups with all triplicates grouped into the same ribotype group with one host per group. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic susceptibility pattern placed 98 of the isolates in a single group with 50% of the antibiotic susceptibility pattern groups containing multiple host species. Ribotyping groups were host specific with each host having one to seven ribotype groups. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Antibiotic susceptibility pattern groups have been used for environmental source identification and faecal pollution tracking, however these groups do not always distinguish between host species. Stability of the markers is a potential concern and this system can only be used if antibiotic resistance levels are high in the isolates studied. All isolates have a ribotype group which was stable and like other molecular methods has advantages over antibiotic susceptibility pattern groups which uses a phenotypic method.     

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis for sub-specific differentiation of Serpulina pilosicoli (formerly 'Anguillina coli')

Abstract Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was developed for subspecific differentiation of Serpulina pilosicoli , and was applied to 52 isolates recovered from cases of intestinal spirochaetosis (IS) in pigs, dogs, human beings and various avian species. The technique was highly sensitive, differentiating the isolates into 40 groupings. Only six groups contained more than one isolate; in five of these groups isolates with the same banding pattern were either from pigs in the same herds (four groups), or from humans in the same community: the sixth group contained two identical Australian porcine isolates from unrelated herds in different states. Overall S. pilosicoli isolates were genetically diverse, but in some cases isolates cultured from the same or different animal species were closely related. This suggested the likelihood of cross-species transmission, including zoonotic spread. PFGE was a powerful tool for epidemiological studies of S. pilosicoli and also allowed examination of genetic relationships between isolates.     

东北地区小麦赤霉病菌DNA随机扩增多态性分析*

利用RAPD对我国东北地区引致小麦赤霉病的2种镰刀菌进行种群分析,并与江苏和西北的菌株进行了比较。共筛选出16个引物用于扩增反应,其扩增图谱显示供试菌株在种间和种内均具多态性。多数引物扩增出了种的特征性谱带,可用作种的鉴定。综合所有谱带系统聚类所得树状图明显地将Fusarium graminearum的34个菌株和F.avenaceum的5个菌株各聚为一类,每一类又可区分为不同组,以前者分为3组,后者分为2组差异显著,表明种内存在不同的菌系类型;组的划分与菌株致病力及其寄主品种间没有必然的相关性,但与菌株分布的大区域生态气候类型似有联系,供试的东北地区F.graminearum大多数菌株与西北的菌系有较大的遗传相似性,与江苏的菌系相距甚远。     

基于β-微管蛋白基因部分序列探讨灵芝属菌株的亲缘关系

PCR分别扩增了38个灵芝属菌株的β-微管蛋白基因片段,并对PCR产物进行序列测定,得到419bp的一段核苷酸系列.根据MEGA 2.1软件中的neighbour-joining methods对上述序列进行聚类分析,结果所有供试菌株被分成9个聚类组.中国栽培灵芝菌株分布于6个聚类组,其中树舌亚属、紫芝组的菌株各自聚成一组,灵芝组的菌株分成四组,但大部分灵芝组菌株均聚于同一组, 这表明树舌亚属、紫芝组和灵芝组间的遗传差异较大,灵芝组内虽然存在着一定的遗传差异,但总体上亲缘关系比较近,遗传多样性并不丰富.同时,序列分析的结果显示,β-tubulin基因序列在第三位密码子和内含子部位有高的碱基替换率,这些变异提供了丰富的系统发育信息,提示β-tubulin基因适合于灵芝属菌株的亲缘关系研究.     

Serological and immunoelectrophoretic relationships among viruses in the tombusvirus group

Serological cross-reactions among eighteen virus isolates of the tombusvirus group were compared in precipitin tube and immunodiffusion serological tests. The isolates were also compared by immunoelectrophoresis in agar gel. Although precipitin tube tests showed considerable and reproducible differences between the various isolates, the results were too greatly affected by other factors to be of value in assessing strain relationships. When pairs of isolates were compared for spur formation in gel-diffusion tests, the results suggested that most isolates could be placed in one of two groups; one group comprised isolates from pelargonium (leaf curl), the other consisted of petunia asteroid mosaic virus and artichoke mottled crinkle virus isolates from Italy and tomato bushy stunt isolates from soil around this Institute and from cherry. Four isolates did not fall into either of these groups; they nearly always formed spurs when compared among themselves, or with viruses in either of the two groups. Pairs of isolates that could be distinguished from each other in spur-formation tests using antiserum homologous to one of them could not always be differentiated when antiserum heterologous to both isolates was used. Immunoelectrophoresis gave consistent results with several methods of virus preparation; it indicated grouping and separation of the isolates in general agreement with the results of gel-diffusion tests: all pelargonium leaf curl isolates were grouped together with slow migration towards the cathode. The petunia asteroid mosaic isolate and the isolates from cherry and from soil from this Institute (GCRI) moved slowly towards the anode. Tomato bushy stunt virus type strain migrated rapidly to the cathode, differing greatly from all other isolates. The method offers a relatively simple means of typing isolates of the tombusvirus group.     

Genetic relatedness of Bradyrhizobium japonicum field isolates as revealed by repeated sequences and various other characteristics.

Forty-nine isolates of Bradyrhizobium japonicum indigenous to a field where soybeans were grown for 45 years without inoculation were characterized by using four DNA hybridization probes from B. japonicum. nifDK-specific hybridization clearly divided the isolates into two divergent groups. Diversity in repeated-sequence (RS)-specific hybridization was observed; 44 isolates derived from 41 nodules were divided into 33 different RS fingerprint groups. Cluster analysis showed that the RS fingerprints were correlated with the nif and hup genotypes. We found multiple bands of RS-specific hybridization for two isolates that differed from the patterns of the other isolates. These results suggest that RS fingerprinting is a valuable tool for evaluating the genetic structure of indigenous B. japonicum populations.     

Differentiation of Coxiella burnetii isolates by sequence determination and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of isocitrate dehydrogenase gene

The isocitrate dehydrogenase (icd) gene of Coxiella burnetii was cloned and sequenced to differentiate between isolates with various geographic origins and phenotypic properties. Based on the gene sequences all 19 isolates studied could be divided into three groups. Group 1 contained isolates originating from acute cases of Q fever, ticks and cows. Groups 2 and 3 included isolates from chronic Q fever patients and a prototype strain from an aborted goat. Although the icd gene profiles were different among isolates of the latter two groups, there were two base differences common for both groups which could be used as markers to distinguish them from group 1 isolates. Based on one of the markers a simple method using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was developed for rapid differentiation of C. burnetii isolates as well as for direct detection and differentiation of the bacterium in human serum samples. Taken together, the study results suggest that the icd-based differentiation method may be useful in clinical investigation of Coxiella infections.     

Genetic relatedness of Bradyrhizobium japonicum field isolates as revealed by repeated sequences and various other characteristics.

Forty-nine isolates of Bradyrhizobium japonicum indigenous to a field where soybeans were grown for 45 years without inoculation were characterized by using four DNA hybridization probes from B. japonicum. nifDK-specific hybridization clearly divided the isolates into two divergent groups. Diversity in repeated-sequence (RS)-specific hybridization was observed; 44 isolates derived from 41 nodules were divided into 33 different RS fingerprint groups. Cluster analysis showed that the RS fingerprints were correlated with the nif and hup genotypes. We found multiple bands of RS-specific hybridization for two isolates that differed from the patterns of the other isolates. These results suggest that RS fingerprinting is a valuable tool for evaluating the genetic structure of indigenous B. japonicum populations.     

河北省西瓜枯萎病菌致病性分化及其RAMS分析

本文对50个西瓜枯萎病菌株,(其中46个来自河北省石家庄、保定、唐山等12个西瓜种植区的代表菌株)进行了致病性测定、RAMS(Random amplified microsatellites)扩增和致病类型与RAMS类群的相关性分析。根据鉴别寄主对不同菌株的抗感反应,将50个菌株划分为3个不同的生理小种,即0号、1号和2号生理小种,分别占供试菌株的18%、64%和18%;21个RAMS引物对供试菌株扩增出188条带,其中多态性带134条,占总带数的71%。基于RAMS标记聚类分析,50个菌株被划分为3个类群(RAMSGroups,RGs)。RGI包含来自不同地区的41个菌株,以1号生理小种为主(32个),占该类群的78.1%;RGII包括来自保定、唐山和新疆的3个菌株,均为0号生理小种;RGIII包括张家口、石家庄、保定等地的6个2号生理小种菌株。RAMS类群与生理小种之间存在一定相关性,与菌株的地理来源关系不明显。     

RAPD-PCR analysis of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bovine and human hosts

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important pathogens in humans and animals. In this study eighty strains were analyzed by RAPD-PCR to assess the genetic relationship between S. aureus isolates from bovine and human hosts. Results were compared with those obtained by biotyping. Fifty-two percent of the S. aureus isolates belonged to a host specific biotype (human, bovine and poultry). Bovine and human ecovars were the most prevalent. Dendrogram obtained by RAPD results showed that all the isolates clustered into eleven groups (A-K) at a relative genetic similarity of less than 30% when analyzed with the three primers. Group A clustered 95% of the human host isolates and the remaining groups (B-K) clustered the bovine host isolates. Principal coordinate analysis also showed that the isolates could be arbitrarily divided into two groups, bovine and human, by the second coordinate. Only 9 isolates (11%) were not clustered into these groups. The genetic diversity among the S. aureus isolates from bovine hosts is relatively low compared to that of isolates from human hosts. There were no statistically significant differences among isolated from bovine and human hosts. This study shows that RAPD-PCR assayed with three primers can be successfully applied to assess the genetic relationship of S. aureus isolates from different hosts.     

香蕉炭疽菌菌株亲缘关系的RAPD分析

应用筛选的8个Operon随机引物对供试菌株的DNA进行扩增,所产生的RAPD图谱揭示了香蕉炭疽菌具有丰富的种内遗传多样性。UPGMA聚类分析的结果表明：26个香蕉炭疽菌被分为两个与地理来源相关的RAPD聚类群,它们分别由广东菌株和海南菌株为主组成。在两个香蕉菌群的外侧,两个胶胞炭疽菌菌株聚为一个小的外群。这些结果表明香蕉炭疽菌存在有与地域相关的种下类群分化。     

香蕉炭疽菌菌株亲缘关系的RAPD分析*

应用筛选的8个Operon随机引物对供试菌株的DNA进行扩增,所产生的RAPD图谱揭示了香蕉炭疽菌具有丰富的种内遗传多样性。UPGMA聚类分析的结果表明：26个香蕉炭疽菌被分为两个与地理来源相关的RAPD聚类群,它们分别由广东菌株和海南菌株为主组成。在两个香蕉菌群的外侧,两个胶胞炭疽菌菌株聚为一个小的外群。这些结果表明香蕉炭疽菌存在有与地域相关的种下类群分化。     

Genetic and plasmid diversity within natural populations of Pseudomonas syringae with various exposures to copper and streptomycin bactericides.

We examined the genetic and plasmid diversity within natural populations of Pseudomonas syringae isolated from three ornamental pear nurseries in eastern Oklahoma. The bactericide spray regimen differed at each nursery; copper and streptomycin, only copper, and no bactericides were applied at nurseries I, II, and III respectively. Resistance to copper (Cur) and resistance to streptomycin (Smr) were determined for 1,938 isolates of P. syringae; isolates from nurseries I and II were generally Cur Sms; whereas most isolates from nursery III were Cus Sms. The plasmid profiles of 362 isolates were determined, and six, one, seven, and four plasmid profiles were obtained for Cur, Smr, Cur Smr, and Cus Sms isolates, respectively. All Smr plasmids contained sequences homologous to the strA and strB Smr genes from broad-host-range plasmid RSF1010 and were associated with Smr transposon Tn5393. Plasmids were placed into two groups on the basis of hybridization to the oriV and par sequences from pOSU900, a cryptic plasmid in P. syringae pv. syringae. A total of 100 randomly chosen P. syringae isolates from nurseries I and III were analyzed for genetic diversity by using the arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR) technique. An analysis of chromosomal genotypes by AP-PCR revealed a high degree of genetic diversity among the isolates, and the results of this analysis indicated that the isolates could be clustered into two distinct groups. The plasmid profiles were specific to isolates belonging to particular AP-PCR groups. Within each AP-PCR group, identical plasmid profiles were produced by isolates that had different chromosomal genotypes, implying that plasmid transfer has played an important role in the dissemination of Cur and Smr within the populations studied.     

Genetic diversity of rhizobia from Leucaena leucocephala nodules in Mexican soils

Leucaena species are leguminous plants native to Mexico. Using two L. leucocephala cultivars grown in different soils, we obtained 150 isolates from the nodules. Twelve rDNA types were identified which clustered into groups corresponding to Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium , and Sinorhizobium by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of amplified 16S rRNA genes. Types 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, and 12 were distinct from all the defined species. Others had patterns indistinguishable from some recognized species. Most of the isolates corresponded to Sinorhizobium . Forty-one electrophoretic types (ETs) were identified among the isolates based on the different combinations of electrophoretic patterns of 13 metabolic enzymes. ETs were clustered into groups in general agreement with the rDNA types. Diverse plasmid patterns were obtained among the isolates, but common plasmids were observed among most isolates within rDNA types 5, 10, and 11. The symbiotic plasmids were identified among most of the isolates, except for the Mesorhizobium isolates. The affinities of host cultivars for different rhizobial groups and the impact of soil cultivation on the soil populations of rhizobia were analysed from the estimation of isolation frequencies and diversity. The results showed differences in rhizobial populations in cultivated and uncultivated soils and also differences in rhizobia trapped by L. leucocephala cv. Cunningham or Peruvian.     

Genetic diversity of enzootic isolates of vesicular stomatitis virus New Jersey.

The RNA genomes of 43 vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) isolates of the New Jersey (NJ) serotype were T1-ribonuclease fingerprinted to compare the extent of genetic diversity of virus from regions of epizootic and enzootic disease activity. Forty of these viruses were obtained from Central America during 1982 to 1985. The other three were older isolates, including a 1970 isolate from Culex nigripalpus mosquitos in Guatemala, a 1960 bovine isolate from Panama, and a 1976 isolate from mosquitos (Mansonia indubitans) in Ecuador. The data indicate that extensive genetic diversity exists among virus isolates from this predominantly enzootic disease zone. Six distinct T1 fingerprint groups were identified for the Central American VSV NJ isolates from 1982 to 1985. The 1960 VSV NJ isolate from Panama and the 1976 isolate from Ecuador formed two additional distinct fingerprint groups. This finding is in sharp contrast to the relatively close genetic relationship existing among VSV NJ isolates obtained from predominantly epizootic disease areas of the United States and Mexico during the same period (S. T. Nichol, J. Virol. 61:1029-1036, 1987). In this previous study, RNA genome T1 fingerprint differences were observed among isolates from different epizootics; however, the isolates were all clearly members of one large T1 fingerprint group. The eight T1 fingerprint groups described here for Central American and Ecuadorian viruses are distinct from those characterized earlier for virus isolates from the United States and Mexico and for the common laboratory virus strains Ogden and Hazelhurst. Despite being isolated 14 years earlier, the 1970 insect isolate from Guatemala is clearly a member of one of the 1982 to 1985 Central American virus fingerprint groups. This indicates that although virus genetic diversity in the region is extensive, under certain natural conditions particular virus genotypes can be relatively stably maintained for an extended period. The implications of these findings for the evolution of VSV NJ and epizootiology of the disease are discussed.     

Differentiation of Coxiella burnetii isolates by analysis of restriction-endonuclease-digested DNA separated by SDS-PAGE.

Thirty-two isolates of Coxiella burnetii collected from various hosts ranging from arthropods to man were compared by restriction endonuclease (RE) digestion patterns of chromosomal DNA using SDS-PAGE. SDS-PAGE provided better DNA fragment separation than agarose gel electrophoresis and enabled the differentiation of these isolates into six distinct groups on the basis of DNA restriction fingerprints. Two groups of chronic disease isolates could be distinguished, each having unique RE digestion patterns of chromosomal DNA. Three similar but distinct RE digestion patterns were seen among the group of acute disease isolates. Three additional isolates included in this study exhibited a unique RE digestion pattern and also had a unique plasmid type, designated QpDG. DNA-DNA hybridization on selected isolates quantified the relatedness between several groups and supported the classification of these groups as distinct strains.     

Molecular evolution of the seventh-pandemic clone of Vibrio cholerae and its relationship to other pandemic and epidemic V. cholerae isolates.

Genetic variation and molecular evolution within the seventh-pandemic clone of Vibrio cholerae O1 and its relationship to other V. cholerae isolates were examined by studying 58 clinical isolates that were epidemiologically unassociated and isolated from patients in different countries over 62 years (1931 to 1993). The sample consisted of 45 isolates from the seventh cholera pandemic (1961 to the present), 3 from the sixth pandemic, 3 from sporadic El Tor outbreaks prior to the seventh pandemic, 2 from the U.S. Gulf Coast, and 5 O139 Bengal isolates. Ribotyping detected 11 polymorphic restriction sites within the seventh-pandemic isolates and showed major differences in ribotypes in comparison with sixth- and pre-seventh-pandemic isolates. O139 isolates were very similar to isolates from the start of the seventh pandemic, differing at only two sites. The majority of seventh-pandemic isolates fall into two groups, the first present from 1961 to the present and found only in Asia and the second arising in 1966 and spreading worldwide. Both groups underwent change over time, allowing a provisional estimate for the nucleotide substitution rate within the seventh pandemic clone.     

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of a geographically and temporally matched set of Candida albicans isolates from humans and nonmigratory wildlife in central Illinois

This study explored whether wildlife species serve as the reservoir for human Candida albicans strains in a given geographic area. C. albicans isolates were collected from nonmigratory wildlife admitted to the University of Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic. A geographically and temporally matched set of C. albicans oral isolates was collected from healthy human volunteers. Multilocus sequence typing was used to assign strains to genetic clades. Clade 1 isolates, particularly diploid sequence type 69 (DST 69), were most common in humans. Clade 1 strains were less frequently recovered from wildlife, while clade 8 strains, particularly DST 90, were overrepresented in the wildlife collection. All instances where a wildlife and human isolate shared the same DST occurred within clade 1. Clade distributions between human and wildlife isolates were significantly different, demonstrating population isolation between the groups. These differences may indicate limited strain transfer between groups or differential selection of C. albicans isolates in humans and wildlife. Wildlife strains had an amphotericin B MIC significantly lower than that of human isolates; strains with increased susceptibility were from several clades. C. albicans isolates were collected from domestic animals to provide comparisons with human and wildlife data sets. C. albicans isolation from canine and feline oral and anal swabs was infrequent; companion animal isolates were closely related to clade 1 human isolates. Collectively, the data suggest a greater likelihood of C. albicans transfer from humans to animals than from animals to humans. The nontransient human population may maintain the connection between geography and the C. albicans genetic groups recovered from humans.