圈养大熊猫肠道乳酸菌分离及益生特性

【背景】大熊猫数量稀少、繁殖困难,在其生长过程中极易感染消化系统疾病甚至死亡。【目的】分析圈养大熊猫肠道可培养乳酸菌的群落结构与功能,筛选具有益生特性的乳酸菌菌株,为大熊猫消化系统疾病的预防和肠道微生物研究提供理论参考及菌种资源。【方法】采用3种培养基分离大熊猫粪便中的乳酸菌,通过革兰氏染色镜检和过氧化氢试验对分离的菌株进行初步鉴定,基于BOXA1R-PCR图谱遗传多样性选取代表菌株进行16S rRNA基因测序分析并进行主成分分析(principal component analysis, PCA),同时分析乳酸菌菌株安全性和益生特性。【结果】通过初步鉴定共分离获得58株乳酸菌,根据BOXA1R-PCR结果挑选20株菌进行测序,结果显示20株菌分属于明串珠菌属(Leuconostoc)、肠球菌属(Enterococcus)、魏斯氏菌属(Weissella)和链球菌属(Streptococcus)这4个属,主成分分析结果表明不同年龄段的大熊猫肠道乳酸菌群落结构存在差异。20株乳酸菌均不溶血,17株乳酸菌对11种抗生素均敏感;11株菌耐pH值2.0酸性条件,14株菌对0.3%的胆盐具有良好...     

重复序列PCR(rep-PCR)指纹分析技术在病原真菌鉴定和分型中的应用

随着医学科学的发展及人们对深部真菌感染的重视,越来越多的新技术用于临床真菌的检测和鉴定。重复序列PCR(rep-PCR)指纹分析技术因其高分辨力、快速、简便、经济等优势,已成为分析真菌基因组、明确菌属间克隆来源的重要方法。本文就rep-PCR指纹技术及其自动化DiversiLab System在病原真菌分类鉴定和流行病学研究中的应用加以综述。     

鄱阳湖-乐安河段湿地耐Cu、Zn、Pb植物促生菌的分离、筛选及鉴定

【背景】植物促生菌因其对植物生长促进及增强抗逆性等优点在植物-微生物联合修复重金属污染土壤中具有良好应用潜力。在污染土壤中,土著植物促生菌能够更好地定殖并保证促植物生长能力的发挥。【目的】从常年受上游多种重金属污染的鄱阳湖-乐安河段湿地分离出一批具有多种重金属抗性的优势土著植物促生菌,以期为植物-微生物联合修复重金属污染湿地提供一批优质的菌种资源。【方法】从乐安河流域戴村受重金属污染的湿地土壤及水体中分离具有Cu、Zn、Pb抗性菌株,测定菌株的促植物生长特性[产IAA(Indole acetic acid)、溶磷、产铁载体及ACC(1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid)脱氨酶活性],挑选促生特性较好的菌株进行16S r RNA基因序列分析鉴定,并测定菌株对其他胁迫条件(抗生素、酸碱、盐)的耐受能力。【结果】分离得到22株能够同时耐受Cu 50 mg/L、Zn 400 mg/L、Pb 800 mg/L的菌株,其中10株表现出较好的促植物生长特性,对其进行16S r RNA基因序列分析鉴定,有4株属于Ralstonia sp.,3株属于Burkholderia sp.,另3株则分别属于Cupriavidus sp.、Stenotrophomonas sp.和Novosphingobium sp.。基于这10株菌抗性特征的聚类分析及主成分分析,结果与系统发育树分析结果高度一致。【结论】耐受多种重金属的土著植物促生菌的分离鉴定为重金属污染土壤的植物-微生物联合原位修复提供良好的微生物资源。     

基于16S rRNA基因和细菌基因组间重复序列的DNA指纹图谱技术对肝硬化大鼠肝移植后肠道菌群多样性的研究

目的应用PCR-DGGE和rep-PCR技术对肝硬化大鼠肝移植后肠道菌群多样性进行研究,探讨肠道菌群多样性的变化,并比较这两种方法在菌群分析中的作用。方法首先建立CCL4诱导肝硬化大鼠的肝移植模型,收取对照组、肝硬化成模时、肝移植后7 d和肝移植后30 d的大鼠粪便,提取细菌基因组DNA,采用PCR-DGGE和rep-PCR[BOX-PCR,ERIC-PCR,ERIC2-PCR,(GTG)5-PCR,REP-PCR]进行DNA指纹图谱分析。结果PCR-DGGE可明确将正常大鼠、肝硬化大鼠、肝移植大鼠分为3个簇,并显示出肝硬化、肝移植大鼠肠道菌群多样性明显增多。rep-PCR技术也可将各组分开,其中ERIC-PCR、ERIC2-PCR及REP-PCR三者扩增条带各组差异有显著性,鉴别效果更好。结论应用基于16S rRNA基因和细菌基因组间重复序列的指纹图谱技术对肝硬化大鼠肝移植后肠道微生态的研究具有重要价值,可对临床肝硬化、肝移植患者肠道微生态制剂的使用起到指导作用。     

栓菌Trametes sp. G048的化学成分研究

从栓菌属真菌Trametes sp. G048的发酵液和菌丝体中分离并鉴定出6个化合物,经波谱数据分析分别鉴定为isodrimenediol diacetate(1)i、sodrimenediol 2-acetate(2)、脑苷脂D(3)、麦角甾醇(4)、过氧化麦角甾醇(5)和啤酒甾醇(6)。其中化合物1和2为新的天然产物。     

高效液相色谱法测定红树林放线菌DNA的[G+C)mol%含量

应用高效液相色谱法测定了放线菌的(G+C)mol%,并就有关分析条件和DNA水解条件进行了优化选择.以Escherichia.coli DH5α作为标准菌株,实验室分离鉴定的8株红树林放线菌作为待测菌株,采用流动相为20 mmol/L KH2PO4缓冲液(pH 5.6)∶甲醇(体积比90∶10),检测波长为260 nm,硫速为1 ml/min,柱温为35℃,分析时间15 min对4种碱基进行分离.结果表明:标准碱基溶液的pH值、流动相的组成和pH值是影响各碱基色谱峰分离和峰形的主要因素.在优化选择的条件下测定,DNA碱基分离效果好,无杂峰干扰,以峰面积计算得到标准菌株Escherichia coli DH5 α的(G+C)mol%为54.9694%与已经报道的差异不显著;待测菌株的(G+C)mol%均在菌株所在科或属下的(G+C)mol%围内;采用酸水解放线菌的DNA可缩短鉴定时间,步骤简明.实验结果充分显示高效液相色谱法测定放线菌(G+C)mol%快速、准确、结果稳定,是放线菌分类鉴定的一种可靠方法.     

新疆额尔齐斯河流域冷水鱼肠道耐低温乳酸菌的分离筛选及其遗传差异

[目的]从新疆阿勒泰地区额尔齐斯河流域冷水鱼肠道中分离耐低温的乳酸菌,挖掘乳酸菌的物种和遗传多样性,为低温乳酸菌生物技术研发提供优良菌种.[方法]利用MRS、Elliker两种不同培养基从9种冷水鱼肠道中,分离筛选出耐低温菌,测定细菌最适生长温度并进行常规生理生化实验.根据16S rRNA基因序列初步确定耐低温菌的系统进化地位,并采用BOX、(GTG)5、ERIC三种不同的引物进行rep-PCR,对16S rRNA基因高度同源性的菌株进一步区分.[结果]分离得到78株耐冷菌,最终确定有24株为耐低温乳酸菌,菌株的最适生长温度在15-24℃之间.系统发育分析结果表明:24株耐低温乳酸菌隶属于6个属,其中肉杆菌属(Carnobacterium)3株,乳球菌属(Lactococcus)9株,肠球菌属(Enterococcus)7株,环丝菌属(Brochothrix)1株,魏斯氏菌属(Weissella)2株,链球菌属(Streptococcus)2株.指纹图谱聚类分析树状图显示乳球菌属(Lactococcus)和肠球菌属(Enterococcus)存在种及菌株水平上的遗传差异,前者包括4个种,后者2个种.[结论]新疆额尔齐斯河流域冷水鱼肠道中分离的耐低温乳酸菌以球菌为主,没分离到常见的乳杆菌,需进一步完善分离培养的方法,深入挖掘和研究其物种多样性和遗传多样性.     

(GTG)5探针产生的DNA指纹图在近交系小鼠遗传检测中的应用

目的探讨用非放射性标记的寡聚核苷酸探针(GTG)5进行近交系小鼠的DNA指纹分析。方法用非放射性标记的寡聚核苷酸探针(GTG)5制作BALB/c、C57BL/6J、DBA/2、C3H近交系小鼠的DNA指纹图,对这四个品系的小鼠进行遗传检测,分析各品系内和品系间的遗传变异性。结果(GTG)5探针可产生具有良好多态性的DNA指纹图,平均图带数为8~12条。各品系内的DNA指纹图平均相似系数(-x)在0.96~1.00的范围内,具有相同指纹图的概率(P)均在3.1×10-1以上,极显著地高于品系间的相似系数(0.22~0.39)和相同指纹图的概率(P<1.07×10-4)。结论(GTG)5可用于制作近交系小鼠的DNA指纹图以对其进行遗传检测。     

格特隐球菌在河北地区引起1例脑膜炎的临床与实验研究

目的报道1例我国河北地区由格特隐球菌引起的脑膜炎,并对该菌进行试验研究。方法将分离自患者脑脊液中的隐球菌分别接种于Chromagar显色培养基和刀豆氨酸-甘氨酸-溴麝香草酚蓝(CGB)培养基35℃培养,使用API 20C AUX、全自动微生物鉴定仪Vitek 2 Compact、生物梅里埃基质辅助激光解析电离飞行时间质谱分析(MALDI-TOF MS)、r DNA ITS和IGS序列分析等方法对该菌进行菌种鉴定,并使用ATB FUNGUS 3进行抗真菌药敏试验。结果该菌在显色培养基上35℃培养48 h后为白色略带粉色菌落,在CGB培养基35℃培养5 d后使CGB培养基由黄色变为蓝色。API 20C AUX、Vitek 2 Compact和MALDI-TOF MS的鉴定结果均为新生隐球菌,r DNA ITS和IGS序列分析均提示该菌为格特隐球菌。5-氟胞嘧啶、两性霉素B、氟康唑、伊曲康唑、伏立康唑对该菌的最小抑菌浓度分别是≤4μg/m L、≤0.5μg/m L、≤1μg/m L、≤0.125μg/m L、≤0.06μg/m L。结论 CGB培养基、r DNA ITS和IGS序列分析能够区分新生隐球菌和格特隐球菌,应重视格特隐球菌的分离鉴定。     

DNA分析与扩增

921624通过随机扩增多态ONA试验快速鉴定小球腔菌属的遗传变异和病变型〔英〕/G。。dwin,P.H.一,Appl.Environ.Mierobiol一1991,57(9)一2452~2456〔译自DBA,1991,10(22),91-13022〕 利用随机扩增多态DNA试验(RAPD)法鉴定T小球腔菌属Le尹亡05尹haer￡a“ac“忍a:s病变型及其遗传变异。通过随机十聚体 DNA引物进行聚合酶链反应扩增基因组DNA中的各种DNA型,鉴定出3组分离物。产生的多态现象为构建遗传图谱、进行DNA指纹鉴定提供了一便利途径。分离物1组含有毒病变型的所有分离物,2组含加拿大西部无毒病变型分离物,3组含安大略省…     

Application of Rep-PCR fingerprint in rapid identification of beer-spoilage bacteria

The application potential of rep-PCR in typing beer-spoilage isolates was studied. The effects of different factors, including DNA templates and primers, on the quality and reproducibility of fingerprints were investigated. The CATB protocol was shown to be the feasible method for DNA extraction. Primers BOXA1R and (GTG)₅ were used in rep-PCR, and the PCR products were sequenced to identify strains isolated from two breweries. Rep-PCR fingerprint profiles were obtained using GelCompar II software. Cluster analysis showed that the isolates belonging to Lactobacillus brevis, L. buchneri, L. casei/paracasei, and L. plantarum are divided into 2 or 3 subgroups. In addition, the two rep-PCR fingerprint profiles complemented each other in typing these isolates. By combining the similarity coefficient cut-off (SCC) of species, 9 unknown isolates were rapidly identified using both fingerprint databases. The results indicate that rep-PCR is a simple, reliable, and promising method for the rapid identification of beer-spoilage bacteria.     

Predicting Salmonella enterica serotypes by repetitive sequence-based PCR

Repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) utilizing a semi-automated system, was evaluated as a method to determine Salmonella serotypes. A group of 216 Salmonella isolates belonging to 13 frequently isolated serotypes and one rarer serotype from poultry were used to create a DNA fingerprint library with the DiversiLab System software. Subsequently, a blinded set of 44 poultry isolates were fingerprinted and queried against the library in an attempt to putatively assign a serotype designation to each Salmonella isolate. The query isolates were previously typed employing standard serological techniques. Utilizing pair-wise similarity percentages as calculated by the Pearson correlation coefficient, the predicted serotype of 28 isolates matched the serological typing result. For eight isolates, rep-PCR results were interpreted as one of two very closely-related serotypes, Hadar and the rarer Istanbul. Traditional serological assays have difficulty distinguishing between these groups, and sequencing interspacer regions of the rrfH gene was unable to differentiate among isolates of these two serovars. Six of the remaining isolates resulted in no match to the database (similarity values <95%) and these indeed proved to be serotypes not included in the original library. The two remaining samples proved discrepant at the 95% similarity threshold, however examination of electropherograms clearly indicated fingerprint variability between query and library samples, suggesting an expanded rep-PCR library will be necessary for increased utility. Since serological assays can take several days to weeks to provide information, the DiversiLab System holds promise for more rapid serotype classification for members of this group.     

Sample size, library composition, and genotypic diversity among natural populations of Escherichia coli from different animals influence accuracy of determining sources of fecal pollution

A horizontal, fluorophore-enhanced, repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR (rep-PCR) DNA fingerprinting technique (HFERP) was developed and evaluated as a means to differentiate human from animal sources of Escherichia coli. Box A1R primers and PCR were used to generate 2,466 rep-PCR and 1,531 HFERP DNA fingerprints from E. coli strains isolated from fecal material from known human and 12 animal sources: dogs, cats, horses, deer, geese, ducks, chickens, turkeys, cows, pigs, goats, and sheep. HFERP DNA fingerprinting reduced within-gel grouping of DNA fingerprints and improved alignment of DNA fingerprints between gels, relative to that achieved using rep-PCR DNA fingerprinting. Jackknife analysis of the complete rep-PCR DNA fingerprint library, done using Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient, indicated that animal and human isolates were assigned to the correct source groups with an 82.2% average rate of correct classification. However, when only unique isolates were examined, isolates from a single animal having a unique DNA fingerprint, Jackknife analysis showed that isolates were assigned to the correct source groups with a 60.5% average rate of correct classification. The percentages of correctly classified isolates were about 15 and 17% greater for rep-PCR and HFERP, respectively, when analyses were done using the curve-based Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient, rather than the band-based Jaccard algorithm. Rarefaction analysis indicated that, despite the relatively large size of the known-source database, genetic diversity in E. coli was very great and is most likely accounting for our inability to correctly classify many environmental E. coli isolates. Our data indicate that removal of duplicate genotypes within DNA fingerprint libraries, increased database size, proper methods of statistical analysis, and correct alignment of band data within and between gels improve the accuracy of microbial source tracking methods.     

Comparison of a semi-automated rep-PCR system and multilocus sequence typing for differentiation of Salmonella enterica isolates

The accurate sub-typing of Salmonella enterica isolates is essential for epidemiological investigations and surveillance of Salmonella infections. Salmonella isolates are currently identified using the Kauffman-White serotyping scheme. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) schemes have been developed for the major bacterial pathogens including Salmonella and have assisted in understanding the molecular epidemiology and population biology of these organisms. Recently, the DiversiLab rep-PCR system has been developed using micro-fluidic chips to provide standardized, semi-automated fingerprinting for pathogens including S. enterica. In the current study, 71 isolates of S. enterica, representing 21 serovars, were analyzed using MLST and the DiversiLab rep-PCR system. MLST was able to identify 31 sequence types (STs), while the DiversiLab system revealed 38 DiversiLab types (DTs). The rep-PCR distinguished isolates of different serovars and showed greater discriminatory power (0.95) than MLST typing (0.89). Rep-PCR exhibited 92% concordance with MLST and 90% with serotyping, while the concordance level of MLST typing with serotyping was 96%, representing a strong association. Comparison of rep-PCR profiles with those held in an online library database led to the accurate prediction of serovar in 63% of cases and resulted in inaccurate predictions for 10% of profiles. MLST and the rep-PCR system may provide useful additional informative techniques for the molecular identification of S. enterica. We conclude that the DiversiLab rep-PCR system may provide a rapid (less than 4 h) and standardized method for sub-typing isolates of S. enterica.     

Genetic distinctions among clinical and environmental strains of Vibrio vulnificus

Vibrio vulnificus causes rare but frequently fatal septicemia associated with raw oyster consumption by persons with underlying hepatic or immune system dysfunction. The virulence potential of environmental reservoirs appears widely distributed, because most strains are virulent in animal models; however, several investigations recently demonstrated genetic divergence among strains from clinical versus environmental origin at independent genetic loci. The present study used PCR to screen DNA polymorphisms in strains from environmental (n = 35) or clinical (n = 33) sources, and genomic relationships were determined by repetitive extragenic palindromic DNA PCR (rep-PCR) typing. Significant (P < 0.01) association was observed for typical "clinical" or "environmental" polymorphism profiles based on strain origin. Most oyster isolates (88%), including all of those with the "environmental" profile, also formed a single rep-PCR genogroup. Clinical isolates within this group did not have the typical "clinical" profile. On the other hand, clinical isolates with the typical polymorphism profile were distributed among multiple rep-PCR genogroups, demonstrating greater genetic diversity than was evident by profiling genetic polymorphisms. Wound isolates were genetically distinct from typical blood isolates by all assays. Strains from an outbreak of wound infections in Israel (biotype 3) were closely related to several U.S. strains by rep-PCR, indicating potential reservoirs of emerging disease. Strains genetically related to blood isolates appeared to be relatively rare in oysters, as only one had the "clinical" polymorphism profile or clustered by rep-PCR. However, this study was not an extensive survey, and more sampling using rep-PCR for sensitive genetic discrimination is needed to determine the virulence potential of environmental reservoirs.     

Bacteriocin Typing of Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) solanacearum Race 1 of the French West Indies and Correlation with Genomic Variation of the Pathogen

Burkholderia solanacearum race 1 isolates indigenous to the French West Indies were characterized by bacteriocin typing and two genomic fingerprinting methods: pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of genomic DNA digested by rare-cutting restriction endonucleases (RC-PFGE) and PCR with primers corresponding to repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP), enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC), and BOX elements (collectively known as rep-PCR). The survey comprised 24 reference strains and 65 isolates obtained from a field trial in Guadeloupe in 1993. Comparison of the data identified RC-PFGE as the most discriminatory method, delineating 17 pulsed-field gel profile types. rep-PCR and bacteriocin typing identified nine rep-PCR profile types and nine bacteriocin groups. Independent determination of similarity coefficients and clustering of RC-PFGE and rep-PCR data identified six groups common to both sets of data that correlated to biovar and bacteriocin groups. Further study of bacteriocin production in planta gave results consistent with in vitro bacteriocin typing. It was observed that spontaneous bacteriocin-resistant mutants exhibited a cross-resistance to other bacteriocins as identified by the typing scheme and that such mutants possessed a selective advantage for growth over isogenic nonmutants in the presence of a bacteriocin. The results are significant in the search for biological control of disease by nonpathogenic mutants of the wild-type organism.     

Genomic fingerprinting of Bradyrhizobium japonicum isolates by RAPD and rep-PCR

Genetic diversity of indigenous Bradyrhizobium japonicum population in Croatia was studied by using different PCR-based fingerprinting methods. Characteristic DNA profiles for 20 B. japonicum field isolates and two reference strains were obtained using random primers (RAPD) and two sets of repetitive primers (REP- and ERIC-PCR). In comparison with the REP, the ERIC primer set generates fingerprints of lower complexity, but still several strain-specific bands were detected. Different B. japonicum isolates could be more efficiently distinguished by using combined results from REP- and ERIC-PCR. The most polymorphic bands were observed after amplification with four different RAPD primers. Both methods, RAPD and rep-PCR, resulted in identical grouping of the strains. Cluster analysis, irrespective of the fingerprinting method used, revealed that all the isolates could be divided into three major groups. Within the major groups, the degree of relative similarity between B. japonicum isolates was dependent upon the method used. Our results indicate that both RAPD and rep-PCR fingerprinting can effectively distinguish different B. japonicum strains. RAPD fingerprinting proved to be slightly more discriminatory than rep-PCR.     

Subtyping of foodborne and environmental isolates of Escherichia coli by multiplex-PCR,rep-PCR,PFGE, ribotyping and AFLP

A total of 54 isolates were characterized by multiplex-PCR for toxin genes and genotyped using several DNA fingerprinting methods: using repetitive extragenic palindromes (REP) and Box primers (rep-PCR), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and ribotyping. The known-pathogenic strains tested were from food and clinical samples (34 strains) and included serovars O157:H7, O111:H8, O111:H11, O91:H21 and O55:H7. Two type cultures, Escherichia coli K12 (ATCC 29425) and DUP-101 (ATCC 51739), were included as known non-pathogenic strains and an additional 17 previously unclassified isolates from animal fecal samples. Comparisons of genomic DNA fingerprint patterns using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis of Jaccard similarity indices indicated that all methods tested showed a greater similarity between the E. coli O157:H7 strains than to other isolates. On the basis of these studies, we propose that AFLP, REP-PCR, Box-PCR and ribotyping techniques can all be used for discriminating O157:H7 isolates and are preferred for large-scale screening because of the speed and ease of the methods. The PFGE method is the best to discriminate between subtypes of O157:H7 associated with specific outbreak investigations; however, it is more time consuming and unnecessary if subtyping is not required. There are differences between the dendrograms generated from each method and the relationship between the other strains analyzed. However, the fingerprint profiles of the O157:H7 isolates were virtually identical using REP-PCR and Box-PCR enabling easy distinction of the group. Thus, these typing methods have the potential to aid investigators in identifying the source of an outbreak to prevent or control further spread of E. coli O157:H7.     

Optimization of analytical parameters for inferring relationships among Escherichia coli isolates from repetitive-element PCR by maximizing correspondence with multilocus sequence typing data

Repetitive-element PCR (rep-PCR) is a method for genotyping bacteria based on the selective amplification of repetitive genetic elements dispersed throughout bacterial chromosomes. The method has great potential for large-scale epidemiological studies because of its speed and simplicity; however, objective guidelines for inferring relationships among bacterial isolates from rep-PCR data are lacking. We used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) as a "gold standard" to optimize the analytical parameters for inferring relationships among Escherichia coli isolates from rep-PCR data. We chose 12 isolates from a large database to represent a wide range of pairwise genetic distances, based on the initial evaluation of their rep-PCR fingerprints. We conducted MLST with these same isolates and systematically varied the analytical parameters to maximize the correspondence between the relationships inferred from rep-PCR and those inferred from MLST. Methods that compared the shapes of densitometric profiles ("curve-based" methods) yielded consistently higher correspondence values between data types than did methods that calculated indices of similarity based on shared and different bands (maximum correspondences of 84.5% and 80.3%, respectively). Curve-based methods were also markedly more robust in accommodating variations in user-specified analytical parameter values than were "band-sharing coefficient" methods, and they enhanced the reproducibility of rep-PCR. Phylogenetic analyses of rep-PCR data yielded trees with high topological correspondence to trees based on MLST and high statistical support for major clades. These results indicate that rep-PCR yields accurate information for inferring relationships among E. coli isolates and that accuracy can be enhanced with the use of analytical methods that consider the shapes of densitometric profiles.     

Longitudinal analysis of the temporal evolution of Acinetobacter baumannii strains in Ohio, USA, by using rapid automated typing methods

Genotyping methods are essential to understand the transmission dynamics of Acinetobacter baumannii. We examined the representative genotypes of A. baumannii at different time periods in select locations in Ohio, using two rapid automated typing methods: PCR coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS), a form of multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and repetitive-sequence-based-PCR (rep-PCR). Our analysis included 122 isolates from 4 referral hospital systems, in 2 urban areas of Ohio. These isolates were associated with outbreaks at 3 different time periods (1996, 2000 and 2005-2007). Type assignments of PCR/ESI-MS and rep-PCR were compared to each other and to worldwide (WW) clone types. The discriminatory power of each method was determined using the Simpson's index of diversity (DI). We observed that PCR/ESI-MS sequence type (ST) 14, corresponding to WW clone 3, predominated in 1996, whereas ST 12 and 14 co-existed in the intermediate period (2000) and ST 10 and 12, belonging to WW clone 2, predominated more recently in 2007. The shift from WW clone 3 to WW clone 2 was accompanied by an increase in carbapenem resistance. The DI was approximately 0.74 for PCR/ESI-MS, 0.88 for rep-PCR and 0.90 for the combination of both typing methods. We conclude that combining rapid automated typing methods such as PCR/ESI-MS and rep-PCR serves to optimally characterize the regional molecular epidemiology of A. baumannii. Our data also sheds light on the changing sequence types in an 11 year period in Northeast Ohio.