Open AccessComparative analysis of Borrelia isolates from southeastern USA based on randomly amplified polymorphic DNA fingerprint and 16S ribosomal gene sequence analyses
Author(s) -
Lin Tao,
Oliver James H,
Gao Lihui
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1016/s0378-1097(03)00763-8
Subject(s) - 16s ribosomal rna , biology , genetics , borrelia , ribosomal dna , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , gene sequence , sequence analysis , ribosomal rna , polymerase chain reaction , dna profiling , dna sequencing , dna , borrelia burgdorferi , phylogenetics , antibody
Fifty‐three southern USA Borrelia isolates were characterized using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA fingerprinting analysis (RAPD). Twenty‐nine types were recognized among 37 B. andersonii strains, seven types among eight B. bissettii strains, and seven types among seven B. burgdorferi sensu stricto strains. Strain TXW‐1 formed a separate RAPD type. Nearly complete sequences of the rrs genes from 17 representative southern Borrelia were determined. The similarity values were found to be 96–100% within the B. burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex, 94–99% among the relapsing fever borreliae, and 93–99% between the two complexes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that all the Borrelia strains we analyzed could be divided into two parts: the B. burgdorferi s.l. complex and the relapsing fever borreliae complex. TXW‐1 segregated with the North American relapsing fever borreliae and formed a separate subbranch.