Open AccessVariation of the Polymorphic Region X of the Protein A Gene during Persistent Airway Infection of Cystic Fibrosis Patients Reflects Two Independent Mechanisms of Genetic Change in Staphylococcus aureus
Author(s) -
Barbara C. Kahl,
Alexander Mellmann,
Susanne Deiwick,
Georg Peters,
Dag Harmsen
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of clinical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.349
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1070-633X
pISSN - 0095-1137
DOI - 10.1128/jcm.43.1.502-505.2005
Subject(s) - staphylococcus aureus , cystic fibrosis , biology , genetic variation , gene , point mutation , genetics , genotype , microbiology and biotechnology , mutation , bacteria
Variation of the polymorphic region of the protein A gene (spa) was observed during long-term persistence of Staphylococcus aureus in the airways of 10 cystic fibrosis patients and occurred at a rate of one genetic change every 70 months. Independent mutational events were observed eight times in 142 isolates: four deletions, two duplications of repeats, and two point mutations.