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Differentiation of Coxiella burnetii by Sequence Analysis of the Gene (com1) Encoding a 27‐kDa Outer Membrane Protein
Author(s) -
Zhang Guo Quan,
To Ho,
Yamaguchi Tsuyoshi,
Fukushi Hideto,
Hirai Katsuya
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/j.1348-0421.1997.tb01943.x
Subject(s) - coxiella burnetii , biology , q fever , gene , rickettsiaceae , rickettsiales , nucleic acid sequence , phylogenetic tree , peptide sequence , strain (injury) , virology , sequence analysis , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy
The gene (com1) encoding a 27‐kDa outer membrane protein in 21 strains of Coxiella burnetii from a variety of clinical and geographical sources was sequenced for strain differentiation. The com1 gene was highly conserved among all the strains tested but there were several differences in nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences. Based on the com1 gene‐specific nucleotides and deduced amino acids, the 21 strains were divided into four groups. Group 1 contained 14 strains originating from ticks, cattle and human cases of acute Q fever. Groups 2 and 3 included 2 and 3 strains, respectively, originating from human cases of chronic Q fever. Group 4 contained 2 strains originating from a human case of acute Q fever and a goat with abortion. The results indicated that the strains originating from ticks, cattle and human cases of acute Q fever differed at the molecular level from those of human chronic Q fever. This study suggests that a sequence analysis of the com1 gene can be used for strain differentiation of C. burnetii.