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Genetic variability in environmental isolates of Legionella pneumophila from Comunidad Valenciana (Spain)
Author(s) -
Coscollá Mireia,
Gosalbes María José,
Catalán Vicente,
GonzálezCandelas Fernando
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
environmental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.954
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1462-2920
pISSN - 1462-2912
DOI - 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2006.00997.x
Subject(s) - biology , linkage disequilibrium , legionella pneumophila , genetic variation , outbreak , genetic variability , legionella , population , genetic diversity , ecology , genetics , genotype , single nucleotide polymorphism , demography , virology , gene , bacteria , sociology
Summary Legionella pneumophila is associated to recurrent outbreaks in several Comunidad Valenciana (Spain) localities, especially in Alcoi, where social and climatic conditions seem to provide an excellent environment for bacterial growth. We have analysed the nucleotide sequences of three loci from 25 environmental isolates from Alcoi and nearby locations sampled over 3 years. The analysis of these isolates has revealed a substantial level of genetic variation, with consistent patterns of variability across loci, and comparable to that found in a large, European‐wide sampling of clinical isolates. Among the tree loci studied, fliC showed the highest level of nucleotide diversity. The analysis of isolates sampled in different years revealed a clear differentiation, with samples from 2001 being significantly distinct from those obtained in 2002 and 2003. Furthermore, although linkage disequilibrium measures indicate a clonal nature for population structure in this sample, the presence of some recombination events cannot be ruled out.