Open AccessReverse Line Blot Assay for Direct Identification of Seven Streptococcus agalactiae Major Surface Protein Antigen Genes
Author(s) -
Zuotao Zhao,
Fanrong Kong,
Gwendolyn L. Gilbert
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
clinical and vaccine immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.649
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1556-6811
pISSN - 1556-679X
DOI - 10.1128/cvi.13.1.145-149.2006
Subject(s) - streptococcus agalactiae , biology , gene , antiserum , antigen , multiplex polymerase chain reaction , multiplex , streptococcus pneumoniae , typing , microbiology and biotechnology , streptococcus , surface protein , virology , polymerase chain reaction , genetics , bacteria , antibiotics
We developed a multiplex PCR-based reverse line blot hybridization assay (mPCR/RLB) to detect the genes encoding members of the family of variable surface-localized proteins ofStreptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus [GBS]), namely, Bca (Cα), Rib, Epsilon (Epsilon/Alp1/Alp5), Alp2, Alp3, and Alp4, and the immunoglobulin A binding protein, Bac (Cβ). We used the assay to identify these genes in a collection of well-characterized GBS isolates and reference strains. The results showed that mPCR/RLB avoids the common problems of cross-reaction and nontypability associated with protein typing using antisera. It is as sensitive as, but more practical than, separate gene-specific PCRs and would be suitable for large molecular epidemiological studies of GBS.