Molecular characterization of cloned variants of Coxiella burnetii isolated in China.
To study the molecular properties of Coxiella burnetii phase variants we cloned the phase variants of C. burnetii Qiyi (CBQY) strain by the red plaque technique. Three cloned strains, CBQYIC3 (phase I), CBQYIIC7 (phase II) and CBQYIIC5 (semirough-phase) were analysed by SDS-PAGE, immunoblot assay, plasmid isolation and agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA restriction fragments. The results suggest that the unique phase-dependent substance is a lipopolysaccharide and that most protein components of phase I and phase II cells are shared. No significant differences of DNA restriction fragments were found between clonal isolates of phase I and phase II C. burnetii CBQY strains. A plasmid of approximately 56 Kb was isolated from both phase I and phase II variants indicating that phase variation probably could not be attributed to its presence or absence.
Department of Microbiology, Third Millitary Medical College, Chongqing, Sichuan province, Pepople's Republic of China.
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Ning
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Yu
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Quan
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Xue
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D010957:Plasmids
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides