title: Presence of putative sphingomyelinase genes among members of the family Leptospiraceae.
abstract: The presence of multiple DNA elements in pathogenic members of the family Leptospiraceae, similar to the sphA sphingomyelinase gene from Leptospira borgpetersenii, was demonstrated by low-stringency hybridization experiments. These DNA elements were designated putative sphingomyelinase genes. Grouping of strains by similarity of hybridization patterns corresponds to the species subdivision of the family Leptospiraceae on the basis of genetic characteristics. Therefore, hybridization with the sphA gene can be used as a taxonomic tool. These hybridization experiments indicate the presence of two groups of genetically related pathogenic Leptospira species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Segers
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van Gestel
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: van Eys
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: van der Zeijst
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gaastra
mesh_terms: D015139:Blotting, Southern; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D016953:Leptospiraceae / Q000201:enzymology*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase