Restriction fragment length polymorphism of the DNA of typhus group rickettsiae.
The DNA of 10 strains of Rickettsia prowazekii, 5 strains of Rickettsia typhi and 1 strain of Rickettsia canada was investigated by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Interspecies differences were characterized by a great number of noncomigrating bands. Using the endonuclease HindIII and PstI fragments comigration as a quantitative criterion, genetic similarity coefficient was calculated for the pair Rickettsia prowazekii/Rickettsia typhi-32.0%, for Rickettsia prowazekii/Rickettsia canada-22.7%, and for Rickettsia typhi/Rickettsia canada-23.5%. Intraspecies differences expressed are very subtle and concern 1-2 noncomigrating fragments. The investigated strains of Rickettsia prowazekii and Rickettsia typhi can be divided into 2 groups without any correlation to the source and period of isolation, or to strain passage history.
Artemiev
M I
MI
N. F. Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, U.S.S.R. Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow.
Ignatovich
V F
VF
Rydkina
E B
EB
Lichoded
L J
LJ
Balayeva
N M
NM
Demkin
V V
VV
D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014438:Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne / Q000382:microbiology
D004269:DNA, Bacterial