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.
N. F. Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, U.S.S.R. Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow.
M I
MI
Artemiev
V F
VF
Ignatovich
E B
EB
Rydkina
L J
LJ
Lichoded
N M
NM
Balayeva
V V
VV
Demkin
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