title: An analysis of the diversity of Haemophilus parainfluenzae in the adult human respiratory tract by genomic DNA fingerprinting.
abstract: A method for typing Haemophilus species is described, based on the analysis of genomic DNA from Haemophilus parainfluenzae. The DNA was extracted by a rapid method and digested with the restriction enzyme BamHI to provide a characteristic 'fingerprint'. The pattern of fragments in the ranges 1-1.6 kb, 1.6-2 kb and 2-3 kb were used to produce a numerical profile of each isolate. In total 97 isolates were examined; 88 from throat swab material isolated from the 15 members of a British Antarctic Survey base and 9 type strains. Seventy-two of the 88 antarctic isolates were H. parainfluenzae and were found to be very diverse, comprising 41 identifiable strains with up to 5 strains being isolated from a single throat swab sample. There was evidence for both carriage and transmission within the isolated community. The technique provided a highly discriminatory method for characterizing Haemophilus strains which is suitable for epidemiological studies.
authors.affiliation: British Antarctic Survey Medical Unit, Robert Gordons Institute of Technology Survival Centre, Aberdeen.
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Pennington
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D015245:Deoxyribonuclease BamHI; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006190:Haemophilus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D015245:Deoxyribonuclease BamHI