Application of PCR for detection of toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae strains isolated during the Russian diphtheria epidemic, 1990 through 1994.
A total of 250 Corynebacterium diphtheriae isolates from clinical cases and carriers in Russia were assayed by PCR directed at the A subunit of the diphtheria toxin gene to distinguish toxigenic from nontoxigenic strains; 170 strains were positive as indicated by the presence of the 248-bp amplicon. The results of this PCR assay were in complete concordance with those of the standard immunoprecipitation assay (Elek), and the PCR assay is a useful tool for rapid identification in clinical laboratories.
Mikhailovich
V M
VM
Russian Federal Reference Laboratory for Diphtheria, Gabrichevsky Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia.
Melnikov
V G
VG
Mazurova
I K
IK
Wachsmuth
I K
IK
Wenger
J D
JD
Wharton
M
M
Nakao
H
H
Popovic
T
T
D002353:Carrier State; D003353:Corynebacterium diphtheriae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology
D004167:Diphtheria Toxin