Discrimination of S. aureus strains by PCR for r-RNA gene spacer size polymorphism and comparison to SmaI macrorestriction patterns.
The size polymorphism of the internal spacer between the 16 S and the 23 S r-RNA genes was studied in S. aureus with the aid of PCR. The patterns of corresponding PCR products were compared with SmaI-generated macrorestriction patterns for definite propagating strains of S. aureus typing phages, for strains with phage pattern 29, phage-group II patterns, phage pattern 94, 96, phage pattern 95 and epidemic methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA). The spacer length polymorphism did not prove to be as discriminative as genomic DNA fragment patterns. However, as shown for S. aureus with phage patterns 29; group II; 94, 96; 95 and also for 4 out of 6 epidemic MRSA, unique patterns of r-RNA gene spacers probably indicate a relatedness among strains which is also suggested by SmaI macrorestriction patterns.
Cuny
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C
Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode Branch, Germany.
Claus
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Witte
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W
D001483:Base Sequence; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*
D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; C025651:CCCGGG-specific type II deoxyribonucleases; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific