title: DNA sequence analysis and restriction fragment length polymorphisms of the P1 gene of Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius associated with Brazilian purpuric fever.
abstract: Brazilian purpuric fever (BPF) is a fulminant pediatric disease caused by specific strains of Haemophilus influenzae biogroup aegyptius. A conserved epitope on the P1 protein of strains of H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius is seen on most virulent isolates. The P1 protein from a Brazilian case-clone strain of H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius was analyzed by cloning and sequencing the gene. Three major variable regions are present within the P1 gene of the BPF clone in an architecture similar to that of the previously sequenced P1 genes from H. influenzae. The DNA sequence data of the P1 gene provided information for restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses among strains of H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius. Using PCR for amplification of the P1 gene, we found that AlwI restriction of this gene allowed for a highly accurate segregation of virulent strains of H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius associated with BPF. The strong association of virulent phenotypes with specific AlwI restriction patterns of the P1 gene provides a basis for the convenient and accurate identification of strains of H. influenzae biogroup aegyptius which cause BPF.
authors: Department of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA.
authors: R B
authors: RB
authors: Reed
authors: J B
authors: JB
authors: Frost
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Kort
authors: S D
authors: SD
authors: Myers
authors: A J
authors: AJ
authors: Lesse
mesh_terms: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
chemical_list: D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C067559:outer membrane protein P1, Haemophilus influenzae type b