title: Detection and identification of Yersinia pestis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using multiplex primers.
abstract: A PCR method for detection of Yersinia pestis-virulence determinants by the use of multiplex primers was developed. Four pairs of oligonucleotide primers were designed from each gene of three kinds of virulent plasmids and a chromosomal DNA; 60-Md plasmid-located gene (caf1)encoding Y.pestis-specific capsular antigen fraction 1, a Y.pestis-specific region of a yopM gene encoded on 42-Md virulent plasmid, a plasminogen activator gene (pla) encoded on Y.pestis-specific 7-Md plasmid and an invasin protein gene (inv) encoded on chromosomal DNA. This multiplex-primer system was specific for the detection of Y.pestis among pathogenic Yersinia species and other enterobacteriaceae having antigens common to Y.pestis. Since this method is simple and safe, it will be useful to identify and confirm Y.pestis in cases of emergency and for the surveillance of epidemics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Health, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsukano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017931:DNA Primers; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; C086725:caf1 protein, Yersinia pestis; C053476:invasin, Yersinia; C060772:yopM protein, Yersinia; C078140:Pla protease, Yersinia pestis; D010960:Plasminogen Activators