title: Variability in the distribution and composition of insertion sequence-like elements in strains of Mycoplasma fermentans.
abstract: Mycoplasma fermentans has been reported to be pathogenic for man. All fourteen strains tested contain an insertion sequence-like element (ISLE) which may be present in multiple copies. To determine whether ISLE copies are similarly distributed in different strains of M. fermentans, restriction enzyme digest fragments of genomic DNA from 14 isolates, from a variety of sources, were separated by electrophoresis, blotted and hybridized to a biotin labelled polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified fragment of ISLE. A range of patterns was observed suggesting that the element has a tendency to undergo rearrangement within the genome. Analysis of ISLE sequences revealed inter- and intra-strain polymorphisms.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory, Central Public Health Laboratory, London, UK. dpitcher@phls.co.uk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pitcher
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hilbocus
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016858:Mycoplasma fermentans / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D015183:Restriction Mapping
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D004269:DNA, Bacterial