title: The detection of penicillin insensitivity in Neisseria meningitidis by polymerase chain reaction.
abstract: Strains of penicillin-sensitive and -insensitive Neisseria meningitidis were examined using a range of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers directed at the meningococcal penicillin-binding protein 2 gene. DNA from isolates whose penicillin MIC was <0.2 mg/L yielded a product of the expected size with all the primers, but many amplification patterns were seen with DNA from isolates whose MIC was above this level. All strains whose MIC was >0.25 mg/L failed to produce a product of the expected size with at least one of the primers used. The changes seen in penicillin-insensitive strains were consistent with horizontal gene transfer from Neisseria flavescens in some isolates, although the source for others remains unknown. PCR-based methods for the detection of antibiotic resistance are becoming increasingly important with the expanding use of molecular techniques for bacteriological diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Dundee Medical School, Ninewells Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Maggs
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Logan
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Pennington
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D006602:Hexosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000235:genetics; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010403:Penicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases; D006602:Hexosyltransferases; D002267:Muramoylpentapeptide Carboxypeptidase