A PCR assay for discriminating Neisseria gonorrhoeaebeta-lactamase-producing plasmids.
Oligonucleotide primers were developed for use in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays to differentiate three related, epidemic beta-lactamase-producing plasmids of Neisseria gonorrhoeae-the Asia-(7426 bp), Africa-(5599 bp) and Toronto-(5154 bp) type plasmids. One-hundred and two N. gonorrhoeae isolates with different plasmid profiles were tested-16 isolates carried the Asia plasmid, 41 isolates contained the Africa plasmid, 16 isolates contained the Toronto plasmid and 29 isolates contained no beta-lactamase-producing plasmids. Most (101/102) isolates also carried the gonococcal cryptic plasmid, while 27/102 and 44/102 isolates carried either the transfer plasmid or the tet M-containing plasmids, respectively. The assay was 100% sensitive and specific for identifying the correct plasmid type. This assay is useful for rapidly detecting the presence of gonococcal beta-lactamase-producing plasmids in clinical samples and discriminating them for epidemiological typing.
Dillon
J R
JR
Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. jdillon@uottawa.ca
Li
H
H
Yeung
K
K
Aman
T A
TA
D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010403:Penicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D010405:Penicillinase / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D011815:R Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010405:Penicillinase