Genotyping of European isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by fluorescent amplified-fragment length polymorphism analysis (FAFLP) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing.
A representative panel of 50 European MRSA isolates was subjected to genotype analysis by fluorescent amplified-fragment length polymorphism (FAFLP) and by macrorestriction pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Each isolate had a unique profile with FAFLP. To model genetic relationships within the continuing MRSA epidemic, cluster analysis of FAFLP data was made, revealing nine clone complexes of MRSA. Most of these were also found by PFGE. A number of isolates had FAFLP profiles significantly different from others, and might represent emerging epidemic strains. FAFLP analysis proved particularly suitable for surveillance of the MRSA epidemic at national and international levels.
Grady
Ruth
R
*Molecular Biology Unit, Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue, London and †Division Autonome de Médecine Préventive Hospitalière, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Blanc
Dominique
D
*Molecular Biology Unit, Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue, London and †Division Autonome de Médecine Préventive Hospitalière, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Hauser
Philippe
P
*Molecular Biology Unit, Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue, London and †Division Autonome de Médecine Préventive Hospitalière, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Stanley
John
J
*Molecular Biology Unit, Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue, London and †Division Autonome de Médecine Préventive Hospitalière, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / Q000379:methods*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics*