Variation of the polymorphic region X of the protein A gene during persistent airway infection of cystic fibrosis patients reflects two independent mechanisms of genetic change in Staphylococcus aureus.
Variation of the polymorphic region of the protein A gene (spa) was observed during long-term persistence of Staphylococcus aureus in the airways of 10 cystic fibrosis patients and occurred at a rate of one genetic change every 70 months. Independent mutational events were observed eight times in 142 isolates: four deletions, two duplications of repeats, and two point mutations.
Kahl
Barbara C
BC
Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Muenster, Domagkstr. 10, 48149 Muenster, Germany. kahl@uni-muenster.de
Mellmann
Alexander
A
Deiwick
Susanne
S
Peters
Georg
G
Harmsen
Dag
D
D002908:Chronic Disease; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*
D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A