title: Identification of variable-number tandem-repeat loci in Leptospira interrogans sensu stricto.
abstract: Leptospira interrogans sensu stricto is responsible for the most frequent and severe cases of human leptospirosis. The epidemiology and clinical features of leptospirosis are usually associated with the serovars and serogroups of Leptospira. Because of the difficulties associated with serological identification of Leptospira strains, we evaluated a novel PCR-based method for typing L. interrogans serovars. Based upon the genome sequence of L. interrogans serovar Lai type strain 5660, 44 loci were analyzed by PCR for their variability in size due to the presence of variable-number tandem repeats (VNTR). Seven VNTR loci were found to be powerful markers for serovar identification, epidemiology, and phylogenetic studies of L. interrogans. This rapid and easy method should greatly contribute to a better knowledge of the epidemiology of Leptospira.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Spirochètes, Institut Pasteur, 28 rue du docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Majed
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bellenger
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Postic
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pourcel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baranton
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Picardeau
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial