title: Comparative nucleotide sequence analysis of polymorphic variable-number tandem-repeat Loci in Mycobacterium ulcerans.
abstract: We analyzed a set of variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) loci to assess their nucleotide sequence diversity in isolates of three Mycobacterium ulcerans genotypes. Sequence variants in two loci resulted in intraspecies resolution of Southeast Asian and Asian genotypes in contrast to a homogenous sequence composition among African isolates. Nucleotide sequence polymorphism in repeat units can enhance discrimination of VNTR loci.
authors.affiliation: Mycobacteriology Unit, Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, B-2000 Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ablordey
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hilty
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stragier
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Swings
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Portaels
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001483:Base Sequence; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D019911:Mycobacterium ulcerans / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013045:Species Specificity