title: Simultaneous detection and serotype identification of Streptococcus agalactiae using multiplex PCR and reverse line blot hybridization.
abstract: Streptococcus agalactiae (group B streptococcus, GBS) is an important cause of sepsis in neonates and their mothers, and the elderly and immunocompromised patients. Ongoing surveillance to monitor GBS serotype distribution is needed to guide the development and assess the feasibility of GBS conjugate vaccines. The authors previously developed a molecular serotype identification method based on serotype-specific PCR and partial sequencing of cps genes. In this study, a novel 10-primer pair multiplex PCR and reverse line blot (mPCR/RLB) hybridization assay was developed for simultaneous detection and serotype identification of all nine GBS serotypes. For all 316 GBS isolates tested the mPCR/RLB results corresponded with those of conventional serotyping and individual serotype-specific PCR, and the method was more convenient and practical than either alternative.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (CIDM), Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR), Westmead, New South Wales, Australia 2Department of Dermatology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Affiliate of Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Fanrong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (CIDM), Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR), Westmead, New South Wales, Australia 2Department of Dermatology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Affiliate of Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (CIDM), Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research (ICPMR), Westmead, New South Wales, Australia 2Department of Dermatology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Affiliate of Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Gwendolyn L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gilbert
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012703:Serotyping; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers