title: Identification of Mycobacterium marinum 65 kD heat shock protein gene by polymerase chain reaction restriction analysis from lesions of swimming pool granuloma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) had been reported to cause cutaneous infections which are difficult to interpret due to the variability of the clinical manifestations. Among NTM infections, Mycobacterium marinum (M. marinum) are mostly seen to cause skin infection. It is therefore important to establish a rapid approach for detection and identification of M. marinum from lesions of patients with suspected M. marinum infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Specimens were obtained from 5 patients with swimming pool granuloma. DNA was extracted and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed. PCR products were digested with Hae III and BstE II, then analysed by pattern restriction analysis to detect heat shock protein (hsp) 65 kD gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 65 kD hsp gene was found in all specimens from patients with swimming pool granuloma. PCR restriction analysis (PRA) identified all 5 samples to be M. marinum infections, and the result was consistent with that of routine bacteriological identification. The lesions subsided or markedly improved upon treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PRA is a sensitive, specific and rapid method in identification of mycobacteria. Application of this method will be helpful for early diagnosis of mycobacterial skin infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China. scailin@sohu.com
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Bei-chuan
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Jian-zhong
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018834:Chaperonin 60; D018833:Chaperonins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019910:Mycobacterium marinum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013551:Swimming Pools
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D018834:Chaperonin 60; C074119:heat-shock protein 65, Mycobacterium; D018833:Chaperonins