Rapid discrimination of cytK-1 and cytK-2 genes in Bacillus cereus strains by a novel duplex PCR system.
Bacillus cereus is the causative agent of gastrointestinal diarrhoea. At least three known enterotoxins may be involved in this syndrome: nonhaemolytic (Nhe) enterotoxin, Hbl enterotoxin and cytotoxin K. Two different forms were recently described for cytotoxin K, encoded by cytK-1 and cytK-2 genes. The CytK-1 toxin appeared to carry a high toxicity, but there is currently no method available to rapidly detect and discriminate the B. cereus strains able to produce this CytK-1 form. In this study, a duplex PCR assay was developed and validated on 162 known cytotoxin-containing strains. This PCR method is the first molecular tool to provide rapid detection and discrimination of cytK-1- and cytK-2-carrying B. cereus strains.
Guinebretiere
Marie-Hélène
MH
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR A408 Sécurité et Qualité des Produits d'Origine Végétale, INRA, Avignon, France. guinebre@avignon.inra.fr
Fagerlund
Annette
A
Granum
Per E
PE
Nguyen-The
Christophe
C