title: Comparison of PCR-based methods for typing Staphylococcus aureus isolates.
abstract: In this study, we compared the potentials of (i) a multiplex PCR-based multilocus variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) assay; (ii) a triplex PCR coamplifying fragments of spa, coa, and the hypervariable region adjacent to the mecA gene; (iii) restriction profile analysis of the STAR repetitive element; (iv) randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis; (v) inter-IS256 PCR; and (vi) rep-MP3 PCR. Multilocus VNTR typing and triplex PCR (coa, spa, and hypervariable region) approaches showed excellent reproducibility and high discriminatory power; however, only multilocus VNTR typing could distinguish all pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and spa types. Multilocus VNTR typing appears to be the most useful PCR-based method for the rapid genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus strains.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, 30/34 Chelmska St., 00-725 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabat
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Malachowa
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miedzobrodzki
authors.forename: Waleria
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hryniewicz
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005838:Genotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics