title: Sequence diversity of the mucABD locus in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from patients with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: The mucA gene of the muc operon, which is instrumental in the control of the biosynthesis of the exopolysaccharide alginate, is a hotspot of mutation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a micro-organism that chronically colonizes the airways of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). The mucA, mucB and mucD genes were sequenced in nine environmental isolates from aquatic habitats, and in 37 P. aeruginosa strains isolated from 10 patients with CF, at onset or at a late stage of chronic airway colonization, in order to elucidate whether there was any association between mutation and background genotype. The 61 identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) segregated into 18 mucABD genotypes. Acquired and de novo stop mucA mutations were present in 14 isolates (38 %) of five mucABD genotypes. DeltaG430 was the most frequent and recurrent mucA mutation detected in four genotypes. The classification of strains by mucABD genotype was generally concordant with that by genome-wide SpeI fragment pattern or multilocus SNP genotypes. The exceptions point to intragenic mosaicism and interclonal recombination as major forces for intraclonal evolution at the mucABD locus.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis, DIBIT - HS Raffaele, Milano, Italy.|Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bragonzi
authors.affiliation: Klinische Forschergruppe, OE 6710, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Lutz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wiehlmann
authors.affiliation: Klinische Forschergruppe, OE 6710, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klockgether
authors.affiliation: Klinische Forschergruppe, OE 6710, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Worlitzsch
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Döring
authors.affiliation: Klinische Forschergruppe, OE 6710, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tümmler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000464:Alginates / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D009154:Mutation; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D012808:Sigma Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C107895:MucA protein, Pseudomonas; D012808:Sigma Factor; C079994:algN protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; C097649:MucD protein, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases