Development and application of the active surveillance of pathogens microarray to monitor bacterial gene flux.
BACKGROUND
Human and animal health is constantly under threat by emerging pathogens that have recently acquired genetic determinants that enhance their survival, transmissibility and virulence. We describe the construction and development of an Active Surveillance of Pathogens (ASP) oligonucleotide microarray, designed to 'actively survey' the genome of a given bacterial pathogen for virulence-associated genes.


RESULTS
The microarray consists of 4958 reporters from 151 bacterial species and include genes for the identification of individual bacterial species as well as mobile genetic elements (transposons, plasmid and phage), virulence genes and antibiotic resistance genes. The ASP microarray was validated with nineteen bacterial pathogens species, including Francisella tularensis, Clostridium difficile, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The ASP microarray identified these bacteria, and provided information on potential antibiotic resistance (eg sufamethoxazole resistance and sulfonamide resistance) and virulence determinants including genes likely to be acquired by horizontal gene transfer (e.g. an alpha-haemolysin).


CONCLUSIONS
The ASP microarray has potential in the clinic as a diagnostic tool, as a research tool for both known and emerging pathogens, and as an early warning system for pathogenic bacteria that have been recently modified either naturally or deliberately.
Stabler
Richard A
RA
Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Keppel Street, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK. richard.stabler@lshtm.ac.uk
Dawson
Lisa F
LF
Oyston
Petra C F
PC
Titball
Richard W
RW
Wade
Jim
J
Hinds
Jason
J
Witney
Adam A
AA
Wren
Brendan W
BW
D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D037521:Virulence Factors