Distribution of the leptospiral immunoglobulin-like (lig) genes in pathogenic Leptospira species and application of ligB to typing leptospiral isolates.
The family of leptospiral immunoglobulin-like (lig) genes comprises ligA, ligB and ligC. This study used PCR to demonstrate the presence of lig genes among serovars from a collection of leptospiral strains and clinical isolates. Whilst ligA and ligC appeared to be present in a limited number of pathogenic serovars, the ligB gene was distributed ubiquitously among all pathogenic strains. None of the lig genes were detected among intermediate or saprophytic Leptospira species. It was also shown that, similar to the previously characterized secY gene, a short specific PCR fragment of ligB could be used to correctly identify pathogenic Leptospira species. These findings demonstrate that ligB is widely present among pathogenic strains and may be useful for their reliable identification and classification.
Cerqueira
Gustavo M
GM
Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Spirochètes, 75015 Paris, France.|Federal University of Pelotas, Biotechnology Centre, PO Box 354, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
McBride
Alan J A
AJA
Gonçalo Moniz Research Centre, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Picardeau
Mathieu
M
Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Spirochètes, 75015 Paris, France.
Ribeiro
Samuel G
SG
Federal University of Pelotas, Biotechnology Centre, PO Box 354, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
Moreira
Ângela N
ÂN
Federal University of Pelotas, Biotechnology Centre, PO Box 354, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
Morel
Viviane
V
Institut Pasteur, Unité de Biologie des Spirochètes, 75015 Paris, France.
Reis
Mitermayer G
MG
Gonçalo Moniz Research Centre, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Ko
Albert I
AI
Division of International Medicine and Infectious Disease, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.|Gonçalo Moniz Research Centre, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
Dellagostin
Odir A
OA
Federal University of Pelotas, Biotechnology Centre, PO Box 354, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D007919:Leptospira / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C487006:LigB-m protein, Leptospira interrogans; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S