title: Development of a multiplex PCR assay targeting O-antigen modification genes for molecular serotyping of Shigella flexneri.
abstract: Shigella flexneri is the major Shigella species that causes diarrheal disease in developing countries. It is further subdivided into 15 serotypes based on O-antigen structure. Serotyping of S. flexneri is important for epidemiological purposes. In this study, we developed a multiplex PCR assay targeting the O-antigen synthesis gene wzx and the O-antigen modification genes gtrI, gtrIC, gtrII, oac, gtrIV, gtrV, and gtrX for molecular serotyping of S. flexneri. The multiplex PCR assay contained eight sets of specific PCRs in a single tube and can identify 14 of the 15 serotypes (the exception being serotype Xv) of S. flexneri recognized thus far. A nearly perfect concordance (97.8%) between multiplex PCR assay and slide agglutination was observed when 358 S. flexneri strains of various serotypes were analyzed, except that 8 strains were carrying additional cryptic and/or defective serotype-specific genes. The multiplex PCR assay provides a rapid and specific method for the serotype identification of S. flexneri.
authors: State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, P.O. Box 5, Changping, Beijing, China.
authors: Qiangzheng
authors: Q
authors: Sun
authors: Ruiting
authors: R
authors: Lan
authors: Yiting
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Ailan
authors: A
authors: Zhao
authors: Shaomin
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: Jianping
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Shengli
authors: S
authors: Xia
authors: Dong
authors: D
authors: Jin
authors: Zhigang
authors: Z
authors: Cui
authors: Hongqing
authors: H
authors: Zhao
authors: Zhenjun
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: Changyun
authors: C
authors: Ye
authors: Shuxia
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: Huaiqi
authors: H
authors: Jing
authors: Jianguo
authors: J
authors: Xu
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics*; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D019081:O Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012703:Serotyping / Q000379:methods; D012763:Shigella flexneri / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D019081:O Antigens