title: Phylogenetic analysis of the 56-kDa type-specific protein genes of Orientia tsutsugamushi in Central Korea.
abstract: There are several antigenic variants of Orientia tsutsugamushi. The 56-kDa type-specific antigen (TSA) is responsible for the antigenic variation. Nucleotide sequences of the 56-kDa TSA obtained from 44 eschar samples of Korean scrub typhus patients and from 40 representative strains retrieved from the GenBank database were analyzed phylogenetically. Clinical patient data were assessed based on the genotyping results. Of the 44 nucleotide sequences, 32 (72.7%) clustered with the Boryong genotype, which is the major genotype in Korea. Eleven nucleotide sequences (25%) clustered with the Kawasaki genotype, not identified in Korea until 2010. One nucleotide sequence was consistent with the Karp genotype. The clinical course of the patients infected with each genotype showed no differences. Diagnostic performance of the immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using the 56-kDa TSA from Gilliam, Karp and Boryong as test antigens were not different for the Boryong and Kawasaki genotypes. Although Boryong is still the predominant genotype, the results suggest that Kawasaki genotype is quite prevalent in Chungbuk province of Korea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, Cheongju, Korea. hwjeong@chungbuk.ac.kr
authors.forename: Hye Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Young Ki
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yun Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Mun Hyuk
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Seong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D012285:Orientia tsutsugamushi / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010802:Phylogeny; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012612:Scrub Typhus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial