title: Simultaneous detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. mitis, and S. oralis by a novel multiplex PCR assay targeting the gyrB gene.
abstract: A multiplex PCR (mPCR) protocol was developed for simultaneous detection of the gyrB gene in Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus mitis, and Streptococcus oralis, and the specificity was evaluated using 141 coccus strains. Genomic DNAs purified from S. pneumoniae, S. mitis, and S. oralis strains were efficiently detected with size differences, whereas no PCR products were amplified from any of the reference strains tested. A pilot study of 47 human oral swab specimens was conducted in parallel, and the mPCR assay identified S. pneumoniae in 1 sample, S. mitis in 8 samples, and S. oralis in 2 samples, providing a powerful means for characterization at the level of species compared with traditional culture analysis. Our results suggest that the mPCR protocol presented here is a sensitive and promising tool for the rapid detection and discrimination of S. pneumoniae, S. mitis, and S. oralis from clinical specimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Wonyong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee Kuk
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Woo-Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hyoung-Shik
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D027081:DNA Gyrase / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D034361:Streptococcus mitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019533:Streptococcus oralis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D027081:DNA Gyrase