title: Multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis of Brucella isolates from patients in Xinjiang China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study is to characterize and identify the human Brucella strains in Xinjiang, China with multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) scheme.
  
  
  METHODS
  Brucella strains were isolated and cultured from 62 brucellosis patients. The bacteria strains were subjected to the oxidase, catalase, rapid urease, and nitrate reduction tests, and the species identification was performed using the VITEK-2 Compact system. These Brucella strains were further identified and characterized using the 16 VNTR loci in a MLVA-16 methodology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve Brucella strains had been identified out of 62 patients, which were all recognized as Brucella melitensis (B. melitensis) according to the results from the VITEK-2 Compact system. Based on panel 1 (MLVA-8), these 12 Brucella isolates were clustered into three known genotypes and two new genotypes, in which 7 strains were clustered into genotype 45 (1-5-3-12-2-2-3-2), 1 strain was classified as genotype 42 (1-5-3-13-2-2-3-2), 1 stain was with genotype 62 (1-3-3-13-2-2-3-2), and the other 3 trains revealed two new genotypes, i.e., (1-5-3-12-2-3-3-2) and (1-5-3-11-2-3-3-2). Using panel 2A+2B (MLVA-16), we found that no genotypes of these strains were identical to the known genotypes, generally with differences in 2-4 loci. However, three strains shared the same genotype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brucella strains in 62 brucellosis patients from Xinjiang are all identified as B. melitensis. Based on MLVA-8, two new genotypes have been discovered. These findings might contribute to the understanding of the pathogenesis and epidemiology of brucellosis in Xinjiang, China.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang, China ; Department of Immunology, School of Preclinical Medicine, Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Fengbo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Xinjiang People's Hospital Urumqi 830000, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Xiaolin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: La
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Xiumin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Yaoxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, School of Preclinical Medicine, Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Jinwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Zhaoxia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang, China ; Department of Immunology, School of Preclinical Medicine, Xinjiang Medical University Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China.
authors.forename: Jianbing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
keywords: Brucella; Xinjiang; brucellosis; genotyping; multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA)