title: Why cannot a β-lactamase gene be detected using an efficient molecular diagnostic method?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fast detection of β-lactamase (bla) genes can minimize the spread of antibiotic resistance. Although several molecular diagnostic methods have been developed to detect limitedblagene types, these methods have significant limitations, such as their failure to detect almost all clinically availableblagenes. We have evaluated a further refinement of our fast and accurate molecular method, developed to overcome these limitations, using clinical isolates.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have recently developed the efficient large-scalebladetection method (large-scaleblaFinder) that can detectblagene types including almost all clinically available 1,352blagenes with perfect specificity and sensitivity. Using this method, we have evaluated a further refinement of this method using clinical isolates provided by International Health Management Associates, Inc. (Schaumburg, Illinois, USA). Results were interpreted in a blinded manner by researchers who did not know any information onblagenes harbored by these isolates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With only one exception, thelarge-scaleblaFinder detected allblagenes identified by the provider using microarray and multiplex PCR. In one of theEscherichia colitest isolates, ablaDHA-1gene was detected using the multiplex PCR assay but it was not detected using thelarge-scaleblaFinder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The truncation of ablaDHA-1gene is an important reason for an efficient molecular diagnostic method (large-scaleblaFinder) not to detect theblagene.
authors.affiliation: Kwang Seung Park, National Leading Research Laboratory of Drug Resistance Proteomics, Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kwang Seung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Jung Hun Lee, National Leading Research Laboratory of Drug Resistance Proteomics, Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Moonhee Park, Faculty of DNA Analysis Division, Seoul institute, National Forensic Service, Seoul, Republic of Korea. National Leading Research Laboratory of Drug Resistance Proteomics, Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Moonhee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Asad Mustafa Karim, National Leading Research Laboratory of Drug Resistance Proteomics, Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Asad Mustafa
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Karim
authors.affiliation: Sang Hee Lee, National Leading Research Laboratory of Drug Resistance Proteomics, Department of Biological Sciences, Myongji University, Yongin, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Large-scale detection; Minimizing antibiotic resistance; Molecular diagnosis; β-Lactamase (bla) gene