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. 1995 May;61(5):2000–2003. doi: 10.1128/aem.61.5.2000-2003.1995

DNA polymorphisms in strains of Legionella pneumophila serogroups 3 and 4 detected by macrorestriction analysis and their use for epidemiological investigation of nosocomial legionellosis.

P C Lück 1, J Köhler 1, M Maiwald 1, J H Helbig 1
PMCID: PMC167463  PMID: 7646036

Abstract

Genomic DNAs of clinical and environmental isolates of Legionella pneumophila belonging to serogroups 3 and 4 were analyzed by macrorestriction analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The restriction enzymes SfiI and NotI allowed easy visual separation of epidemiologically unrelated serogroup 3 strains. Three unrelated serogroup 3 strains that were isolated from different locations were identical by this genome mapping technique. Five unrelated serogroup 4 strains were separable by this technique. The electrophoretic patterns obtained after SfiI or NotI cleavage of the DNA of strains isolated from four patients with hospital-acquired legionellosis were identical to the patterns of strains isolated from the hot water supply systems of the buildings in which the patients were hospitalized. In conclusion, macrorestriction analysis is a valuable tool for epidemiological studies of infections caused by L. pneumophila serogroups 3 and 4.

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Selected References

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