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. 1995 Apr;33(4):968–972. doi: 10.1128/jcm.33.4.968-972.1995

Detection of genomic heterogeneity in Streptococcus suis isolates by DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms of rRNA genes (ribotyping).

O Okwumabua 1, J Staats 1, M M Chengappa 1
PMCID: PMC228077  PMID: 7540630

Abstract

Whole-cell chromosomal digests of 54 isolates of Streptococcus suis encompassing all known serotypes from a geographically varied collection were examined by PstI restriction fragment length polymorphisms and then hybridized with a digoxigenin-11-dUTP-labeled cDNA probe transcribed from a mixture of 16S and 23S rRNAs from Escherichia coli MRE600. The hybridization patterns showed genetic heterogeneity within and between S. suis serotypes. Most isolates (87%) representing 28 serotypes contained a common band at approximately 1.8 kb. However, 13% of the isolates representing seven serotypes lacked the 1.8-kb band, indicating that the species as currently defined is diverse. Nonetheless, the 1.8-kb band may be a useful genotypic marker for identification of most S. suis isolates. We tested the ability of this technique to discriminate between virulent and avirulent S. suis type 2 isolates. A virulent strain of S. suis type 2 could be distinguished from avirulent strains by the presence of specific bands. No correlation was obvious between band pattern and hemolysin production.

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Selected References

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