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. 1995 Oct;33(10):2738–2744. doi: 10.1128/jcm.33.10.2738-2744.1995

Genomic and proteinic characterization of strain S, a rickettsia isolated from Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks in Armenia.

M Eremeeva 1, N Balayeva 1, V Roux 1, V Ignatovich 1, M Kotsinjan 1, D Raoult 1
PMCID: PMC228566  PMID: 8567916

Abstract

Strain S, a spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsia isolated from Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks collected in Armenia, was identified. Microimmunofluorescence, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel protein electrophoresis and Western immunoblotting, PCR and then restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing were used to compare strain S with reference isolates. Strain S was found to possess proteinic, antigenic, and genomic patterns which were unique among SFG rickettsiae. Strain S is characterized by its high degree of pathogenicity for experimental animals, but its role as a potential human pathogen should be determined. The role of R. sanguineus ticks in the epidemiology of SFG rickettsiae is discussed.

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Selected References

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