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. 1996 Feb;34(2):292–295. doi: 10.1128/jcm.34.2.292-295.1996

Genetic diversity of Neisseria gonorrhoeae IB-2 and IB-6 isolates revealed by whole-cell repetitive element sequence-based PCR.

C L Poh 1, V Ramachandran 1, J W Tapsall 1
PMCID: PMC228785  PMID: 8789003

Abstract

Phenotypic characterization of 19 Neisseria gonorrhoeae serovar IB-2 and 8 serovar IB-6 isolates by the combined use of auxotypes, serological characterization, and penicillin susceptibility testing indicated intraserovar genetic diversity. In the present study, we applied whole-cell repetitive element sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) analysis which allows a rapid assessment of the clonal relationships of IB-2 and IB-6 isolates. DNA templates were prepared by boiling cells harvested directly from plate cultures, eliminating the need for time-consuming phenol extraction. Six different rep-PCR profiles were established among the 19 IB-2 isolates. Rep-PCR typing results had a good correlation with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns. It is slightly less discriminatory than BglII-generated macrorestriction pattern analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. It is capable of discriminating epidemiologically related from epidemiologically unrelated IB-2 isolates. It should serve as a rapid and useful subtyping tool for epidemiologic investigations in which there is a predominance of major serovar groups.

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Selected References

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