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Coxiella burnetii: Recent Advances and New Perspectives in Research of the Q Fever Bacterium pp 381–396Cite as

Molecular Typing of Coxiella burnetii (Q Fever)

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((volume 984))

Abstract

Although we live in the age of genomics and the availability of complete genome sequences of Coxiella burnetii has increased our understanding of the genomic diversity of the agent, it is still somewhat a “query” microorganism. The epidemiology of Q fever is complex due to the worldwide distribution, reservoir and vector diversity, and a lack of studies defining the dynamic interaction between these factors. In addition Coxiella is an agent that could be used as a bioterror weapon. Therefore, typing methods that can discriminate strains and be used to trace back infections to their source are of paramount importance. In this chapter we provide an overview of historical and current typing methods and describe their advantages and limitations. Recently developed techniques such as MLVA and SNP typing have shown promise and improved the discrimination capacity and utility of genotyping methods for molecular epidemiologic studies of this challenging pathogen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Neuherbergstr. 11, 80937, Munich, Germany

    Robert F. Massung, Sally J. Cutler & Dimitrios Frangoulidis

Authors
  1. Robert F. Massung
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  2. Sally J. Cutler
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  3. Dimitrios Frangoulidis
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Correspondence to Dimitrios Frangoulidis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Virology, Dept. of Rickettsiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava, 845 05, Slovakia

    Rudolf Toman

  2. Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Coxiella Pathogenesis Section, NIH/NIAID, South Fourth Street 903, Hamilton, 59840, Montana, USA

    Robert A. Heinzen

  3. , Microbial and Molecular Pathogenesis, College of Medicine, Texas A&M, Joe H. Reynolds Medical Building, College Station 407, College Station, 77843-1114, Texas, USA

    James E. Samuel

  4. Institut Fédératif de Recherche 48, Les Maladies Infect Transmissibles, CNRS-IRD UMR 6236, Bd Jean Moulin 27, Marseille, Cedex 05, 13385, France

    Jean-Louis Mege

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Massung, R.F., Cutler, S.J., Frangoulidis, D. (2012). Molecular Typing of Coxiella burnetii (Q Fever). In: Toman, R., Heinzen, R., Samuel, J., Mege, JL. (eds) Coxiella burnetii: Recent Advances and New Perspectives in Research of the Q Fever Bacterium. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 984. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4315-1_19

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