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Variable genetic element typing: a quick method for epidemiological subtyping of Legionella pneumophila

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Abstract

A total of 57 isolates of Legionella pneumophila were randomly selected from the German National Legionella strain collection and typed by monoclonal antibody subgrouping, seven-gene locus sequence-based typing (SBT) scheme and a newly developed variable element typing (VET) system based on the presence or absence of ten variable genetic elements. These elements were detected while screening a genomic library of strain Corby, as well as being taken from published data for PAI-1 (pathogenicity island) from strain Philadelphia. Specific primers were designed and used in gel-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. PCR amplification of the mip gene served as a control. The end-point was the presence/absence of a PCR product on an ethidium bromide-strained gel. In the present study, the index of discrimination was somewhat lower than that of the SBT (0.87 versus 0.97). Nevertheless, the results obtained showed as a ‘proof of principle’ that this simple and quick typing assay might be useful for the epidemiological characterisation of L. pneumophila strains.

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Acknowledgements

The Legionella strains were kindly supplied by C. Aepinus (Würzburg), W. Ehret (Augsburg), E. Halle (Berlin), Hohlfelder (Heidelberg), D. Jonas (Freiburg), W. Matthys (Münster), R. Pfüller (Berlin), R. Marre (Ulm), C. Schoerner (Erlangen) and K. Weist (Berlin). We are grateful to Kerstin Lück and Jutta Paasche for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, TU Dresden, Fiedlerstraße 42, Dresden, 01307, Germany

    K. Pannier & C. Lück

  2. P26, Nosocomial Infections of the Elderly, Robert Koch-Institut, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany

    K. Heuner

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  1. K. Pannier
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  2. K. Heuner
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  3. C. Lück
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Correspondence to C. Lück.

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Pannier, K., Heuner, K. & Lück, C. Variable genetic element typing: a quick method for epidemiological subtyping of Legionella pneumophila . Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 29, 481–487 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-009-0872-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-009-0872-8

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