Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Genomic DNA fingerprints and phenotypic characteristics of serotype B Haemophilus influenzae isolates from Italy

  • Published:
European Journal of Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Three different restriction enzymes (PstI, EcoRI, SspI) were used to analyze the total genomic DNA fingerprints of 52 Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) isolates collected between 1982 and 1992 from patients and carriers in central-northern Italy. The same isolates were also characterized by biotyping and antimicrobial agent susceptibility typing. In addition, 13 Hib reference strains from Sweden and the Netherlands were subjected to DNA fingerprinting and compared to Italian isolates.

Both genotypic and phenotypic analysis revealed low variability among the Italian study isolates. Most were biotype I and all study isolates but one were susceptible to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, rifampin, third-generation cephalosporins and cotrimoxazole. Among the 52 Italian isolates, 3 distinct DNA patterns were identified, and 88.5% of study strains belonged to the same DNA group. There was sharing of the predominant DNA profile among isolates cultured in different years from different geographical areas and different invasive, respiratory and surface infections. However, another DNA pattern was only found in carrier isolates and in one surface infection isolate.

Comparison by DNA fingerprinting showed that the majority of Italian isolates were closely related to most of the analyzed Swedish and Dutch reference strains, previously shown by other techniques to be predominant in those areas. This finding provides additional support for the hypothesis that there may be a dominant European Hib clone.

The results show that DNA fingerprinting is a reliable method for Hib characterization and may be a useful additional epidemiological tool for this microorganism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Barenkamp S.J., Munson R.S. Jr and Granoff D.M. (1981): Subtyping isolates of Haemophilus influenzae type b by outer-membrane protein profiles - Journal of Infectious Diseases 143: 668–676.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bruce K.D. and Jordens J.Z. (1991): Characterization of non-capsulate Haemophilus influenzae by whole-cell polypeptide profiles, restriction endonuclease analysis, and rRNA gene restriction patterns -Journal of Clinical Microbiology 29: 291–296.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Elliot J.A., Pigott N., Cochi S.L. and Facklam R.R. (1990): Major subtypes of invasive Haemophilus influenzae from 1983 to 1985 in Atlanta, Ga - Journal of Clinical Microbiology 28: 833–836.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Granoff D.M., Pandey J.P., Boies E., Squires J., Munson Jr R.S. and Suarez B. (1984): Response to immunization with Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide — pertussis vaccine and risk of Haemophilus meningitis in children with Km(1) immunoglobulin allotype - Journal of Clinical Investigation 74: 1708–1714.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Granoff D.M., Sheetz K., Pandey J.P., Nahm M.H., Rambeck J.H., Jacobs J.L., Musser J., Selander R.K., Kabeer M., Murphy T.V. and Osterholm M.T. (1989): Host and bacterial factors associated with Haemophilus influenzae type b disease in Minnesota children vaccinated with type b polysaccharide vaccine - Journal of Infectious Diseases 159: 908–916.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Granoff D.M., Suarez B.K., Pandey J.P. and Shackelford P.G. (1988): Genes associated with the G2m(23) immunoglobulin allotype regulate the IgG subclass responses to Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine - Journal of Infectious Diseases 157: 1142–1149.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hampton C.M., Barenkamp S.J. and Granoff D.M. (1983): Comparison of outer membrane protein subtypes of Haemophilus influenzae type b isolates from healthy children in the general population and from diseased patients - Journal of Clinical Microbiology 18: 596–600.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kayser F.H., Morenzoni G. and Santanam P. (1990): The second European collaborative study on the frequency of antimicrobial resistance in Haemophilus influenzae - Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 9: 810–817.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Loos B.G., Bernstein J.M., Dryja D.M., Murphy T.F. and Dickinson D.P. (1989): Determination of the epidemiology and transmission of non-typable Haemophilus influenzae in children with otitis media by comparison of total genomic DNA restriction fingerprints - Infection and Immunity 57: 2751–2757.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Mandelman P.M., Wiley E.A., Stull T.L., Clausen C., Chaffin D.O. and Onay O. (1990): Problems with current recommendations for susceptibility testing of Haemophilus influenzae - Antimicrobial Agents Chemotherapy 34: 1480–1484.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Moeser P.J., Costello P.B., Gillikin S. and Murphy T.F. (1991): Haemophilus infuenzae polyarthritis in an adult: an analysis of serotype b strains - Reviews of Infectious Diseases 13: 61–63.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Murphy T.F., Dudas K.C., Mylotte J.M. and Apicella M.A. (1983): A subtyping system for non-typable Haemophilus influenzae based on outer-membrane proteins - Journal of Infectious Diseases 147: 838–846.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Musser J.M., Barenkamp S.J., Granoff D.M. and Selander R.K. (1986): Genetic relationships of serologically non-typable and serotype b strains of Haemophilus infuenzae - Infection and Immunity 52: 183–191.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Musser J.M., Kroll J.S., Granoff D.M., et al. (1990): Global genetic structure and molecular epidemiology of encapsulated Haemophilus infuenzae - Reviews of Infectious Diseases 12: 75–111.

    Google Scholar 

  15. National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (1990): Performance standards for antimicrobial disk susceptibility tests, 4th ed. Approved standard M2-A4- National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, Villanova, Pa.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Paterson A.J., Macsween K.F. and Pennington T.H. (1987): Haemophilus influenzae subtyping by SDS-PAGE of whole-cell polypeptides - Epidem. Inf. 99: 179–189.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Pennington T.H. and Freebairn E.M. (1989): Subtyping of Haemophilus influenzae type b strains from Europe and North America by SDS-PAGE of whole-cell polypeptides: the geographical distribution of subtypes - Epidem. Inf. 102: 11–19.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Petersen G.M., Silimperi D.R., Rotter J.I., Terasaki P.I., Schanfield M.S., Park M.S. and Ward J.I. (1987): Genetic factors in Haemophilus influenzae type b disease susceptibility and antibody acquisition -Journal of Pediatrics 110: 228–233.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Porras O., Caugant D.A., Gray B., Lagergard T., Levin B.R. and Svanborg-Eden C. (1986): Difference in structure between type b and nontypable Haemophilus influenzae populations - Infection and Immunity 53: 79–89.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Poulsen K., Hjorth J.P. and Kilian M. (1988): Limited diversity of the immunoglobulin A1 protease gene (Iga) among Haemophilus influenzae serotype b strains - Infection and Immunity 56: 987–992.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Sambrook J., Fritsch E.F. and Maniatis T. (1989): Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual, 2nd editions -Edited by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., U.S.A.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Slack M.P.E. (1990): Haemophilus. In: Topley & Wilson's: Principles of Bacteriology, Virology and Immunity. Parker M.T., Duerden B.J. (eds.) — vol. 2, p. 355–382, 8th Ed., London.

  23. Takala A.K., Eskola J., Bol P., Van Alphen L., Palmgren J. and Mäkelä P.H. (1987): Haemophilus influenzae type b strains of outer membrane subtypes 1 and 1c cause different types of invasive disease -Lancet ii: 647–649.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Van Alphen L., Bol P. and Geelen-Van Der Broek L. (1991): Differences in subtype distribution of Haemophilus infuenzae type b from carriers in the general population and patients with meningitis -Journal of Medical Microbiology 34: 313–316.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Van Alphen L., Geelen L., Jonsdottir K., Talaka A.K., Käyhty H. and Zanen H.C. (1987): Distinct geographic distribution of subtypes of Haemophilus infuenzae type b in Western Europe - Journal of Infectious Diseases 156: 216–218.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Van Alphen L., Riemens T., Poolman J., Hopman C. and Zanen H.C. (1983): Homogeneity of cell envelope protein subtypes, lipopolysaccharide serotypes, and biotypes among Haemophilus influenzae type b from patients with meningitis in the Netherlands - Journal of Infectious Diseases 148: 75–81.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Van Ham S.M., Mooi F.R., Sindhunata M.G., Maris W.R. and Van Alphen L. (1989): Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of Haemophilus influenzae fimbrial genes establishes adherence to oropharyngeal epithelial cells - EMBO J. 11: 3535–3540.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Clinica delle Malattie Infettive, Università di Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli, 10 53100, Siena, Italy

    M. Mencarelli, C. Marsili, A. Zanchi, C. Pantini & C. Cellesi

Authors
  1. M. Mencarelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Marsili
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Zanchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. Pantini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. C. Cellesi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mencarelli, M., Marsili, C., Zanchi, A. et al. Genomic DNA fingerprints and phenotypic characteristics of serotype B Haemophilus influenzae isolates from Italy. Eur J Epidemiol 9, 353–360 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00157390

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00157390

Key words

Search

Navigation