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Genome Sequences of Bacillus sporothermodurans Strains Isolated from Ultra-High-Temperature Milk. Microbiol Resour Announc 2019; 8:8/22/e00145-19. [PMID: 31147427 PMCID: PMC6544184 DOI: 10.1128/mra.00145-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we report the draft genome sequences of 3 Bacillus sporothermodurans strains isolated from ultra-high-temperature milk products in South Africa and Brazil and the type strain MB 581 (DSM 10599). The genomes will provide valuable information on the molecular dynamics of heat resistance in B. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of 3 Bacillus sporothermodurans strains isolated from ultra-high-temperature milk products in South Africa and Brazil and the type strain MB 581 (DSM 10599). The genomes will provide valuable information on the molecular dynamics of heat resistance in B. sporothermodurans.
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Diversity and functionality of bacillus species associated with alkaline fermentation of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranean L. Verdc) into dawadawa-type African condiment. Eur Food Res Technol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00217-017-3024-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Ahaotu I, Anyogu A, Njoku OH, Odu NN, Sutherland JP, Ouoba LII. Molecular identification and safety of Bacillus species involved in the fermentation of African oil beans (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth) for production of Ugba. Int J Food Microbiol 2013; 162:95-104. [PMID: 23376783 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2013.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2012] [Revised: 12/19/2012] [Accepted: 01/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Molecular identification of Bacillus spp. involved in the fermentation of African oil bean seeds for production of Ugba, as well as ability of the Bacillus spp. isolated to produce toxins, were investigated. Forty-nine bacteria were isolated from Ugba produced in different areas of South Eastern Nigeria and identified by phenotyping and sequencing of 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoB genes. Genotypic diversities at interspecies and intraspecies level of the isolates were screened by PCR amplification of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS-PCR) and repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR). The ability of the bacteria to produce toxins was also investigated by detection of genes encoding production of haemolysin BL (HblA, HblC, HblD), non-haemolytic enterotoxin (NheA, NheB, NheC), cytotoxin K (CytK) and emetic toxin (EM1) using PCR with specific primers. Moreover, a Bacillus cereus Enterotoxin Reverse Passive Latex Agglutination test kit (BCET-RPLA) was used to screen ability of the isolates to produce haemolysin in broth and during fermentation of African oil bean seeds. The isolates were characterized as motile, rod-shaped, endospore forming, catalase positive, Gram-positive bacteria. They were identified as Bacillus cereus sensu lato (42), Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus (3), Bacillus clausii (1), Bacillus licheniformis (1), Bacillus subtilis (1), and Bacillus safensis (1). B. cereus was the predominant Bacillus species and was present in all samples studied. Using ITS-PCR, interspecies diversity was observed among isolates, with six clusters representing each of the pre-cited species. Rep-PCR was more discriminatory (eight clusters) and allowed further differentiation at intraspecies level for the B. cereus and L. xylanilyticus isolates with two genotypes for each species. Genes encoding production of non-haemolytic enterotoxin (NheA, NheB, NheC) and cytotoxin K (CytK) genes were detected in all B. cereus isolates, while Hbl genes (HblA, HblC, HblD) were detected in only one isolate. The emetic-specific gene fragment was not detected in any of the isolates studied. None of the toxin genes screened was detected in isolates belonging to other Bacillus species. Using RPLA, haemolysin production was detected in one isolate of B. cereus, which showed positive amplicons for Hbl genes, both during cultivation in broth and during fermentation of oil bean seeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Ahaotu
- Department of Food Science, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
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Zunabovic M, Domig KJ, Pichler I, Kneifel W. Monitoring transmission routes of Listeria spp. in smoked salmon production with repetitive element sequence-based PCR techniques. J Food Prot 2012; 75:504-11. [PMID: 22410224 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-11-341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Various techniques have been used for tracing the transmission routes of Listeria species and for the assessment of hygiene standards in food processing plants. The potential of repetitive element sequence-based PCR (Rep-PCR) methods (GTG₅ and REPI + II) for the typing of Listeria isolates (n = 116), including Listeria monocytogenes (n = 46), was evaluated in a particular situation arising from the relocation of a company producing cold-smoked salmon. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using three restriction enzymes (ApaI, AscI, and SmaI) was used for comparison. Identical transmission scenarios among two companies could be identified by cluster analysis of L. monocytogenes isolates that were indistinguishable by both Rep-PCR and PFGE. The calculated diversity index (DI) indicates that Rep-PCR subtyping of Listeria species with primer sets GTG₅ and REPI + II has a lower discrimination power than does PFGE. When concatenated Rep-PCR cluster analysis was used, the DI increased from 0.934 (REPI + II) and 0.923 (GTG₅) to 0.956. The discrimination power of this method was similar to that of PFGE typing based on restriction enzyme Apa I (DI = 0.955). Listeria welshimeri may be useful as an indicator for monitoring smoked salmon processing environments. Rep-PCR meets the expectations of a reasonable, fast, and low-cost molecular subtyping method for the routine monitoring of Listeria species. The discriminatory power as characterized by the DI sufficiently quantifies the probability of unrelated isolates being characterized as different subtypes. Therefore, Rep-PCR typing based on two primer systems (GTG₅ and REPI + II) may be a useful tool for monitoring industrial hygiene.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Zunabovic
- Department of Food Sciences and Technology, Institute of Food Science, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
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Nunvar J, Drevinek P, Licha I. DNA profiling of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia by PCR targeted to its species-specific repetitive palindromic sequences. Lett Appl Microbiol 2011; 54:59-66. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2011.03172.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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Zunabovic M, Domig KJ, Kneifel W. Practical relevance of methodologies for detecting and tracing of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods and manufacture environments – A review. Lebensm Wiss Technol 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2010.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Porwal S, Lal S, Cheema S, Kalia VC. Phylogeny in aid of the present and novel microbial lineages: diversity in Bacillus. PLoS One 2009; 4:e4438. [PMID: 19212464 PMCID: PMC2639701 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2008] [Accepted: 12/18/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus represents microbes of high economic, medical and biodefense importance. Bacillus strain identification based on 16S rRNA sequence analyses is invariably limited to species level. Secondly, certain discrepancies exist in the segregation of Bacillus subtilis strains. In the RDP/NCBI databases, out of a total of 2611 individual 16S rDNA sequences belonging to the 175 different species of the genus Bacillus, only 1586 have been identified up to species level. 16S rRNA sequences of Bacillus anthracis (153 strains), B. cereus (211 strains), B. thuringiensis (108 strains), B. subtilis (271 strains), B. licheniformis (131 strains), B. pumilus (83 strains), B. megaterium (47 strains), B. sphaericus (42 strains), B. clausii (39 strains) and B. halodurans (36 strains) were considered for generating species-specific framework and probes as tools for their rapid identification. Phylogenetic segregation of 1121, 16S rDNA sequences of 10 different Bacillus species in to 89 clusters enabled us to develop a phylogenetic frame work of 34 representative sequences. Using this phylogenetic framework, 305 out of 1025, 16S rDNA sequences presently classified as Bacillus sp. could be identified up to species level. This identification was supported by 20 to 30 nucleotides long signature sequences and in silico restriction enzyme analysis specific to the 10 Bacillus species. This integrated approach resulted in identifying around 30% of Bacillus sp. up to species level and revealed that B. subtilis strains can be segregated into two phylogenetically distinct groups, such that one of them may be renamed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalini Porwal
- Microbial Biotechnology and Genomics, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), CSIR, Delhi University Campus, Delhi, India
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Pune, Pune, India
| | - Sadhana Lal
- Microbial Biotechnology and Genomics, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), CSIR, Delhi University Campus, Delhi, India
| | - Simrita Cheema
- Microbial Biotechnology and Genomics, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), CSIR, Delhi University Campus, Delhi, India
| | - Vipin Chandra Kalia
- Microbial Biotechnology and Genomics, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), CSIR, Delhi University Campus, Delhi, India
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Rodrigues DF, Sakata SK, Comasseto JV, Bícego MC, Pellizari VH. Diversity of hydrocarbon-degrading Klebsiella strains isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated estuaries. J Appl Microbiol 2009; 106:1304-14. [PMID: 19187158 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.04097.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To investigate the diversity and the catabolic capacity of oil-degrading Klebsiella strains isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated sediments in Santos-São Vicente estuary systems in Brazil. METHODS AND RESULTS Klebsiella strains obtained from the estuary were characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and BOX-PCR patterns, testing their catabolic capacity to degrade toluene, xylene, naphthalene and nonane, and identifying the catabolic genes present in the oil-degrading strains. Results show that Klebsiella strains were widespread in the estuary. Twenty-one isolates from the Klebsiella genus were obtained; 14 had unique BOX patterns and were further investigated. Among four distinct catabolic genes tested (todC1, ndoB, xylE and alkB1), only the todC1 gene could be amplified in two Klebsiella strains. The biodegradation assay showed that most of the strains had the ability to degrade all of the tested hydrocarbons; however, the strains displayed different efficiencies. CONCLUSIONS The oil-degrading Klebsiella isolates obtained from the estuary were closely related to Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella ornithinolytica. The isolates demonstrated a substantial degree of catabolic plasticity for hydrocarbon degradation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The results of this study show that several strains from the Klebsiella genus are able to degrade diverse hydrocarbon compounds. These findings indicate that Klebsiella spp. can be an important part of the oil-degrading microbial community in estuarine areas exposed to sewage.
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Affiliation(s)
- D F Rodrigues
- Environmental Engineering Department, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8286, USA.
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Heyndrickx M, Rijpens N, Herman L. Molecular Detection and Typing of Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens: A Review. Appl Microbiol 2005. [DOI: 10.1007/0-306-46888-3_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Reyes-Ramirez A, Ibarra JE. Fingerprinting of Bacillus thuringiensis type strains and isolates by using Bacillus cereus group-specific repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence-based PCR analysis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2005; 71:1346-55. [PMID: 15746337 PMCID: PMC1065192 DOI: 10.1128/aem.71.3.1346-1355.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2004] [Accepted: 10/19/2004] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A total of 119 Bacillus thuringiensis strains (83 type strains and 26 native isolates), as well as five B. cereus group species, were analyzed by repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence-based PCR analysis (Rep-PCR) fingerprinting. Primers Bc-REP-1 and Bc-REP-2 were specifically designed according to an extragenic 26-bp repeated sequence found in the six B. cereus group genomes reported. A total of 47 polymorphic bands were detected, and the patterns varied from 5 to 13 bands in number and from 0.2 to 3.8 kb in size. Virtually each type strain showed a distinctive B. cereus (Bc)-Rep-PCR pattern, except for B. thuringiensis serovars dakota (H serotype 15 [H15]) and sotto (H4a,4b), as well as serovars amagiensis (H29) and seoulensis (H35), which shared the same patterns. As expected, serovar entomocidus (H6) and its biovar subtoxicus showed an identical pattern; similarly, serovars sumiyoshiensis (H3a,3d) and fukuokaensis (H3a,3d,3e), which share two antigenic determinants, also showed identical Bc-Rep-PCR patterns. Interestingly, serovars israelensis (H14) and malaysiensis (H36), which share several phenotypic attributes, also showed identical Bc-Rep-PCR patterns. Native, coleopteran-active strains, including the self-agglutinated LBIT-74 strain, showed Bc-Rep-PCR patterns identical or very similar to that of the tenebrionis strain. Likewise, native mosquitocidal strains (including some self-agglutinated strains) also showed patterns identical or very similar to that of the serovar israelensis IPS-82 strain. Additionally, native beta-exotoxin-producing strains from serovar thuringiensis showed patterns identical to that of the B. thuringiensis type strain. The B. cereus group-specific Bc-Rep-PCR fingerprinting technique was shown to be highly discriminative, fast, easy, and able to identify B. thuringiensis serotypes, including nonflagellar and self-agglutinated strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Reyes-Ramirez
- Departamento de Biotecnología y Bioquímica, CINVESTAV, Apartado Postal 629, 36500 Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
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De Clerck E, Vanhoutte T, Hebb T, Geerinck J, Devos J, De Vos P. Isolation, characterization, and identification of bacterial contaminants in semifinal gelatin extracts. Appl Environ Microbiol 2004; 70:3664-72. [PMID: 15184171 PMCID: PMC427776 DOI: 10.1128/aem.70.6.3664-3672.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial contamination of gelatin is of great concern. Indeed, this animal colloid has many industrial applications, mainly in food and pharmaceutical products. In a previous study (E. De Clerck and P. De Vos, Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 25:611-618), contamination of a gelatin production process with a variety of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was demonstrated. In this study, bacterial contamination of semifinal gelatin extracts from several production plants was examined. Since these extracts are subjected to harsh conditions during production and a final ultrahigh-temperature treatment, the bacterial load at this stage is expected to be greatly reduced. In total, 1,129 isolates were obtained from a total of 73 gelatin batches originating from six different production plants. Each of these batches was suspected of having bacterial contamination based on quality control testing at the production plant from which it originated. For characterization and identification of the 1,129 bacterial isolates, repetitive-element PCR was used to obtain manageable groups. Representative strains were identified by means of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, species-specific gyrB PCR, and gyrA and rpoB sequencing and were tested for gelatinase activity. The majority of isolates belonged to members of Bacillus or related endospore-forming genera. Representative strains were identified as Bacillus cereus, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus fumarioli, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus sonorensis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus gelatini, Bacillus thermoamylovorans, Anoxybacillus contaminans, Anoxybacillus flavithermus, Brevibacillus agri, Brevibacillus borstelensis, and Geobacillus stearothermophilus. The majority of these species include strains exhibiting gelatinase activity. Moreover, some of these species have known pathogenic properties. These findings are of great concern with regard to the safety and quality of gelatin and its applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- E De Clerck
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry, Physiology and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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De Clerck E, De Vos P. Genotypic diversity among Bacillus licheniformis strains from various sources. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2004; 231:91-8. [PMID: 14769472 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1097(03)00935-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2003] [Revised: 11/27/2003] [Accepted: 12/07/2003] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacillus licheniformis is exploited industrially for the production of enzymes and has been shown to exhibit pathogenic properties. Because of these divergent characteristics, questions arise concerning intraspecies diversity. A comparative study by means of combined repetitive polymerase chain reaction, rpoB and gyrA sequencing, 16S rDNA targeted probe analysis, DNA-DNA hybridizations, gelatinase tests and antibiotic susceptibility tests was performed on a set of strains from diverse sources, including strains with pathogenic potential. B. licheniformis was found to consist of two lineages that are distinguished genotypically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke De Clerck
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry, Physiology and Microbiology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
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Souto GI, Correa OS, Montecchia MS, Kerber NL, Pucheu NL, Bachur M, García AF. Genetic and functional characterization of a Bacillus sp. strain excreting surfactin and antifungal metabolites partially identified as iturin-like compounds. J Appl Microbiol 2004; 97:1247-56. [PMID: 15546416 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2004.02408.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AIMS A bacterial strain producing antifungal compounds active against the plant pathogenic fungi Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Sclerotinia has been characterized and shown to control Rhizoctonia root rot of soya bean. METHODS AND RESULTS The metabolites excreted by Bacillus BNM 122 remained active after autoclaving, were resistant over a wide pH range and to hydrolytic enzymes. By (1)H-NMR and thin-layer chromatography analyses surfactin and iturin-like compounds were partially identified. Moreover, soya bean seeds bacterization with BNM 122 in a compost-based formulation was as effective controlling Rhizoctonia solani as pentachloronitrobenzene. According to its 16S rDNA sequence BNM 122 was closely related to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus subtilis. PCR analysis of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region and repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) genomic fingerprinting revealed a close genetic relationship to B. amyloliquefaciens. However, by physiological characterization using API tests, this strain resembled more B. subtilis. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report describing the co-production of surfactin and iturin-like compounds by a putative strain of B. amyloliquefaciens. The synergistic effect of both lipopetides is a remarkable trait for a candidate biocontrol agent. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This kind of research has relevance in order to minimize the use of synthetic fungicides and surfactants, contributing to the preservation of the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- G I Souto
- Cátedra de Microbiología, Facultad de Agronomía, UBA and Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas y Fisiológicas, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Guillaume-Gentil O, Scheldeman P, Marugg J, Herman L, Joosten H, Heyndrickx M. Genetic heterogeneity in Bacillus sporothermodurans as demonstrated by ribotyping and repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR fingerprinting. Appl Environ Microbiol 2002; 68:4216-24. [PMID: 12200268 PMCID: PMC124129 DOI: 10.1128/aem.68.9.4216-4224.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Thirty-eight strains of Bacillus sporothermodurans isolated from ultra-high-temperature (UHT)-treated milk or sterilized milk (UHT isolates) and from animal feed or raw milk (farm isolates) were characterized by automated ribotyping and by repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP)-PCR fingerprinting. By investigating the genetic relationships among isolates from these various sources, the relative importance of different contamination sources could be evaluated. The results of the separate clustering analyses of the PvuII and EcoRI ribopatterns and the REP-PCR patterns were largely consistent with each other and revealed the existence of two main clusters; there was one homogeneous group containing all (REP-PCR) or most (ribotyping) of the UHT isolates, and there was a second more diverse group comprising the farm isolates. A combined three-dimensional analysis of all data showed that three German UHT isolates did not belong to the compact group containing the majority of the UHT isolates. These results demonstrate that B. sporothermodurans is more heterogeneous than previously assumed and that most of the UHT isolates form a genetically distinct subgroup and are capable of producing highly heat-resistant spores. The close genetic relationship of these UHT isolates suggests a clonal origin of a few predominant strains of B. sporothermodurans that can be found in UHT-treated or sterilized milk products.
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Brumlik MJ, Szymajda U, Zakowska D, Liang X, Redkar RJ, Patra G, Del Vecchio VG. Use of long-range repetitive element polymorphism-PCR to differentiate Bacillus anthracis strains. Appl Environ Microbiol 2001; 67:3021-8. [PMID: 11425716 PMCID: PMC92975 DOI: 10.1128/aem.67.7.3021-3028.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The genome of Bacillus anthracis is extremely monomorphic, and thus individual strains have often proven to be recalcitrant to differentiation at the molecular level. Long-range repetitive element polymorphism-PCR (LR REP-PCR) was used to differentiate various B. anthracis strains. A single PCR primer derived from a repetitive DNA element was able to amplify variable segments of a bacterial genome as large as 10 kb. We were able to characterize five genetically distinct groups by examining 105 B. anthracis strains of diverse geographical origins. All B. anthracis strains produced fingerprints comprising seven to eight bands, referred to as "skeleton" bands, while one to three "diagnostic" bands differentiated between B. anthracis strains. LR REP-PCR fingerprints of B. anthracis strains showed very little in common with those of other closely related species such as B. cereus, B. thuringiensis, and B. mycoides, suggesting relative heterogeneity among the non-B. anthracis strains. Fingerprints from transitional non-B. anthracis strains, which possessed the B. anthracis chromosomal marker Ba813, scarcely resembled those observed for any of the five distinct B. anthracis groups that we have identified. The LR REP-PCR method described in this report provides a simple means of differentiating B. anthracis strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Brumlik
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Medicine, University of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania 18510, USA
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