Biotyping of Brucella melitensis by multi-locus analysis of variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs)

AbstractJournal URL: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119877016/tocgroupBrucella spp. are gram-negative intercellular pathogens that infect a variety of domestic and wild animals. Brucella melitensis causes brucellosis to sheep, cattle and humans as a secondary host. It continues to be of great health significance and economic importance in many European countries. Differentiation between species and their different biovars is currently based on serotyping, phage typing, biochemical characteristics, metabolic properties and dye-sensitivity. The finger printing method was implemented using microsatellite DNA to genotype B. melitensis. An eight-base pair tandem repeat sequence was discovered in eight genomic loci of the B. melitensis genome and it was found that existed in various, multiple and accidental repetitions. Specific primers were used to amplify these particular loci. The PCR products were analysed in LI-COR IR2 DNA Sequencer and their molecular size was determined. We studied 45 contagious samples of the Greek peninsula. Out of the nine loci studied for all samples only five exhibit differences and thus biotyping of B. melitensis was achieved