IS 53: an insertion element for molecular typing of Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi

Abstract

A worldwide collection of Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi strains from olive knots was examined for the distribution, variation in position and copy numbers of the IS 53 insertion element. Southern hybridization analysis of plasmid DNA from six olive strains using IS 53 and repA probes revealed that this insertion element was present in the chromosomal replicon and not in a plasmid, as had been originally described in an oleander strain. Southern hybridization analysis also revealed that IS 53 was present in multiple copies in all analyzed strains. Copy numbers of IS 53 elements ranged from 4 up to 10. Although all strains displayed a remarkably high degree of restriction fragment length polymorphism, we demonstrated that transposition of this element is extremely rare in bacteria grown in vitro for up to 390 generations. The genetic diversity of 62 olive strains based on 47 different IS 53 RFLP fingerprints and UPGMA analysis enabled all strains to be clustered into eight groups with 60% similarity. IS 53 typing can be considered a suitable marker for epidemiological and ecological studies, given its widespread distribution on P. savastanoi pv. savastanoi olive populations, its high stability and the high degree of polymorphism generated.