Beta Subunit Of RNA Polymerase Research Articles

Understanding Rifampicin Resistance in Tuberculosis through a Computational Approach.

The disease tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The evolution of drug-resistant tuberculosis causes a foremost threat to global health. Most drug-resistant MTB clinical strains are showing resistance to isoniazid and rifampicin (RIF), the frontline anti-tuberculosis drugs. Mutation in rpoB, the beta subunit of DNA-directed RNA polymerase of MTB, is reported to be a major cause of RIF resistance. Amongst mutations in the well-defined 81-base-pair central region of the rpoB gene, mutation at codon 450 (S450L) and 445 (H445Y) is mainly associated with RIF resistance. In this study, we modeled two resistant mutants of rpoB (S450L and H445Y) using Modeller9v10 and performed a docking analysis with RIF using AutoDock4.2 and compared the docking results of these mutants with the wild-type rpoB. The docking results revealed that RIF more effectively inhibited the wild-type rpoB with low binding energy than rpoB mutants. The rpoB mutants interacted with RIF with positive binding energy, revealing the incapableness of RIF inhibition and thus showing resistance. Subsequently, this was verified by molecular dynamics simulations. This in silico evidence may help us understand RIF resistance in rpoB mutant strains.

Eosinophilic Granuloma with Splendore-Hoeppli Material Caused by Toxigenic <i>Corynebacterium ulcerans</i> in a Heifer

ABSTRACTRaised lesions were present on the left nasal vestibule of a 20-month-old Japanese Brown heifer. The largest mass which caused partial nasal obstruction was removed surgically. Corynebacterium ulcerans was identified in the mass. 16S ribosomal RNA and RNA polymerase beta subunit genes were 100% and 98% identical to other C. ulcerans strains. Histologically, multiple foci of eosinophilic granuloma with Splendore-Hoeppli material were seen. Rod-shaped Gram-positive organisms were detected with metachromatic granules, producing diphtheria toxin with 5, 30 and 48 amino acid differences to another C. ulcerans strain, C. diphtheriae or C. pseudotuberculosis, respectively. The toxin is highly cytotoxic and may be responsible for the formation of abundant Splendore-Hoeppli material. The lesion was therefore judged to be an allergic reaction to bacterial antigens or diphtheria toxin.

Mycobacterium fragae sp. nov., a non-chromogenic species isolated from human respiratory specimens

Three isolates of a slow-growing, non-chromogenic mycobacterium were grown from three sputum samples of a patient from the north-eastern Ceará state in Brazil. Identification at species level could not be obtained with PCR restriction analysis of the hsp65 gene. In order to characterize the isolates we carried out phenotypic and genotypic tests. We sequenced the nearly complete 16S rRNA gene and obtained partial sequences of the hsp65 (encoding the hypervariable region of the 65 kDa heat-shock protein) and rpoB (encoding the beta-subunit of RNA polymerase) genes. The three isolates turned out to be identical and most closely related to the species Mycobacterium celatum and Mycobacterium kyorinense. The results, however, showed significant differences between these species and the isolates studied, which led us to consider them members of a novel species for which we propose the name Mycobacterium fragae. The type strain is HF8705(T) ( = Fiocruz-INCQS/CMRVS P4051(T) = DSM 45731(T)).

Development of quantitative real-time PCR primers for detecting 42 oral bacterial species

In this study, we introduced species-specific quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) primers designed based on a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase beta-subunit gene (rpoB) for detecting 42 oral bacterial species. The specificity of the qPCR primers was confirmed by conventional PCR with the genomic DNAs of 73-79 strains regarding 73-75 bacterial species including the type strain for the target species. The standard curves revealed the lower detection limits of 42 bacterial species-specific qPCR primers ranged from 4 to 40fg below a cycle threshold (C T) value of 35, except Atopobium rimae, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Neisseria meningitidis, and Porphyromonas asaccharolytica which were 400fg. These results suggest that 42 bacterial species-specific qPCR primers are suitable for applications in epidemiological studies related to oral infectious diseases such as periodontal diseases, endodontic infection, and dental caries.

Multigene sequence data reveal morphologically cryptic phylogenetic species within the genus Laccaria in southern Australia

Laccaria (Hydnangiaceae, Agaricales, Basidiomycota) is one of the more intensively studied ectomycorrhizal genera; however, species boundaries within Laccaria and the closely related Hydnangium and Podohydnangium in Australia have not yet been examined with molecular sequence data. Based on morphological characters, eight native species of Laccaria are currently recognized in Australia, as well as three Hydnangium species and the monotypic Podohydnangium australe. Sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear rDNA (ITS), RNA polymerase beta subunit II (rpb2) and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (tef-1α) were generated from 77 collections of Laccaria, Hydnangium and Podohydnangium from Australia. Ten phylogenetic species and a further 11 potential species (represented by singletons) of Laccaria in Australia are delimited from sequence analyses. Most of the morphological species contained cryptic phylogenetic species, but these species were always nested entirely within a given morphological species, although not always as sister taxa. The rpb2 locus performed best as a species barcode with pairwise and patristic distance measures. The ITS sequence region returned the least resolved gene tree of the three regions examined and was the least useful as a barcode region. Based on the phylogenetic topology, there appears to have been multiple gains and/or losses of the ectomycorrhizal association of some species with the myrtle beech, Nothofagus cunninghamii as well as of sequestrate basidiocarps and two-spored basidia.

Evaluation of reference genes for reverse transcription quantitative PCR analyses of fish-pathogenic Francisella strains exposed to different growth conditions

BackgroundReverse transcription quantitative PCR has become a powerful technique to monitor mRNA transcription in response to different environmental conditions in many bacterial species. However, correct evaluation of data requires accurate and reliable use of reference genes whose transcription does not change during the course of the experiment. In the present study exposure to different growth conditions was used to validate the transcription stability of eight reference gene candidates in three strains from two subspecies of Francisella noatunensis, a pathogen causing disease in both warm and cold water fish species.ResultsRelative transcription levels for genes encoding DNA gyrase (gyrA), RNA polymerase beta subunit (rpoB), DNA polymerase I (polA), cell division protein (ftsZ), outer membrane protein (fopA), riboflavin biosynthesis protein (ribC), 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) and DNA helicases (uvrD) were quantified under exponential, stationary and iron-restricted growth conditions. The suitability of selected reference genes for reliable interpretation of gene expression data was tested using the virulence-associated intracellular growth locus subunit C (iglC) gene.ConclusionAlthough the transcription stability of the reference genes was slightly different in the three strains studied, fopA, ftsZ and polA proved to be the most stable and suitable for normalization of gene transcription in Francisella noatunensis ssp.

Evolution of Escherichia coli rifampicin resistance in an antibiotic-free environment during thermal stress

BackgroundBeneficial mutations play an essential role in bacterial adaptation, yet little is known about their fitness effects across genetic backgrounds and environments. One prominent example of bacterial adaptation is antibiotic resistance. Until recently, the paradigm has been that antibiotic resistance is selected by the presence of antibiotics because resistant mutations confer fitness costs in antibiotic free environments. In this study we show that it is not always the case, documenting the selection and fixation of resistant mutations in populations of Escherichia coli B that had never been exposed to antibiotics but instead evolved for 2000 generations at high temperature (42.2°C).ResultsWe found parallel mutations within the rpoB gene encoding the beta subunit of RNA polymerase. These amino acid substitutions conferred different levels of rifampicin resistance. The resistant mutations typically appeared, and were fixed, early in the evolution experiment. We confirmed the high advantage of these mutations at 42.2°C in glucose-limited medium. However, the rpoB mutations had different fitness effects across three genetic backgrounds and six environments.ConclusionsWe describe resistance mutations that are not necessarily costly in the absence of antibiotics or compensatory mutations but are highly beneficial at high temperature and low glucose. Their fitness effects depend on the environment and the genetic background, providing glimpses into the prevalence of epistasis and pleiotropy.

BartonellaPrevalence and Genetic Diversity in Small Mammals from Ethiopia

More than 500 small mammals were trapped at 3 localities in northern Ethiopia to investigate Bartonella infection prevalence and the genetic diversity of the Bartonella spp. We extracted total DNA from liver samples and performed PCR using the primers 1400F and 2300R targeting 852 bp of the Bartonella RNA polymerase beta subunit (rpoB) gene. We used a generalized linear mixed model to relate the probability of Bartonella infection to species, season, locality, habitat, sex, sexual condition, weight, and ectoparasite infestation. Overall, Bartonella infection prevalence among the small mammals was 34.0%. The probability of Bartonella infection varied significantly with species, sex, sexual condition, and some locality, but not with season, elevation, habitat type, animal weight, and ectoparasite infestation. In total, we found 18 unique Bartonella genotypes clustered into 5 clades, 1 clade exclusively Ethiopian, 2 clades clustered with genotypes from central and eastern Africa, and the remaining 2 clades clustered with genotypes and species from Africa and Asia. The close relatedness of several of our Bartonella genotypes obtained from the 3 dominant rodent species in Tigray with the pathogenic Bartonella elizabethae from Rattus spp. in Asia indicates a potential public health threat.

Combining COLD-PCR and high-resolution melt analysis for rapid detection of low-level, rifampin-resistant mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) remains a serious threat to public health. Mutational analysis of the gene encoding the beta subunit of RNA polymerase (rpoB) is an established and widely used surrogate marker for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The rpoB-based drug-resistant assay requires relatively less time to detect drug resistance in M. tuberculosis, yet it fails to detect low-level mutations in wild-type DNA. Here, we describe a low-level mutation detection method that combines co-amplification at lower denaturation temperature polymerase chain reaction (COLD-PCR) with high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis, aimed at detecting low-level, rifampin-resistant mutations in M. tuberculosis. Compared to conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), dilution experiments demonstrated a four- to eightfold improvement in selectivity using COLD-PCR/HRM to detect low-level, rifampin-resistant mutations. The mutation detection limit of conventional PCR/HRM was approximately 20%, whereas COLD-PCR/HRM had a mutation detection limit of 2.5%. Using traditional PCR/HRM and DNA sequencing, we found rpoB mutation in 110 rifampin-resistant isolates. The use of COLD-PCR/HRM allowed us to detect 10 low-level, rifampin-resistant mutations in 16 additional drug-resistant isolates. The sensitivity of COLD-PCR/HRM (95.2%) is significantly higher than that of PCR/HRM (87.3%). Our findings demonstrate that combined use of COLD-PCR with HRM can provide a sensitivity of at least 5% in detecting rpoB-mutated populations in a wild-type background, decreasing the delay in drug-resistant TB diagnosis and leading to faster, cheaper, more efficient, and more personalized antibiotic treatment, especially for low-level drug resistance mutations among the excess wild-type DNA.

Description of Riemerella columbipharyngis sp. nov., isolated from the pharynx of healthy domestic pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica), and emended descriptions of the genus Riemerella , Riemerella anatipestifer and Riemerella columbina

A group of 11 bacterial strains was isolated during microbiological investigations of pharyngeal swabs collected from domestic pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica). Phenotypic properties of the isolates closely resembled those of members of the genus Riemerella within the family Flavobacteriaceae. The genus presently contains two species, Riemerella anatipestifer and Riemerella columbina. The pigeon isolates differed from R. columbina by their lack of pigment production and negative CAMP co-haemolysis reaction. They grew more slowly at 37 °C under microaerobic conditions and showed reduced viability during storage under aerobic conditions at different temperatures, compared with both Riemerella species. Comparisons of protein profiles with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) MS analysis allowed differentiation between the new pigeon isolates and both R. anatipestifer and R. columbina. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene and rpoB gene (encoding RNA polymerase beta subunit) sequences supported the affiliation of the 11 strains to a novel species within the genus Riemerella, for which we propose the name Riemerella columbipharyngis sp. nov. The type strain is 8151(T) (=DSM 24015(T) = LMG 26094(T)). Emended descriptions of the genus Riemerella and of its species Riemerella anatipestifer and Riemerella columbina are also presented.

남조세균 흔들말목(Cyanobacteria, Oscillatoriales) 해양 균주의 16S rRNA와 rpoB 유전자 변이

본 연구는 남조세균 흔들말목(Cyanobacteria, Oscillatoriales)의 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) 및 RNA polymerase beta subunit(rpoB) 유전자를 대상으로 염기서열 변이 및 분자계통학적 특성을 분석한 것이다. 흔들말목 rpoB 유전자는 16S rRNA보다 유전자 변이(유전거리: rpoB=0.270, 16S=0.109)가 큰 것으로 조사되었으며, 통계적으로 유의한 차이를 보였다(Student t-test, p<0.001). 흔들말목 16S rRNA와 rpoB의 계통분석에서 유사한 계통 분지형태를 보였으며, rpoB 유전자가 높은 해상도를 갖고 있어 흔들말목 분류군을 더 명확하게 구분하였다. 또한, parsimony 분석을 통해 rpoB 유전자가 16S rRNA 보다 2.40배 빠르게 진화하는 것으로 파악되었다. 본 연구결과는 rpoB 유전자가 흔들말목의 분자계통 및 종 분류 연구에 매우 유용하다는 것을 제시해 준다. In this study, we investigated molecular divergences and phylogenetic characteristics of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and RNA polymerase beta subunit (rpoB) gene sequences from the order Oscillatoriales (Cyanobacteria). The rpoB of Oscillatoriales showed higher genetic divergence when compared with those of 16S rRNA (p-distance: rpoB=0.270, 16S=0.109), and these differences were statistically significant (Student t-test, p<0.001). Phylogenetic trees of 16S rRNA and rpoB were generally compatible; however, rpoB tree clearly separated the compared Oscillatoriales taxa, with higher phylogenetic resolution. In addition, parsimony analyses showed that rpoB gene evolved 2.40-fold faster than 16S rRNA. These results suggest that the rpoB is a useful gene for the molecular phylogenetics and species discrimination in the order Oscillatoriales.

Microbial Analysis of Bite Marks by Sequence Comparison of Streptococcal DNA

Bite mark injuries often feature in violent crimes. Conventional morphometric methods for the forensic analysis of bite marks involve elements of subjective interpretation that threaten the credibility of this field. Human DNA recovered from bite marks has the highest evidentiary value, however recovery can be compromised by salivary components. This study assessed the feasibility of matching bacterial DNA sequences amplified from experimental bite marks to those obtained from the teeth responsible, with the aim of evaluating the capability of three genomic regions of streptococcal DNA to discriminate between participant samples. Bite mark and teeth swabs were collected from 16 participants. Bacterial DNA was extracted to provide the template for PCR primers specific for streptococcal 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene, 16S–23S intergenic spacer (ITS) and RNA polymerase beta subunit (rpoB). High throughput sequencing (GS FLX 454), followed by stringent quality filtering, generated reads from bite marks for comparison to those generated from teeth samples. For all three regions, the greatest overlaps of identical reads were between bite mark samples and the corresponding teeth samples. The average proportions of reads identical between bite mark and corresponding teeth samples were 0.31, 0.41 and 0.31, and for non-corresponding samples were 0.11, 0.20 and 0.016, for 16S rRNA, ITS and rpoB, respectively. The probabilities of correctly distinguishing matching and non-matching teeth samples were 0.92 for ITS, 0.99 for 16S rRNA and 1.0 for rpoB. These findings strongly support the tenet that bacterial DNA amplified from bite marks and teeth can provide corroborating information in the identification of assailants.

Molecular serotyping of Salmonella enterica by complete rpoB gene sequencing

Serotyping has been the gold standard for identifying Salmonella, but it requires large amounts of standard antisera. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) has been applied to identify Salmonella serovars, but the recombination of 4-7 housekeeping genes and multiple analytic steps diminish its applicability. In the present study, we determined the complete sequences of the RNA polymerase beta subunit gene (rpoB) and 7 housekeeping genes (aroC, dnaN, hemD, hisD, purE, sucA, and thrA) for 76 strains of 33 Salmonella enterica serovars and conducted phylogenetic analyses together with the corresponding gene sequences of 24 reference strains registered in the GenBank database. Based on the phylogenetic analyses, 100 strains from 40 serovars and 91 strains from 37 serovars were classified into 60 rpoB (RST) and 49 multilocus sequence types (ST), respectively. The nucleotide similarities were 98.8-100% and 96.9-100% for the complete rpoB gene and the seven concatenated housekeeping genes, respectively. The strains of 35 and 30 serovars formed serovar-specific branches or clusters in the rpoB and housekeeping gene phylogenetic trees, respectively. Therefore, complete rpoB gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis may be a useful method for identifying Salmonella serovars that is a simpler, more cost-effective, and less time-consuming alternative or complementary method to MLST and conventional serotyping.

Draft Genome Sequence of Fusobacterium nucleatum ChDC F128, Isolated from a Periodontitis Lesion

Fusobacterium nucleatum is classified into five subspecies. F. nucleatum ChDC F128 was isolated from a periodontitis lesion and proposed as a new subspecies based on the comparison of the nucleotide sequences of the RNA polymerase beta subunit and zinc protease genes. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of the strain.

일반 프라이머를 이용한 PCR의 식품원료 진위 판별에 적용

본 연구는 식품원료의 진위여부를 판별하기 위한 시험법으로 일반 프라이머를 이용한 DNA barcode 기법을 도입하였다. 동물성식품원료의 경우 미토콘드리아 DNA 중 cytochrome oxidase subunit I(COI) 부위 검출을 위하여 디자인된 프라이머(LCO1490/HCO2198 및 VF2/FISH R2)와 cytochrome b(cyt b) 부위 검출을 위하여 디자인된 프라이머(L14724/H15915)를 사용하였다. 상기 3 종류의 프라이머를 사용하여 가축류 6종(소, 돼지, 염소, 양, 말 및 사슴), 가금류 4종(닭, 오리, 칠면조 및 타조), 어류 7종(명태, 대구, 청대구, 청어, 송어, 다랑어 및 우럭)을 대상으로 PCR 후 전기영동하여 예상되는 PCR 산물의 생성 유무를 확인하였다. 가축류 6종에 대하여는 LCO1490/HCO2198, VF2/FISH R2 및 L14724/H15915 프라이머를 사용한 경우 COI 및 cyt b가 모두 검출되었으며, 가금류 4종은 LCO1490/HCO2198 및 VF2/FISH R2 프라이머를 사용한 경우만 COI이 검출되었다. 또한 어류 7종은 VF2/FISH R2 프라이머를 사용한 경우에만 COI 부위가 검출됨을 확인하였다. 식물의 경우 엽록체 DNA 부위를 이용하여 디자인된 3 종류의 프라이머(trnH/psbA, rpoB 1F/4R 및 rbcL 1F/724R)를 사용하였다. 각각의 프라이머를 이용하여 식물 5종(마늘, 양파, 무, 녹차 및 시금치)에 대하여 실험한 결과 3종류의 프라이머에서 PCR의 산물을 모두 확인하였으며 trnH/psbA 프라이머의 경우 식물 종마다 PCR 산물의 크기는 다르게 검출되었다. 본 연구에서는 17종의 식품원료별 일반 프라이머 및 PCR 조건을 확립하였으며, 생산된 PCR 산물을 대상으로 염기서열을 결정하고 유전자은행에 있는 염기서열과 DB 비교 분석을 통하여 식품에 사용된 원료의 진위여부 판별에 적용이 가능할 것으로 기대된다. In order to determine an authenticity of food ingredient, we used DNA barcode method by universal primers. For identification of animal food ingredients, LCO1490/HCO2198 and VF2/FISH R2 designed for amplifying cytochrome c oxidase subunit1 (CO1) region and L14724/H15915 for cytochrome b (cyt b) region on mitochondrial DNA were used. Livestock (cow, pig, goat, sheep, a horse and deer) was amplified by LCO1490/HCO 2198, VF2/FISH R2 and L14724/H15915 primers. Poultry (chicken, duck, turkey and ostrich) was amplified by LCO1490/HCO 2198 and VF2/FISH R2 primers. But, Fishes (walleye pollack, herring, codfish, blue codfish, trout, tuna and rockfish) were only amplified by VF2/FISH R2 primers. For plant food ingredients, 3 types of primers (trnH/psbA, rpoB 1F/4R and rbcL 1F/724R) have been used an intergenic spacer, a RNA polymerase beta subunit and a ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase region on plastid, respectively. Garlic, onion, radish, green tea and spinach were amplified by trnH/psbA, rpoB 1F/4R and rbcL 1F/724R. The PCR product sizes were same by rpoB 1F/4R and rbcL 1F/724R but, the PCR product size using trnH/psbA primer was different with others for plants each. We established PCR condition and universal primer selection for 17 item's raw materials for foods and determine base sequences aim to PCR products in this study. This study can apply to determine an authenticity of foods through making an comparison between databases and base sequences in gene bank. Therefore, DNA barcode method using universal primers can be a useful for species identification techniques not only raw materials but also processed foods that are difficult to analyze by chemical analysis.

Mycobacterium iranicum sp. nov., a rapidly growing scotochromogenic species isolated from clinical specimens on three different continents

The isolation and characterization of a novel, rapidly growing, scotochromogenic mycobacterial species is reported. Eight independent strains were isolated from clinical specimens from six different countries of the world, two in Iran, two in Italy and one in each of following countries: Greece, The Netherlands, Sweden and the USA. Interestingly, two of the strains were isolated from cerebrospinal fluid. The strains were characterized by rapid growth and presented orange-pigmented scotochromogenic colonies. DNA-based analysis revealed unique sequences in the four regions investigated: the 16S rRNA gene, the rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer 1 and the genes encoding the 65 kDa heat-shock protein and the beta-subunit of RNA polymerase. The phylogenetic analysis placed the strains among the rapidly growing mycobacteria, being most closely related to Mycobacterium gilvum. The genotypic and phenotypic data both strongly supported the inclusion of the strains investigated here as members of a novel species within the genus Mycobacterium; the name Mycobacterium iranicum sp. nov. is proposed to indicate the isolation in Iran of the first recognized strains. The type strain is M05(T) ( = DSM 45541(T) = CCUG 62053(T) = JCM 17461(T)).

Microsatellite analysis in organelle genomes of Chlorophyta.

Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) or microsatellites constitute a significant portion of genomes however; their significance in organellar genomes has not been completely understood. The availability of organelle genome sequences allows us to understand the organization of SSRs in their genic and intergenic regions. In the present work, SSRs were identified and categorized in 14 mitochondrial and 22 chloroplast genomes of algal species belonging to Chlorophyta. Based on the study, it was observed that number of SSRs in non-coding region were more as compared to coding region and frequency of mononucleotides repeats were highest followed by dinucleotides in both mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes. It was also observed that maximum number of SSRs was found in genes encoding for beta subunit of RNA polymerase in chloroplast genomes and NADH dehydrogenase in mitochondrial genomes. This is the first and original report on whole genomes sequence analysis of organellar genomes of green algae.

Common Changes in Global Gene Expression Induced by RNA Polymerase Inhibitors in shigella flexneri

Characterization of expression profile of organisms in response to antimicrobials provides important information on the potential mechanism of action of the drugs. The special expression signature can be used to predict whether other drugs act on the same target. Here, the common response of Shigella flexneri to two inhibitors of RNA polymerase was examined using gene expression profiling. Consistent with similar effects of the two drugs, the gene expression profiles indicated that responses of the bacteria to these drugs were roughly the same, with 225 genes affected commonly. Of them, 88 were induced and 137 were repressed. Real-time PCR was performed for selected genes to verify the microarray results. Analysis of the expression data revealed that more than 30% of the plasmid-encoded genes on the array were up-regulated by the antibiotics including virF regulon, other virulence-related genes, and genes responsible for plasmid replication, maintenance, and transfer. In addition, some chromosome-encoded genes involved in virulence and genes acquired from horizontal transfer were also significantly up-regulated. However, the expression of genes encoding the beta-subunit of RNA polymerase was increased moderately. The repressed genes include those that code for products associated with the ribosome, citrate cycle, glycolysis, thiamine biosynthesis, purine metabolism, fructose metabolism, mannose metabolism, and cold shock proteins. This study demonstrates that the two antibiotics induce rapid cessation of RNA synthesis resulting in inhibition of translation components. It also indicates that the production of virulence factors involved in intercellular dissemination, tissue invasion and inflammatory destruction may be enhanced through derepressing horizontal transfer genes by the drugs.

Use of rpoB gene sequence analysis for phylogenetic identification of Cronobacter species

Here, we report the RNA polymerase beta-subunit gene (rpoB) as a new molecular marker for the identification of the Cronobacter species. The results indicated that members of the Cronobacter genus are more easily discriminated by rpoB sequencing than 16S rRNA sequencing, and reliable identification could be achieved by rpoB gene sequence comparison.

RNA polymerase beta subunit (rpoB) gene and the 16S–23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer region (ITS) as complementary molecular markers in addition to the 16S rRNA gene for phylogenetic analysis and identification of the species of the family Mycoplasmataceae

Conventional classification of the species in the family Mycoplasmataceae is mainly based on phenotypic criteria, which are complicated, can be difficult to measure, and have the potential to be hampered by phenotypic deviations among the isolates. The number of biochemical reactions suitable for phenotypic characterization of the Mycoplasmataceae is also very limited and therefore the strategy for the final identification of the Mycoplasmataceae species is based on comparative serological results. However, serological testing of the Mycoplasmataceae species requires a performance panel of hyperimmune sera which contains anti-serum to each known species of the family, a high level of technical expertise, and can only be properly performed by mycoplasma-reference laboratories. In addition, the existence of uncultivated and fastidious Mycoplasmataceae species/isolates in clinical materials significantly complicates, or even makes impossible, the application of conventional bacteriological tests. The analysis of available genetic markers is an additional approach for the primary identification and phylogenetic classification of cultivable species and uncultivable or fastidious organisms in standard microbiological laboratories. The partial nucleotide sequences of the RNA polymerase β-subunit gene (rpoB) and the 16S–23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) were determined for all known type strains and the available non-type strains of the Mycoplasmataceae species. In addition to the available 16S rRNA gene data, the ITS and rpoB sequences were used to infer phylogenetic relationships among these species and to enable identification of the Mycoplasmataceae isolates to the species level. The comparison of the ITS and rpoB phylogenetic trees with the 16S rRNA reference phylogenetic tree revealed a similar clustering patterns for the Mycoplasmataceae species, with minor discrepancies for a few species that demonstrated higher divergence of their ITS and rpoB in comparison to their neighbor species. Overall, our results demonstrated that the ITS and rpoB gene could be useful complementary phylogenetic markers to infer phylogenetic relationships among the Mycoplasmataceae species and provide useful background information for the choice of appropriate metabolic and serological tests for the final classification of isolates. In summary, three-target sequence analysis, which includes the ITS, rpoB, and 16S rRNA genes, was demonstrated to be a reliable and useful taxonomic tool for the species differentiation within the family Mycoplasmataceae based on their phylogenetic relatedness and pairwise sequence similarities. We believe that this approach might also become a valuable tool for routine analysis and primary identification of new isolates in medical and veterinary microbiological laboratories.