Multilocus PCR typing strategy for differentiation of Staphylococcus aureus siphoviruses reflecting their modular genome structure
Authors | |
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Year of publication | 2010 |
Type | Article in Periodical |
Magazine / Source | Environmental Microbiology |
MU Faculty or unit | |
Citation | |
Web | |
Field | Genetics and molecular biology |
Keywords | bacteriophage; Staphylococcus aureus; Siphoviridae; molecular typing; PCR; modular genome; evolution |
Description | Given the great biological importance and high diversity of temperate Staphylococcus aureus bacteriophages, a method is needed for the description of their genomic structure. Here we have updated a multiplex PCR strategy for the complex characterization of S. aureus phages of the family Siphoviridae. Based on the comparative genomic analysis of the available phage sequences, a multilocus PCR strategy for typing the major modules of the phage genome was designed. The genomic modules were classified on the basis of the genes for integrase, anti-repressor, replication proteins, dUTPase, portal protein, tail appendices and endolysin corresponding to main functional modules. The nine PCR assays designed for the above sequences were shown to be capable to identify the bacteriophage gene pool present both in the phage and bacterial genomes and their mosaic structure. The established multiplex PCR-based multilocus diagnostic scheme is convenient for rapid and reliable phage classification and for the study of bacteriophage evolution. |
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