Comparison of the (CCG)4-based PCR and MIRU-VNTR for molecular typing of Mycobacterium avium strains

Mol Biol Rep. 2012 Jul;39(7):7681-6. doi: 10.1007/s11033-012-1603-2. Epub 2012 Feb 15.

Abstract

Mycobacterium avium, a member of the group of non-tuberculous mycobacteria, is most often responsible for the serious diseases in humans and is frequently isolated from NTM-caused pulmonary events. In this connection the epidemiological aspect is also of great importance. Here we present a useful genetic assay that uses (CCG)(4)-based PCR for genotyping M. avium. After applying this test to 33 strains of M. avium, we found a discriminatory index of 0.979. The accuracy of this analysis was supported by a reasonable reproducibility of 95.1%. These results were compared with the Mycobacterial Intergenic Repeat Unit-Variable Number Tandem Repeats (MIRU-VNTR) typing scheme which had slightly lower discriminatory index of 0.945 however, the method was able to cluster different strains compared to CCG-PCR. Taking into account high discriminatory index and reproducibility, this test scheme has the potential as a screening tool in the investigation of M. avium infections, especially if combined with MIRU-VNTR.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Intergenic / genetics*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Minisatellite Repeats*
  • Molecular Typing
  • Mycobacterium avium Complex / classification*
  • Mycobacterium avium Complex / genetics*
  • Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / diagnosis*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods

Substances

  • DNA, Intergenic