| 摘要 |
The present invention provides DNA based fingerprints and DNA sequences for indentifying highly transmissible lineages of Pseudomonas cepacia. More specifically, the present invention provides genetic band patterns or DNA based fingerprints for identifying highly transmissible lineages of Pseudomonas cepacia produced by: (a) ribotyping analyses, i.e., the determination of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) associated with the multicopy RNA operon (rrn); and (b) pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE)-based resolution of chromosomal macro-RFLP patterns. Also provided are unique primer oligonucleotide sequences and DNA probes derived from variants of a gene, encoding a 17-KDa major subunit pilin protein (cb1A) of a cystic fibrosis-associated Pseudomonas cepacia. The invention also discloses methods and diagnostic kits for identifying highly transmissible lineages of Pseudomonas cepacia that utilize the above DNA based fingerprints, oligonucleotide primers and DNA probes. Another object of this invention is to provide isolated DNA molecules encoding a 17-KDa major subunit pilin protein of certain cystic fibrosis-associated Pseudomonas cepacia strains, as well as recombinant DNA molecules, transformed hosts and methods for the production of that protein. Also contemplated are antibodies to the 17-KDa major subunit pilin protein. |
