Work

Simplified MLST scheme for direct typing of Leptospira human clinical samples

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonosis. Epidemiological data are scarce and present major challenge because of the varied clinical presentations. Multilocus Sequence Typing has already proven to be a robust molecular typing method providing accurate results for strain characterization. We have adapted our MLST scheme by reducing the set of loci to facilitate Leptospira typing directly from human clinical samples. The application of this 3-locus scheme provides Leptospira species and allelic profiles of the samples retaining the power of discrimination of the whole scheme. Moreover, an approach to the serogroups was also achieved. Our results contribute to the epidemiological study of Leptospirosis, since the direct typing on clinical specimens could detect and update allelic variants and serogroups present in a region. The simplified scheme allowed at the same time to take advantage of limited genetic material available in clinical samples that may increase the sources of information for epidemiological monitoring.

Source: Pathogens and Global Health

DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2018.1480137

Authors: Vanina Varni, Yosena Chiani, Ariel Nagel, Paula Ruybal, Norma Bibiana Vanasco, Karina Caimi

Institutions: National Agricultural Technology Institute, Universidad de Buenos Aires

Language: English

Topic: Leptospirosis research and findings

Subfield: Parasitology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica