Rapid species identification within the Mycobacterium chelonae-abscessus group by high-resolution melting analysis of hsp65 PCR products

Am J Clin Pathol. 2005 Jan;123(1):96-101. doi: 10.1309/wdr082x9ffjbqqgb.

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the heat shock protein 65 (hsp65) gene followed by high-resolution melting analysis with LCGreen I (Idaho Technology, Salt Lake City, UT) was used to differentiate the mycobacteria species Mycobacterium chelonae, Mycobacterium abscessus, and Mycobacterium immunogenum in less than 20 minutes. A 105-base-pair amplicon that clustered the different species by predicted melting temperature was found from available GenBank hsp65 sequences. We identified 24 clinical isolates within the M chelonae-abscessus group by proximal 16S ribosomal RNA and hsp65 gene sequencing. Rapid-cycle PCR followed by high-resolution melting analysis clustered these samples into the following groups: M abscessus, 12; M abscessus sequence variant, 2; M chelonae, 7; unexpected M chelonae sequence variant, 1; and M immunogenum, 2. The M chelonae variant had a single base change not found in reported GenBank sequences. Advantages of the method include speed, low risk of amplicon contamination (closed-tube), and no need for separation steps (sequencing, electrophoresis, high-performance liquid chromatography) or real-time monitoring.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Base Sequence
  • Chaperonin 60
  • Chaperonins / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mycobacterium chelonae / classification*
  • Mycobacterium chelonae / genetics
  • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / classification*
  • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Chaperonin 60
  • heat-shock protein 65, Mycobacterium
  • Chaperonins