Novel BOX repeat PCR assay for high-resolution typing of Streptococcus pneumoniae strains

Abstract

Typing data obtained by specifically targeting a single, high-stringency PCR at the pneumococcal BOX repeat element for 28 strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae completely corroborated the resolution attained by five genotypic procedures as described by Hermans et al. (P. W. M. Hermans, M. Sluijter, T. Hoogenboezem, H. Heersma, A. van Belkum, and R. de Groot, J. Clin. Microbiol. 33:1606-1612, 1995). All pairs of strains, except one, derived from both the cerebrospinal fluid and blood of the same individual were shown to be identical. Moreover, other, epidemiologically unrelated isolates were demonstrated to be unique. Considering the combined data from the five typing techniques applied previously as the 'gold standard,' the single BOX PCR test demonstrated excellent resolving powers while maintaining epidemiological linkage.