Simple and highly discriminatory VNTR-based multiplex PCR for tracing sources of Aspergillus flavus isolates

PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e44204. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0044204. Epub 2012 Sep 17.

Abstract

Aspergillus flavus is second only to A. fumigatus in causing invasive aspergillosis and it is the major agent responsible for fungal sinusitis, keratitis and endophthalmitis in many countries in the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia. Despite the growing challenge due to A. flavus, data on the molecular epidemiology of this fungus remain scarce. The objective of the present study was to develop a new typing method based on the detection of VNTR (Variable number tandem repeat) markers. Eight VNTR markers located on 6 different chromosomes (1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8) of A. flavus were selected, combined by pairs for multiplex amplifications and tested on 30 unrelated isolates and six reference strains. The Simpson index for individual markers ranged from 0.398 to 0.818. A combined loci index calculated with all the markers yielded an index of 0.998. The MLVA (Multiple Locus VNTR Analysis) technique proved to be specific and reproducible. In a second time, a total of 55 isolates from Chinese avian farms and from a Tunisian hospital have been evaluated. One major cluster of genotypes could be defined by using the graphing algorithm termed Minimum Spanning Tree. This cluster comprised most of the isolates collected in an avian farm in southern China. The MLVA technique should be considered as an excellent and cost-effective typing method that could be used in many laboratories without the need for sophisticated equipment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aspergillus flavus / classification
  • Aspergillus flavus / genetics*
  • Minisatellite Repeats / genetics*
  • Multilocus Sequence Typing
  • Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction*
  • Phylogeny

Grants and funding

DYW is a PhD student who received a grant from the French Ambassy in the People’s Republic of China. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.