Molecular differentiation of Treponema pallidum subspecies

J Clin Microbiol. 2006 Sep;44(9):3377-80. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00784-06.

Abstract

Treponema pallidum includes three subspecies of antigenically highly related treponemes. These organisms cause clinically distinct diseases and cannot be distinguished by any existing test. In this report, genetic signatures are identified in two tpr genes which, in combination with the previously published signature in the 5' flanking region of the tpp15 gene, can differentiate the T. pallidum subspecies, as well as a simian treponeme.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Typing Techniques
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Rabbits
  • Species Specificity
  • Syphilis / microbiology
  • Treponema pallidum / classification*
  • Treponema pallidum / genetics*
  • Treponema pallidum / isolation & purification
  • Treponemal Infections / microbiology

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Tpr protein, Treponema