Rapid identification of Streptococcus pyogenes with PCR primers from a putative transcriptional regulator gene

• Published in: Research in microbiology Vol. 156; no. 4; pp. 564 - 567
• Main Authors: Liu, Dongyou, Hollingshead, Susan, Swiatlo, Edwin, Lawrence, Mark L., Austin, Frank W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Elsevier SAS 01-05-2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; DNA Primers - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genes, Bacterial; Genes, Regulator; Humans; Identification; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; PCR; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Species Specificity; Streptococcus pyogenes; Streptococcus pyogenes - genetics; Streptococcus pyogenes - pathogenicity; Transcription, Genetic; Transcriptional regulator gene; Virulence - genetics; Streptococcus pyogenes; Identification; PCR; Transcriptional regulator gene; Polymerase chain reaction; Streptococcaceae; Microbiology; Regulator gene; Bacteria; Micrococcales
• ISSN: 0923-2508; 1769-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2005.01.010

Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS) is a common bacterial pathogen that has emerged as an increasingly important health concern in many parts of the world. Although GAS may appear harmless in healthy individuals, the ability of this bacterium to take advantage of a weakened or compromised host defense system is extraordinary. Following the recent publication of the genome sequences of several
S. pyogenes strains, we undertook an investigation of a specialized gene group in GAS that encodes transcriptional regulators. By screening
S. pyogenes transcriptional regulator genes from the complete genome of M1 strain SF370 against other DNA sequences at GenBank by BLAST searches, we identified a gene (i.e.,
Spy1258) that is uniquely present in the bacterium. Application of PCR primers (spy1258F and spy1258R) derived from this gene facilitated amplification of a 407-bp DNA fragment from
S. pyogenes only, but not from other species of the genus
Streptococcus and common bacteria. Apart from offering an additional target for specific confirmation of GAS, further analysis of the putative transcriptional regulator gene
Spy1258 and its related protein product may lead to new insights into the molecular mechanisms of
S. pyogenes maintenance and pathogenicity.