Ranjbar Reza, Memariani Mojtaba, Memariani Hamed
Molecular Biology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran. ; Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
Int J Mol Cell Med. 2015 Summer;4(3):174-81.
Multilocus variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) is a new typing method with several advantages compared to other methods. Dissemination of Shigella is highly significant in developing countries. Whilst Shigella is becoming increasingly important as an etiologic agent of pediatric shigellosis in Iran, little is known about the genetic diversity of the local strains. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the genetic diversity of Shigella species isolated from pediatric patients in Tehran, Iran. A total of 53 Shigella isolates were obtained from 1070 patients with diarrhea (less than 12 years of age). All isolates were identified by routine biochemical and serological tests. The confirmed Shigella isolates were further serogrouped (by the slide agglutination) using slide agglutination method. MLVA assay with the seven loci resolved 53 Shigella isolates into 36 different genotypes. Almost all the isolates were classified into five clonal complexes. Furthermore, our MLVA assay could effectively distinguish the four Shigella species. This study has provided valuable insights into the genetic heterogeneity of Shigella species in Tehran, Iran. Our findings can be helpful for further epidemiological surveillance of Shigella species in this country in the future.
多位点可变数目串联重复序列（VNTR）分析（MLVA）是一种新型分型方法，与其他方法相比具有若干优势。志贺菌的传播在发展中国家具有高度重要性。虽然在伊朗，志贺菌作为小儿志贺菌病的病原体正变得越来越重要，但对于当地菌株的遗传多样性却知之甚少。因此，本研究的目的是描述从伊朗德黑兰的小儿患者中分离出的志贺菌属物种的遗传多样性。从1070名腹泻患者（年龄小于12岁）中总共获得了53株志贺菌分离株。所有分离株均通过常规生化和血清学检测进行鉴定。使用玻片凝集法对经确认的志贺菌分离株进一步进行血清群分类（通过玻片凝集）。采用七个位点的MLVA分析将53株志贺菌分离株分为36种不同的基因型。几乎所有分离株都被归入五个克隆复合体中。此外，我们的MLVA分析能够有效区分四种志贺菌属物种。本研究为伊朗德黑兰志贺菌属物种的遗传异质性提供了有价值的见解。我们的研究结果有助于该国未来对志贺菌属物种进行进一步的流行病学监测。
