Biomaterial Database

DNA probe for identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae. 1989

G Pozzi, and M R Oggioni, and A Tomasz

Laboratory of Microbiology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021.

A total of 287 clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) were tested for their ability to undergo autolysis when treated with sodium deoxycholate. The test was positive for all but one isolate, strain DOC-1. This autolysis required the activity of an enzyme which is unique and characteristic of S. pneumoniae: a choline-dependent N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase, the gene product of the lytA gene. We used lytA as a DNA probe to test the distribution of the autolysin gene among clinical isolates of S. pneumoniae. In dot blot hybridization experiments our probe reacted with the DNA of 60 of 60 strains tested, including the autolysis-deficient clinical isolate DOC-1. No hybridization occurred when strains of Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus (Enterococcus) faecalis, Streptococcus (Enterococcus) faecium, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Streptococcus bovis were tested. The lytA gene appears to be an ideal candidate for use as a DNA probe for the identification of S. pneumoniae.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009238	N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine Amidase	An autolytic enzyme bound to the surface of bacterial cell walls. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of the link between N-acetylmuramoyl residues and L-amino acid residues in certain cell wall glycopeptides, particularly peptidoglycan. EC 3.5.1.28.	Mucopeptide Amidohydrolase,Autolysin,LE-Enzyme,Murein Hydrolase,Peptidoglycan Hydrolase,T7 Endolysin,T7 Lysozyme,Amidase, N-Acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine,Amidohydrolase, Mucopeptide,Endolysin, T7,Hydrolase, Murein,Hydrolase, Peptidoglycan,LE Enzyme,Lysozyme, T7,N Acetylmuramoyl L alanine Amidase
D003840	Deoxycholic Acid	A bile acid formed by bacterial action from cholate. It is usually conjugated with glycine or taurine. Deoxycholic acid acts as a detergent to solubilize fats for intestinal absorption, is reabsorbed itself, and is used as a choleretic and detergent.	Deoxycholate,Desoxycholic Acid,Kybella,Choleic Acid,Deoxycholic Acid, 12beta-Isomer,Deoxycholic Acid, 3beta-Isomer,Deoxycholic Acid, 5alpha-Isomer,Deoxycholic Acid, Disodium Salt,Deoxycholic Acid, Magnesium (2:1) Salt,Deoxycholic Acid, Monoammonium Salt,Deoxycholic Acid, Monopotassium Salt,Deoxycholic Acid, Monosodium Salt,Deoxycholic Acid, Sodium Salt, 12beta-Isomer,Dihydroxycholanoic Acid,Lagodeoxycholic Acid,Sodium Deoxycholate,12beta-Isomer Deoxycholic Acid,3beta-Isomer Deoxycholic Acid,5alpha-Isomer Deoxycholic Acid,Deoxycholate, Sodium,Deoxycholic Acid, 12beta Isomer,Deoxycholic Acid, 3beta Isomer,Deoxycholic Acid, 5alpha Isomer
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000581	Amidohydrolases	Any member of the class of enzymes that catalyze the cleavage of amide bonds and result in the addition of water to the resulting molecules.	Amidases,Amidohydrolase
D001433	Bacteriolysis	Rupture of bacterial cells due to mechanical force, chemical action, or the lytic growth of BACTERIOPHAGES.	Bacteriolyses
D013296	Streptococcus pneumoniae	A gram-positive organism found in the upper respiratory tract, inflammatory exudates, and various body fluids of normal and/or diseased humans and, rarely, domestic animals.	Diplococcus pneumoniae,Pneumococcus
D015342	DNA Probes	Species- or subspecies-specific DNA (including COMPLEMENTARY DNA; conserved genes, whole chromosomes, or whole genomes) used in hybridization studies in order to identify microorganisms, to measure DNA-DNA homologies, to group subspecies, etc. The DNA probe hybridizes with a specific mRNA, if present. Conventional techniques used for testing for the hybridization product include dot blot assays, Southern blot assays, and DNA:RNA hybrid-specific antibody tests. Conventional labels for the DNA probe include the radioisotope labels 32P and 125I and the chemical label biotin. The use of DNA probes provides a specific, sensitive, rapid, and inexpensive replacement for cell culture techniques for diagnosing infections.	Chromosomal Probes,DNA Hybridization Probe,DNA Probe,Gene Probes, DNA,Conserved Gene Probes,DNA Hybridization Probes,Whole Chromosomal Probes,Whole Genomic DNA Probes,Chromosomal Probes, Whole,DNA Gene Probes,Gene Probes, Conserved,Hybridization Probe, DNA,Hybridization Probes, DNA,Probe, DNA,Probe, DNA Hybridization,Probes, Chromosomal,Probes, Conserved Gene,Probes, DNA,Probes, DNA Gene,Probes, DNA Hybridization,Probes, Whole Chromosomal