A comparative genomic analysis of clinical and vaccine bacterial isolates using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

Considering the circulation of Bordetella pertussis clinical strainsamong populations with high vaccination coverage, it is necessary to have aproper understanding of this bacterium causing whooping cough. Varioustechniques, which are available for studying B. pertussis, can facilitate a propercomparison between different populations. We genotypically analyzed acollection of two vaccine strains used for the production of killed pertussisvaccine during 2000-2014 at Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute,Karaj, Iran. Ten clinical and two reference (Tohama 1 and 18323) strains wereused by means of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The genetic profilesof the vaccine master and working seeds showed no significant changes in thefrequency of fingerprint types in the vaccine strains; also, the homogeneity ofthe profiles was demonstrated. However, the clinical isolates showedheterogeneity in the genetic profiles. In addition, serotyping was performed withmonoclonal antisera to agglutinogens 2 and 3. Analysis of the fimbriae showedthat all ten clinical strains expressed Fim3.

A comparative genomic analysis of clinical and vaccine bacterial isolates using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis Keywords:

Bordetella pertussis , Serotyping , PFGE , vaccine