Development of comparative genomic fingerprinting for molecular epidemiological studies of Campylobacter jejuni
Date
2010
Authors
Ross, Susan
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciences, c2010
Abstract
This thesis reports the development of Comparative Genomic Fingerprinting
(CGF), a rapid genotyping method for Campylobacter jejuni that assesses the
conservation status of 20 genes previously described as having high intraspecies
variability based on comparative genomics studies. This novel method for genotyping C.
jejuni, CGF was validated two-fold. First, by comparison to flaA restriction fragment
length polymorphism analysis, and second a subset of isolates was validated using two
higher resolution CGF assays assessing 35 and 119 genes. CGF was then tested in a
molecular epidemiological study of C. jejuni isolated from environmental, animal and
human clinical samples from southern Alberta. Reservoirs of infection, subtypes
associated with higher incidence of human infection, and the persistence of prevalent
subtypes in animal/environmental reservoirs were identified. This thesis demonstrates
that CGF analysis is robust and can be used to rapidly assess genetic similarity of C.
jejuni isolates and to detect epidemiologically relevant clonal groups.
Description
xii, 184 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm
Keywords
Campylobacter jejuni -- Research -- Alberta, Southern , Campylobacter infections -- Research -- Alberta, Southern , Molecular epidemiology , Dissertations, Academic