Authors
Danbing Ke, Christian Ménard, Francois J Picard, Maurice Boissinot, Marc Ouellette, Paul H Roy, Michel G Bergeron
Publication date
2000/3/1
Journal
Clinical chemistry
Volume
46
Issue
3
Pages
324-331
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Description
Background: Group B streptococci (GBS), or Streptococcus agalactiae, are the leading bacterial cause of meningitis and bacterial sepsis in newborns. Currently available rapid methods to detect GBS from clinical specimens are unsuitable for replacement of culture methods, mainly because of their lack of sensitivity.
Methods: We have developed a PCR-based assay for the rapid detection of GBS. The cfb gene encoding the Christie-Atkins-Munch-Petersen (CAMP) factor was selected as the genetic target for the assay. The PCR primers were initially tested by a conventional PCR method followed by gel electrophoresis. The assay was then adapted for use with the LightCyclerTM. For this purpose, two fluorogenic adjacent hybridization probes complementary to the GBS-specific amplicon were designed and tested. In addition, a rapid sample-processing protocol was evaluated by colony-forming …
Total citations
Scholar articles
Development of conventional and real-time PCR assays for the rapid detection of group B streptococci
D Ke, C Ménard, FJ Picard, M Boissinot, M Ouellette… - Clinical chemistry, 2000