A novel one-step real-time multiplex PCR assay to detect Streptococcus agalactiae presence and serotypes Ia, Ib, and III

作者：Furfaro, Lucy L.; Chang, Barbara J.; Payne, Matthew S.^*

来源：Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 2017, 89(1): 7-12.

DOI：10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2017.06.003

• Streptococcus agalactiae
• Early-onset sepsis
• Group B streptococcus
• serotypes
• Capsular polysaccharide
• Real-time PCR

Streptococcus agalactiae is the leading cause of early-onset neonatal sepsis. Culture-based screening methods lack the sensitivity of molecular assays and do not indicate serotype; a potentially important virulence marker. We aimed to develop a multiplex PCR to detect S. agalactiae while simultaneously identifying serotypes Ia, Ib, and III; commonly associated with infant disease. Primers were designed to target S. agalactiae serotype-specific cps genes and the dItS gene. The assay was validated with 512 vaginal specimens from pregnant women. 112 (21.9%) were dltS positive, with 14.3%, 0.9%, and 63% of these identified as cps Ia, Ib, and III, respectively. Our assay is a specific and sensitive method to simultaneously detect S. agalactiae and serotypes Ia, Ib, and III in a single step. It is of high significance for clinical diagnostic applications and also provides epidemiological data on serotype, information that may be important for vaccine development and other targeted non-antibiotic therapies.

• 出版日期2017-9