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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, February 2002, p. 620-626, Vol. 40, No. 2
0095-1137/01/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.40.2.620-626.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Molecular Profiles of Group B Streptococcal Surface Protein Antigen Genes: Relationship to Molecular Serotypes

Fanrong Kong,1 Sonia Gowan,2 Diana Martin,2 Gregory James,1 and Gwendolyn L. Gilbert1*

Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia,1 Institute of Environmental Science and Research, Porirua, Wellington, New Zealand2

Received 8 August 2001/ Returned for modification 23 September 2001/ Accepted 18 November 2001

The study of surface protein antigens of group B streptococci (GBS) is important for understanding of the pathogenesis and epidemiology of infection, and several of these antigens have been proposed as components of GBS conjugate vaccines. In a previous study, we developed a novel PCR-and-sequencing system for identification of GBS serotypes and serosubtypes based on the capsular polysaccharide synthesis (cps) gene cluster. In this study, we used published sequences to develop PCR assays for identification of genes encoding GBS surface proteins including C alpha (bca), C alpha-like proteins 2 and 3 (alp2 and alp3), Rib (rib), and C beta (bac). We showed that the prototype R reference strain, Prague 25/60, contained a novel alpha-like protein antigen gene (the proposed alp4), which presumably encodes an atypical, but antigenically similar, R-like protein. Initial evaluation of these gene-specific assays showed excellent specificity. By combining cps serotypes, serosubtypes, and surface protein gene profiles, we were able to divide 224 GBS isolates into 31 serovariants. GBS bac-positive strains could be further subtyped into 11 groups and 20 subgroups. Our results confirmed and extended reported associations between some cps serotypes and serosubtypes, on the one hand, and surface protein genes, on the other: serosubtypes III-1 and III-2 were associated with rib, serosubtype III-3 with alp2, serotype Ib with bca and bac, and serotype V with alp3. The associations between serotype Ia and bca, bca repetitive unit, and bca repetitive unit-like sequence-containing genes need to be studied further. These PCR-based methods will provide an alternative and objective tool for subtyping of GBS based on surface protein antigen genes.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, Westmead Hospital, Darcy Road, Westmead, New South Wales, 2145 Australia. Phone: (612) 9845 6255. Fax: (612) 9893 8659. E-mail: lyng{at}icpmr.wsahs.nsw.gov.au.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, February 2002, p. 620-626, Vol. 40, No. 2
0095-1137/01/$04.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.40.2.620-626.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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