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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2002, p. 3198-3203, Vol. 40, No. 9
0095-1137/02/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.40.9.3198-3203.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Comparison of Rapid, Automated Ribotyping and DNA Macrorestriction Analysis of Burkholderia pseudomallei
Timothy J. J. Inglis,1,2* Lyn O'Reilly,1 Niki Foster,2 Adele Clair,1 and Judy Sampson1,
Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Western Australian Centre for Pathology and Medical Research,1
Department of Microbiology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia2
Received 28 February 2002/
Returned for modification 5 April 2002/
Accepted 23 May 2002

ABSTRACT
An automated ribotyping device (RiboPrinter) was used to determine
the ribotypes of a collection of
Burkholderia pseudomallei isolates.
In a preliminary evaluation with the restriction enzymes
BamHI
and
EcoRI, the protocol with
EcoRI was more discriminating.
The reproducibilities of the ribotypes obtained with
EcoRI (
EcoRI
ribotypes) were determined by testing three levels of bacterial
loads. The performance of the manufacturer's software was assessed
by comparing the machine-optimized ribotypes with the type determined
from the original gel image analyzed with Bionumerics software.
The library of
B. pseudomallei EcoRI ribotypes was then compared
with the ribotypes obtained by DNA macrorestriction analysis
of
XbaI digests by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The typeability
of
B. pseudomallei by
EcoRI ribotyping was 100%, and the discrimination
index was 0.94. The slightly greater discrimination provided
by DNA macrorestriction analysis (0.96) was achieved at the
expense of a significantly longer processing time of 6 days,
although the method was only half the cost of automated ribotyping.
Typeability by macrorestriction analysis was lower (97%) unless
a thiourea step was added to neutralize the action of Tris-dependent
endonucleases. The digital record of
B. pseudomallei isolates
analyzed thus far provides a useful resource for future epidemiological
studies and will help shorten the response time in the event
of a further melioidosis outbreak or the deliberate release
of
B. pseudomallei as a biohazard.

INTRODUCTION
Burkholderia pseudomallei, the soil- and waterborne bacterial
species that causes melioidosis, is a member of the taxonomically
complex genus
Burkholderia. The genus has gained many additional
species since it was formed from
Pseudomonas RNA group II in
1992 (
17). Identification of
B. pseudomallei isolates in the
diagnostic laboratory can be difficult due to the misleading
results generated by conventional phenotypic identification
systems such as substrate utilization panels (
5). Genetic typing
methods are increasingly being used to clarify the relationship
between and within
Burkholderia species.
Ribotyping has been used extensively to analyze B. pseudomallei and other clinically important Burkholderia species (3, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16). The technical demands and time required to complete a single analysis restrict ribotyping to centers with a Burkholderia research interest. The more accessible method of DNA macrorestriction analysis (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis [PFGE]) is widely used for molecular typing of B. pseudomallei (6, 7, 13, 16). Both methods have been used to investigate suspected Burkholderia sp. outbreaks (3, 6, 11), but the time and expertise needed have prevented more widespread adoption of either method.
When an acute melioidosis outbreak occurred in Western Australia in late 1997, no molecular typing method was available for Burkholderia species locally (6). Clinical and environmental isolates had to be dispatched out of the state for molecular typing. Once a PFGE method had been established at this center, molecular typing results could be obtained about 1 week after receipt, providing that no higher-priority epidemiological investigations were already under way. Shortly after we obtained an automated ribotyping device (RiboPrinter; Qualicon, Inc., Wilmington, Del.), a European group published its comparison of automated ribotyping methods with the restriction enzymes EcoRI and PvuII with DNA macrorestriction analysis for typing of Burkholderia species (2). The European study concentrated on B. cepacia and did not include an analysis of B. pseudomallei. In the present study we sought to establish whether an automated ribotyping method could be used to subtype B. pseudomallei isolates and how it would compare with DNA macrorestriction analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Storage, selection, and recovery of bacterial strains.
Bacterial strains are maintained in the Western Australian Culture
Collection in 20% glycerol broth at -70°C. All stored isolates
were identified with a substrate utilization panel (API 20NE
system; BioMerieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France), and their identities
were confirmed by PCR-based nucleic acid amplification with
B. pseudomallei-specific primers (
9).
B. pseudomallei strains
were obtained from the Western Australian Culture Collection
and included a collection of 11 isolates from the Western Australia
melioidosis outbreak and 20 other strains from unrelated, distinct
geographic locations. The preliminary ribotype analysis and
subsequent comparisons of cluster identifications were performed
with the entire collection of outbreak-related isolates. Other
analyses performed for determination of typeability and the
discrimination index used only one isolate from the outbreak
collection. The isolates chosen for reproducibility assessment
were picked at random from among those in the unrelated strain
collection used for typeability and discrimination analyses.
The strains were resuscitated by inoculation of 5% horse blood
agar and incubation for 24 h at 37°C in air and were checked
macroscopically for purity (for details, see Table
1).
Automated ribotype analysis.
Ribotyping was performed with an automated ribotyping device
(RiboPrinter; Qualicon, Inc.) and proprietary reagents (Qualicon,
Inc.). Bacterial strains were streaked on 5% horse blood agar
and incubated for 24 h at 37°C in air to produce single-colony
growth. The primary inoculum was touched with the end of a proprietary
inoculation device (Stickpick; Qualicon, Inc.), which was used
to inoculate 200 µl of sample buffer. Thirty microliters
of the mixture was transferred to the sample carrier and heated
to 80°C in the RiboPrinter heating station (Qualicon, Inc.).
Five microliters of each lysing agent was then added, and the
sample carrier was transferred to the automated analyzer. The
remainder of the procedure was conducted in the automated analyzer
over 8 h. The results were then transferred to a dedicated microcomputer
and interpreted with the proprietary software, as described
below.
In the first series of analyses, ribotyping with the restriction enzymes BamHI and EcoRI (BamHI and EcoRI ribotyping) was performed with B. pseudomallei isolates to determine which enzyme was most suited to our needs. The results were compared with those obtained with Bionumerics software (Bionumerics version 2.5; Applied Maths, Kortrijk, Belgium), as described below. In the second series of analyses, the EcoRI ribotyping procedure was repeated with a random selection of B. pseudomallei isolates picked at three increasing inoculum densities to determine the reproducibilities of the machine-generated ribotypes. The remaining B. pseudomallei isolates were processed by the EcoRI ribotyping protocol, and the resulting software-optimized patterns ("riboprints") were compared with the unprocessed ribotype gel patterns obtained with the Bionumerics software.
DNA macrorestriction analysis.
PFGE was performed on all B. pseudomallei strains with XbaI and double digestion of bacterial DNA by a previously reported method (8). Gels were scanned by using Quantity One software and a Geldoc scanner (Bio-Rad). The results were analyzed by direct visual inspection and the gel analysis component of the Bionumerics version 2.5 software. The PFGE type and the ribotype were compared with the unprocessed ribotype gel images. The Bionumerics analytical software was used to compare the EcoRI ribotype with the pulsotype to produce a composite dendrogram and to enable three-dimensional cluster analysis.
Analysis of molecular typing gel data.
Dendrograms were produced with the Bionumerics software by using a band-based similarity index (Dice coefficient) with equal weighting for each typing system. The discrimination index and the typeability were calculated from the formula recommended by Hunter and Gaston (4). Epidemiological concordance was analyzed by comparison of the clustering of band patterns from epidemiologically related isolates. The principal outbreak cluster and adjacent isolates linked to the cluster at 90% relatedness or greater were identified on each dendrogram image. Fisher's exact test was applied to the two-by-two contingency table of ribotype cluster or not versus macrorestriction cluster or not. Fisher's exact test was performed with Prism version 2.01 software (GraphPad Software Inc., San Diego, Calif.).

RESULTS
Comparison of BamHI and EcoRI.
Fewer ribotype bands were produced per isolate by the protocol
with
BamHI than by the protocol with
EcoRI. The reduced diversity
of ribotypes produced by the protocol with
BamHI and the fact
that the automated ribotyping device was optimized for the protocol
with
EcoRI led us to concentrate on using
EcoRI.
EcoRI ribotype reproducibility.
During early RiboPrinter runs with EcoRI the reproducibility of the results was questioned. Three separate analyses were conducted with each selected isolate. Repeated EcoRI ribotyping of several isolates of B. pseudomallei generated distinct ribotype reference codes on the second or subsequent analysis. Advice from the manufacturer's technical support service identified the strength of the optical signal generated by detection of the probe as a likely cause. After postanalysis optimization of ribotype patterns and application of the merge and split functions of the analytical software, a more reproducible result was obtained. The repetition of EcoRI ribotyping with a series of isolates at increasing inoculum densities from one pick in 200 µl, two picks in 200 µl, and two picks in 100 µl showed that the optimal inoculum for DNA extraction was two picks suspended in 100 µl. These optimal conditions were used to complete the remainder of the study.
Unprocessed versus machine-optimized ribotype comparison.
The proprietary RiboPrinter software does not generate a dendrogram (Fig. 1). The dendrogram of machine-generated optimized ribotypes analyzed with Bionumerics software did not group the related isolates as well as the gel images analyzed with Bionumerics software. The cluster of Bionumerics software-analyzed gel image results for epidemiologically related isolates showed 90% relatedness or better, whereas the RiboPrinter-optimized gel images showed 80% relatedness or better.
Comparison of ribotyping with DNA macrorestriction analysis.
Comparison of automated
EcoRI ribotyping of
B. pseudomallei with
XbaI DNA macrorestriction analysis confirmed that PFGE
was more discriminating than ribotyping (Fig.
2 and
3). While
all isolates were typeable by the
EcoRI ribotyping method, several
were not typeable by the conventional PFGE method. The level
of typeability by PFGE was raised to 100% by the addition of
thiourea to reduce the level of DNA degradation by Tris-dependent
endonucleases, as reported recently for
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (
14). Completion of PFGE by this method took a minimum of 6
days from a live culture start. Automated ribotyping, in contrast,
took just over 8 h at a total cost of about A$120 (A$1 = US$0.55)
per isolate, compared to a total cost of about A$60 for macrorestriction
analysis. Both
EcoRI ribotyping and DNA macrorestriction analysis
identified the outbreak isolate collection as a distinct cluster
among the larger collection of epidemiologically unrelated strains
(indicated by a dot alongside the corresponding band pattern).
Of the 11 isolates from the outbreak cluster, 8 were found to
be closely linked by both methods. The Bionumerics software
placed two isolates (isolates 10 and 22) from the ribotype cluster
alongside the rest of the outbreak isolates but linked them
only at the 82% level, despite a visibly similar appearance.
Twenty-one isolates unconnected with the outbreak were correctly
placed outside the outbreak cluster by both methods. Ten of
the outbreak isolates were linked at the 100% level by
EcoRI
ribotyping, whereas only five of the outbreak isolates were
linked at the 100% level by macrorestriction analysis.

DISCUSSION
In this analysis we demonstrated the feasibility of using an
automated method to ribotype
B. pseudomallei. It is said that
ribotyping analyzes about 0.5% of the total genome, while PFGE
examines about 45% (
13). The level of discrimination achieved
by the automated
EcoRI ribotyping method compared favorably
with that achieved by the lengthier PFGE method. The much faster
automated ribotyping method produced an acceptable approximation
of the clustering of epidemiologically related isolates achieved
by PFGE.
The BamHI ribotyping protocol was less discriminating than the EcoRI ribotyping protocol. Once postanalytical result optimization had been mastered, the EcoRI ribotyping protocol successfully typed 100% of the isolates analyzed. Conventional ribotyping of B. pseudomallei has been performed with EcoRI (15). BamHI has also been used in recent ribotyping studies of B. pseudomallei (10, 16). A combination of restriction endonucleases has previously been used to ribotype B. pseudomallei by a conventional, nonautomated procedure (15). Both the automated ribotyping system and the new analytical Bionumerics software should make multiple-enzyme analyses more easily attainable in future.
The reproducibility of the ribotype data is particularly important when the data are stored in digital form for comparison with ribotype results from a later analysis or another laboratory. We were surprised at first by the generation of different ribotype reference codes by the manufacturer's software when specific B. pseudomallei isolates were ribotyped on a second or subsequent occasion. Having established how the manufacturer's software can be used to correct variations in background noise on the gel images, we recognize that the results are more reproducible than we originally thought. Important causes of weak bands and high levels of background noise are low and high bacterial DNA loads, respectively, as confirmed by our analysis of a small collection of strains processed repeatedly. It can be expected that the manufacturer's software will continue to generate new ribotypes until a much larger collection of epidemiologically unrelated strains has been incorporated into the ribotype library.
We used a live culture start for the ribotyping protocol. Work with B. pseudomallei dictates careful attention to safety in order to avoid laboratory-acquired infection (1). This required performance of preparation steps for ribotyping in a biological safety cabinet.
In our hands DNA macrorestriction analysis with XbaI produces clear and highly discriminating results with B. pseudomallei isolates. A proportion of isolates were untypeable by the previously published method. These isolates were successfully typed following the addition of thiourea, as originally described to prevent DNA degradation by Tris-dependent endonuclease in P. aeruginosa (14). This step ensured the 100% typeability of B. pseudomallei isolates in our collection. PFGE is a lengthier and more labor-intensive typing process but adds discriminatory power and in combination with ribotyping enhances the accuracy with which clustering can be delineated. PFGE is likely to remain the benchmark molecular typing method in service laboratories for some time to come and can be used as a dissimilar confirmatory method and as a first-line method when rapid turnaround is of little consequence.
Previous studies have demonstrated multiple ribotypes of B. pseudomallei, some of which appear to predominate in the main area where melioidosis is endemic (10). Comparison with our results suggests that the Western Australia melioidosis outbreak was caused by a strain belonging to the commonest group reported. It is a matter of concern that the commonest ribotype of B. pseudomallei should be capable of apparent waterborne dissemination. In view of the association between BamHI ribotype 4 and high rates of mortality (13), more detailed work with BamHI is required, despite its lower discriminatory power in the present study. Given the correlation between B. pseudomallei ribotype and virulence, the generation of ribotype analyses of clinical and environmental isolates can be expected to assist future investigations into the pathogenesis and ecology of melioidosis.
In conclusion, this comparison of automated ribotyping with DNA macrorestriction showed that an EcoRI ribotyping protocol can be used to obtain discriminating molecular typing data on all isolates analyzed. Optimal discrimination was obtained by analyzing gel images of automated EcoRI ribotype patterns obtained with Bionumerics software in combination with the results of DNA macrorestriction analysis. Our experience suggests that automated ribotyping can be applied to the investigation of melioidosis, particularly for a rapid response to suspected common-source incidents, epidemiological surveillance, and biopreparedness. Further work in collaboration with other centers is now required to generate an internationally representative database of B. pseudomallei ribotypes to add to the preliminary collection.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We thank T. Dambaugh of Qualicon, Inc., for the
BamHI restriction
enzyme and for helpful comments on the draft manuscript. We
also thank A. Cole, also of Qualicon, Inc., for assistance with
postanalysis optimization of ribotype data.
Niki Foster is supported by National Health and Medical Research Council grant 139052.

FOOTNOTES
* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Western Australian Centre for Pathology and Medical Research, Locked Bag 2009, Nedlands, W.A. 6009, Australia. Phone: 618-9346-3461. Fax: 618-9381-7139. E-mail:
tim.inglis{at}health.wa.gov.au.

Deceased. 

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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2002, p. 3198-3203, Vol. 40, No. 9
0095-1137/02/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.40.9.3198-3203.2002
Copyright © 2002, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
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