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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 2007, p. 2649-2653, Vol. 45, No. 8
0095-1137/07/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/JCM.00451-07
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Development of Real-Time PCR Assays for Genotyping of Chlamydia trachomatis
Hamid Jalal,1*
Hannah Stephen,1
Sarah Alexander,2
Christopher Carne,3 and
Christopher Sonnex3
Clinical Microbiology & Public Health Laboratory, Box 236, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QW, United Kingdom,1
Sexually Transmitted Bacteria Reference Laboratory, Centre for Infection, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT, United Kingdom,2
Department of Genitourinary Medicine, Clinic 1A, Box 38, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, United Kingdom3
Received 27 February 2007/
Returned for modification 27 March 2007/
Accepted 30 May 2007

ABSTRACT
We have developed and validated a nested real-time PCR (NRT-PCR)
for the genotyping of
Chlamydia trachomatis and used it specifically
for the typing of either eight genovars from D to K or three
genovars of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). The 11 probes used
in the NRT-PCR correctly identified the DNA from D to K and
LGV reference strains and did not cross-react with the DNA from
26 strains representing the bacterial pathogens and commensals
of the oropharynx, genital tract, and rectum. The NRT-PCR had
a 95% probability of detection at four genome copies (confidence
interval, three to six copies) of
C. trachomatis per reaction.
One hundred cervical and urethral swab specimens containing
C. trachomatis DNA from 63 women and 37 men were used to validate
the method. The results from the NRT-PCR and the DNA sequencing
of amplicons generated from the
omp1 gene showed 100% correlation
for these samples. The assay also identified the LGV-II genotype
in 24 of 48 rectal swab specimens containing
C. trachomatis DNA that were obtained from men having sex with men. The Sexually
Transmitted Bacteria Reference Laboratory, London, independently
confirmed these results using group-specific LGV real-time PCR
and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Compared
with the NRT-PCR, non-NRT-PCR was found to be less sensitive:
it typed
C. trachomatis DNA in only 80% of the genital samples
and 90% of the rectal swab samples. This is the first successful
demonstration of the use of real-time PCR for the genotype-specific
typing of
C. trachomatis strains that cause sexually transmitted
diseases.

INTRODUCTION
Chlamydia trachomatis infection is a significant global health
problem.
C. trachomatis is the causative agent of trachoma and
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), i.e., lymphogranuloma
venereum (LGV) and other genital manifestations. Trachoma is
the second major cause of blindness (cataract is the first)
and affects 6 million people worldwide (
17), while the estimated
global incidence of STDs caused by
C. trachomatis, is about
92 million (
19). This organism is an intracellular bacterium,
and its different genovars produce specific clinical manifestations;
i.e., types A, B, Ba, and C cause trachoma, types LGV-I, -II,
and -III cause LGV, and types D to K cause oculogenital diseases
(
14). Trachoma is hyperendemic in many of the poorest areas
of Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Australia, and the
Middle East (
17). The prevalence of LGV is highest in the tropics
and subtropics (
14). A number of LGV outbreaks among men who
have sex with men have been reported recently in different western
countries (
3,
11,
18). Types D to K are prevalent worldwide
(
19). Due to extensive genetic diversity between different genovars,
together with their distinct geographical distribution and clinical
manifestations, a better appreciation of the molecular epidemiology
of
C. trachomatis infection is crucial to control this infection.
The genotyping of
C. trachomatis is also important for understanding
the pathogenesis of infection and sequelae of the infection,
for monitoring therapy and contact tracing, and for the development
of a vaccine.
The genotyping of C. trachomatis is based mainly on nested PCR targeting of the omp1 gene. The amplicons are being used for typing by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis (2, 7, 9, 12), DNA sequencing (1, 8, 15, 21), reverse line blot hybridization (10, 16, 20), and oligonucleotide arrays (22). These studies have resulted in more than 60 reports since 1991 according to PubMed. However, due to the complexity and laborious nature of the above-mentioned methods, all of these publications have described only small-scale studies. For large national and international molecular epidemiology projects, a simpler technique with potential for automation is urgently needed. Real-time PCR fulfils these criteria. This is the first report describing the development of a nested real-time PCR (NRT-PCR) for the genotyping of C. trachomatis genovars that cause STDs. We have also compared the sensitivity of NRT-PCR with that of non-NRT-PCR (NNRT-PCR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Bacterial strains.
Fourteen isolates representing all the genovars of
C. trachomatis and 26 bacterial isolates representing the pathogenic bacteria
and commensals of the oropharynx, genital tract, and rectum
were used to investigate the specificities of primers and probes.
The identities of these organisms are shown in Tables
1 and
2 in a previous publication (
5), while their culture and the
extraction of DNA from bacterial suspensions were performed
as described in the same paper (
5). The ability of the NRT-PCR
to generate correct results from mixed infections was investigated
by testing 11 pools of DNA from different strains of
C. trachomatis.
The pools of 100-µl volumes were prepared by mixing 1
ng of DNA from one strain and 100 ng of DNA from each of the
other two or three strains according to the format of each assay
(Fig.
1). The composition of each pool is described below. Pool
1 contained 1 ng DNA from genotype D and 100 ng DNA from each
of genotypes E, H, and I. Pool 2 contained 1 ng DNA from genotype
E and 100 ng DNA from each of genotypes D, H, and I. Pool 3
contained 1 ng DNA from genotype H and 100 ng DNA from each
of genotypes D, E, and I. Pool 4 contained 1 ng DNA from genotype
I and 100 ng DNA from each of genotypes D, E, and H. Pool 5
contained 1 ng DNA from genotype F and 100 ng DNA from each
of genotypes G, J, and K. Pool 6 contained 1 ng DNA from genotype
G and 100 ng DNA from each of genotypes F, J, and K. Pool 7
contained 1 ng DNA from genotype J and 100 ng DNA from each
of genotypes F, G, and K. Pool 8 contained 1 ng DNA from genotype
K and 100 ng DNA from each of genotypes F, G, and J. Pool 9
contained 1 ng DNA from genotype LGV-I and 100 ng DNA from each
of genotypes LGV-II and LGV-III. Pool 10 contained 1 ng DNA
from genotype LGVII and 100 ng DNA from each of genotypes LGV-I
and LGV-III. Pool 11 contained 1 ng DNA from genotype LGV-III
and 100 ng DNA from each of genotypes LGV-I and LGV-II.
Validation panel.
The validation panel included DNA from 100 anonymous samples,
consisting of urethral swab specimens from 37 men and both urethral
and cervical swab specimens in a single tube from 63 women.
These samples were collected as described previously (
4). DNA
was extracted using the MagNA Pure LC total nucleic acid isolation
kit and MagNA Pure LC Robot, according to the protocol of the
manufacturer, Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., CA (
4).
C. trachomatis genotyping was performed by DNA sequencing of amplicons generated
by nested PCR from the
omp1 gene (
6). All samples were coded,
and genotyping results were masked before validation experiments.
The samples were tested by both NRT-PCR and NNRT-PCR.
Rectal swab specimens.
The Sexually Transmitted Bacteria Reference Laboratory (STBRL), London, United Kingdom, provided an aliquot from each of 48 anonymous rectal swab samples from men who have sex with men. These samples were collected by different regional laboratories in the United Kingdom and sent to the STBRL for epidemiological investigations for LGV. The STBRL detected C. trachomatis DNA in rectal swab samples using an in-house real-time PCR assay which targeted the cryptic plasmid. LGV DNA was detected in 24 of 48 samples using a previously described LGV group-specific real-time PCR assay (LGV-PCR) (13). In accordance with their policy, the STBRL performed RFLP analysis only on LGV-PCR-positive samples, as described previously (9). RFLP analysis identified LGV-II DNA in 21 of 24 samples but failed for the remaining 3. The STBRL performed all of the above-described experiments as part of a routine diagnostic service. The aliquots of samples were coded before being sent to our laboratory. DNA from rectal swab samples was extracted using an XTR1-1 kit (Sigma-Aldrich, Steinheim, Germany) and the CAS-1820 X-Tractor gene automated DNA/RNA extraction system (Corbett Robotics, Australia), according to the manufacturer's protocol. All samples were tested with both NRT-PCR and NNRT-PCR.
Nested PCR. (i) First round of block-based PCR.
Block-based PCR was performed with a 50-µl volume containing 5 µl of DNA from a clinical sample, a bacterial isolate, or a pool of DNA from different strains of C. trachomatis; a 200 µM concentration of each deoxynucleoside triphosphate; 25 pmol of each primer (P1 and P2); 4 mM MgCl2; 5 µl of 10x PCR buffer; and 1.5 units of recombinant Taq DNA polymerase (Invitrogen Life Technologies, Paisley, United Kingdom). DNAs from different strains of C. trachomatis were used as positive controls, according to the format of the assay, and nuclease-free water was used as a negative control for amplification. Samples and controls were denatured at 95°C for 3 min, followed by 20 cycles of amplification in a PTC-200 Peltier thermal cycler (Genetic Research Instrumentation Ltd., Essex, United Kingdom). Each cycle consisted of denaturation at 95°C for 10 seconds, annealing of primers at 50°C for 10 seconds, and extension at 72°C for 1 min, followed by a final extension at 72°C for 7 min.
(ii) Second round of real-time PCR.
Real-time PCR was performed using a Rotorgene 3000 apparatus (Corbett Robotics, Australia) essentially as described previously but with a few modifications (5). A pair of primers, P3 and P4, and three to four labeled probes in TaqMan format were used for each component of the assay (Fig. 1A). PCR was performed in a 25-µl volume containing 1 µl of amplicons generated by blocked-base PCR, 12.5 µl of Platinum Quantitative PCR SuperMix-UDG (Invitrogen Life Technologies, Paisley, United Kingdom), 6.25 pmol of each primer, and 2.5 pmol of each probe. The amplification reaction profile included heating at 50°C for 2 min and at 95°C for 2 min followed by 30 cycles of 95°C for 1 second and 55°C for 90 seconds. The signal was acquired at 55°C during each cycle. All primers and probes were synthesized by Metabion International AGi, Germany, except the MGB-labeled probes, which were synthesized by Applied Biosystems, Cheshire, United Kingdom (Table 1). The two-step nested PCR, as used in this study and in previously published studies (1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 21, 22), carries an inherent risk of contaminating equipment and laboratory environment. Stringent physical separation of different steps in the assays, namely, the use of dedicated equipment for each step, a one-way flow of work from extraction to amplification, meticulous techniques to prevent the production of aerosols from tubes containing amplicons, and filtered tips avoided this problem.
NNRT-PCR.
NNRT-PCR was performed as the second round of the NRT-PCR, with two changes. The reaction mixture contained 5 µl of DNA from either a clinical sample or a bacterial isolate instead of 1-µl amplicons, and the number of amplification cycles was increased from 30 to 50. Different combinations of primers and probes were used for NNRT-PCR assays. These combinations are shown in Fig. 1B. The sequences of all primers and probes used in this study are shown in Table 1.

RESULTS
Analytic sensitivity.
The lower limit of detection for NNRT-PCR was determined by
testing a dilution series using
C. trachomatis genotype E (ATCC
code, VR-348B) at the following concentrations: 32, 16, 8, 4,
2, and 1 genome copies per reaction mixture. Each concentration
was tested in 10 replicates, and Probit analysis of the result
was carried out using StatsDirect version 2.4.1. According to
Probit analysis, the assay has a 95% probability of detection
with four genome copies (confidence interval, three to six copies)
of
C. trachomatis per reaction. For DNA from cultures of genovar
E, the sensitivity of NNRT-PCR was comparable with that of NRT-PCR.
However, the cycle threshold value for each of the 10-fold serial
dilutions, ranging from 5,000 to 5 genome copies per reaction
mixture, as determined by NNRT-PCR was 17 to 18 cycles higher
than that of NRT-PCR.
Analytic specificity.
The primers and probes used in this study did not cross-react with the DNA from any of the pathogenic bacteria or commensals tested from the oropharynx, genital tract, and rectum. The primers amplified DNA from all strains of C. trachomatis, and the probes correctly identified their respective genovars without any cross-reactivity. Examples of the results for NRT-PCR are shown in Fig. 2 and 3. All genotypes were also correctly identified within pools containing various concentrations of DNA from different strains of C. trachomatis.
Validation panel.
Using DNA sequencing as a gold standard, NRT-PCR typed all of
100 samples in the validation panel correctly. NNRT-PCR was
unable to genotype
C. trachomatis DNA in 20 of the same 100
samples. However, the typing results generated by this assay
from the remaining 80 samples were correct. The results are
summarized in Table
2.
Rectal swab samples.
NRT-PCR typed C. trachomatis DNA in all 48 rectal swab samples. NNRT-PCR was able to do it in only 43 of these samples. Of those that contained LGV DNA, 22 were correctly identified by NNRT-PCR, and all 24 were identified by NRT-PCR. The results are summarized in Table 2.

DISCUSSION
The
omp1 gene is the most variable genetic marker of
C. trachomatis for epidemiological investigations. It has regions of highly
conserved and highly variable nucleotide sequences, and this
characteristic has been exploited by various molecular techniques
for the genotyping of
C. trachomatis (
1,
2,
16,
22). We designed
primers from the conserved regions and probes from the variable
regions of the
omp1 gene. The primers amplified DNA from all
genovars of
C. trachomatis, including genovars for trachoma.
The probes were designed only for genovars D to K and LGV. Our
primers and probes did not cross-react with DNA from the pathogens
or commensals of the oropharynx, genital tract, and rectum samples.
After extensive trials and errors in combining probes for different
types, we describe here a highly sensitive and specific NRT-PCR
for the genotyping of
C. trachomatis.
In recent publications, 9% (10) and 13% (21) of clinical samples were reported to contain DNA from more than one genovar of C. trachomatis. RFLP analysis and sequencing are unable to identify genotypes in such samples without cloning of amplicons. Such cloning is a laborious, time-consuming, and cumbersome technique unsuitable for epidemiological studies. Reverse line blot hybridization (10, 16, 21) and our NRT-PCR assays, due to the use of a specific probe for each genovar, are ideal techniques for typing C. trachomatis in clinical samples containing DNA from multiple genovars. Unfortunately, such samples were not available for this study. However, experiments performed on artificially mixed DNA from different genotypes demonstrated the ability of NRT-PCR to type multiple genotypes accurately in an amplification reaction.
Regardless of the natures of the techniques, most published methods use two-step nested PCR for the genotyping of C. trachomatis (1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 21, 22). In line with these methods, we have now developed for the same purpose a two-step NRT-PCR. Its sensitivity for chlamydia in culture was the same as that of NNRT-PCR, while its sensitivity with both genital and rectal swabs was superior to that of NNRT-PCR, which typed for 80% of the genital samples and 90% of the rectal samples. NRT-PCR produced peaks which were easy to interpret even from samples with low levels of DNA. The peaks generated by NNRT-PCR from such samples were very close to the threshold of detection and often difficult to interpret.
Real-time PCR, without two steps for nesting, could be fully automated by the use of robotic liquid handling, but two-step PCR makes automation difficult. Further work is needed to convert NRT-PCR to a single-tube nested amplification. In conclusion, the present study has demonstrated the feasibility of using real-time PCR for genotyping the strains of C. trachomatis that cause STDs. Such assays could be adapted to the needs of different epidemiological projects, i.e., the genotyping of C. trachomatis strains that cause LGV or the identification of genotypes D to K in clinical samples. A similar assay could be developed to type the strains of C. trachomatis that cause trachoma.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are grateful to Ian Silver and Maria Erecinska for their
suggestions to improve the presentation of this article. We
are also grateful to the STBRL for providing rectal swab specimens
for this study.

FOOTNOTES
* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Clinical Microbiology & Public Health Laboratory, Box 236, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QW, United Kingdom. Phone: 44-1223-257036. Fax: 44-1223-242775. E-mail:
hamid.jalal{at}addenbrookes.nhs.uk 
Published ahead of print on 13 June 2007. 

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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, August 2007, p. 2649-2653, Vol. 45, No. 8
0095-1137/07/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/JCM.00451-07
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
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