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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, June 2001, p. 2219-2226, Vol. 39, No. 6
Departments of
Pediatrics2 and
Neurology,5 University of Utah
School of Medicine,1 University of Utah, Salt
Lake City, Utah; Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa,
Iowa City, Iowa3; and Department of
Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston,
Texas4
Received 28 November 2000/Returned for modification 16 January
2001/Accepted 12 March 2001
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strains display genetic polymorphisms,
and these polymorphisms can be analyzed to study viral transmission and
pathogenesis. Recently, short tandem repeat (STR) length polymorphisms
have been identified in the HCMV genome. We assessed the utility of
STRs in characterizing HCMV strains and found that a multiplexed PCR
assay using primers based upon these STRs accurately maps HCMV strains.
Using primers for 10 microsatellite regions, the STR profiles of 44 wild-type and 2 laboratory strains of HCMV were characterized. The
results of STR analysis were compared with those for strain
characterization using nucleotide sequencing and restriction fragment
length polymorphism analysis. In each instance, STR analysis accurately
and specifically identified strains that were indistinguishable or
distinct by conventional molecular analysis. Analysis of short tandem
repeats also detected polymorphisms that supported simultaneous
excretion of two HCMV strains. These results indicate that STR analysis allows rapid, precise molecular characterization of HCMV strains.
0095-1137/01/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.39.6.2219-2226.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Characterization of Human Cytomegalovirus Strains
by Analysis of Short Tandem Repeat Polymorphisms
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Division of
Pediatric Neurology, Suite 2700, Primary Children's Medical Center,
100 N. Medical Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84113. Phone: (801) 588-3385. Fax: (801) 588-3392. E-mail: pcjbale{at}ihc.com.
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