Proteus mirabilis stains are opportunistic pathogens of humans causing numerous infections. In our bioinformatics reseach we have shown that the gene PMI2517 present in the genome of P. mirabilis is a homologous to the gene wabO from Klebsiella paeumoniae. In structural studies of P. mirabilis lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) indicate that galaktouronic acids (GalA) are component of the O-specific polysaccharide parts as well as in core region of LPSs [1]. Aim of this study was to identify 1→7 galaktouronic acid transferases of LPSs core oligosaccharide 45 laboratory and clinical P. mirabilis strains.
In all tested DNA samples isolated from tested P. mirabilis strains PCR products with a length 540 bp were identified. Restriction analysis of PCR products was carried out with endonuclease Sau3AI. Based on the bioinformatics analysis 1→7 galaktouronic acid transferase genes sequences expected two electrophoretic bands (corresponding to DNA fragments with a length 407 and 134 bp) were detected. The presence of the 1→7 galaktouronic acid transferase genes in all 45 tested Proteus mirabilis strains was shown. It is worth to stressing that the 1→7 galaktouronic acid transferase gene was identify in DNA from Re type of deep rough mutant - P. mirabilis R45 strain. LPS P. mirabilis R45 do not contain GalA residues. In conclusion - we demonstrated the possibility of using unique 1→7 galaktouronic acid transferase gene amplification techniques for Proteus species specific identification.
1- Knirel YA et al. W. Structure and serology of O-antigens as the basis for classification of Proteus strains. Innate Immun 17, 2011, 70-96.
Acknowledgements: This work was supported by grant N N304 275540 from CSC Poland and POIG 2.2. Poland
