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요약 |
Molecular Epidemiology of Mycobacterium leprae as Determined by Structure-Neighbor Clustering in Korea found cases
Jong-Pill Kim Institute for Leprosy Research, Korean Hansen Welfare Association
Background : It has proven challenging to investigate the molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium leprae , the causative agent of leprosy, due to difficulties with culturing of the organism and a lack of genetic heterogeneity between strains. Recently, A panel of variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) markers and an alternative method, structure-neighbor clustering, which assigns isolates with the most similar genotypes to the same groups and, subsequently, subgroups, without inferring how the strains descended from a common ancestor have been developed. Methods : A total of 29 samples from Korea found cases were studied by 14 VTRN typing and an alternative method, structure-neighbor clustering with 13 and 14 VNTRs by Structure Program(k=10). Results : Only 286 cases of 522 total cases(including database of Bellingham Research Institute) showed p>0.8(in 13 and 14 VNTRs). Almost Korea found cases(18 cases) were included in group 3(13 VNTRs), in group 9(14 VNTRs)(by Structure Program, k=10). Conclusions : The structure-neighbor clustering by Structure Program with panels of VNTR is a useful approach for investigating the molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium leprae.
※ Key Words : Mycobacterium leprae , VNTR, structure-neighbor clustering |
