Korean J Med.  2006 May;70(5):591-596.

Identification of Gemella species by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing from two patients with infective endocarditis

• Sohn KM
• Ko KS
• Kim J
• Rhee JY
• Oh WS
• Peck KR
• Song JH

Abstract

Gemella species are opportunistic pathogens, which cause endocarditis, meningitis, musculoskeletal infections, or pulmonary infections. It is difficult to identify all strains of these species by a conventional culture system. Because 16S rRNA gene has the interspecific polymorphisms to differentiate the bacterial species, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis could be used to identify these pathogens. To determine the molecular types of two unidentified Gram-positive cocci from two patients with infective endocarditis, PCR amplification and DNA sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene were performed. These sequences of the PCR product were compared with known 16S rRNA gene sequences using GenBank BLAST search. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of two isolates showed > 99% nucleotide similarities with those of Gemella morbillorum (GenBank accession number L14327). Phylogenetic analysis also indicated the close relatedness between these isolates and G. morbillorum.

Keyword

Gemella; 16S rRNA; Endocarditis

MeSH Terms

Databases, Nucleic Acid
Endocarditis*
Gemella*
Genes, rRNA
Gram-Positive Cocci
Humans
Meningitis
Polymerase Chain Reaction
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S*
Sequence Analysis
Sequence Analysis, DNA
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S