Korean Lepr Bull.  2017 Dec;50(1):25-42. 10.0000/klb.2017.50.1.25.

Molecular Epidemiology of Mycobacterium leprae as Determined by Structure-Neighbor Clustering in Korea found cases

• Kim JP

• KMID: 2405549
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/klb.2017.50.1.25

Abstract

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.

Keyword

Mycobacterium leprae; VNTR; structure-neighbor clustering

MeSH Terms

Cluster Analysis*
Genetic Heterogeneity
Genotype
Korea*
Leprosy
Methods
Molecular Epidemiology*
Mycobacterium leprae*
Mycobacterium*