TITLE:
PCR-RFLP Methodology to Identify Nocardia Isolates in Cuba
AUTHORS:
Yaxsier de Armas, Carlos Manuel Fernández, Raúl Díaz, Nicolas Bioni Stefano, Gustavo Wissmann, Enrique José Calderón
KEYWORDS:
Nocardia, PCR-RFLP, Cuba, Molecular Identification, 65-kDa HSP Gene
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Microbiology,
Vol.5 No.10,
September
30,
2015
ABSTRACT: Nocardiosis diagnosis
is a major challenge. The clinical features and radiological findings are nonspecific.
Traditionally, Nocardia identification
is based on colonial and microscopical morphology and biochemical tests. However,
molecular biology techniques allow a better characterization of species and biotypes.
PCR-RFLP of the 65-kDa heat shock protein (HSP) gene provides a rapid, sensitive,
and time and labor-efficient method for this proposal. Using this technique, six
of eight isolates tested were identified as Nocardia asteroides type VI. PCR-RFLP of the 65-kDa HSP gene could be very useful for
determining the incidence of this pathogen in different population groups and its
association with susceptibility/resistance profiles to the drugs of choice for treatment.
This work is the first molecular detection of Nocardia species in Cuba.