Identification of Shigella flexneri subserotypes in São Paulo State, Brazil, by Multiplex PCR

• Grant number: 15/05546-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2016
• End date: February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Luis Fernando dos Santos
• Grantee: Vagner Vieira Santana
• Host Institution: Instituto Adolfo Lutz (IAL). Coordenadoria de Controle de Doenças (CCD). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Bacteria belonging to the genus Shigella are the etiologic agents of the shigellosis or bacillary dysentery. Among the four species that compose this genus, Shigella flexneri is predominant in areas of low sanitation conditions and poverty. The characterization of Shigella flexneri strains associated with human infections is of great importance because it provides subsidies for the understanding of the behavior and circulation of this bacterium. One of the ways for characterizing Shigella flexneri is through the determination of the serotype of a given isolate. An agglutination assay is normally employed for this purpose; however this assay has several disadvantages and can only be performed by reference laboratories. Recently, molecular approaches based on PCR technique have been developed and proposed as alternatives to the traditional method. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the suitability of a recently described Multiplex PCR assay in the complete determination of Shigella flexneri serotypes, which include its subserotypes. Additionally, by the examination of a large collection of clinical Shigella flexneri isolates we will investigate the subserotypes of this bacteria circulating in the State of São Paulo.