Genetic diversity and population structure of Aeromonas hydrophila, Aer. bestiarum, Aer. salmonicida and Aer. popoffii by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE)

Environ Microbiol. 2004 Mar;6(3):198-208. doi: 10.1046/j.1462-2920.2004.00554.x.

Abstract

Genetic diversity, genetic relationship, identification and population structure of 120 Aeromonas strains (including Aer. hydrophila, Aer. bestiarum, Aer. salmonicida and Aer. popoffii) isolated from various sources were studied by analysis of 15 genetic loci by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE). All 15 loci were polymorphic, with an average of 9.4 alleles per locus and a mean genetic diversity (H) of 0.64. Cluster analysis defined at H < or = 0.7 differentiated most of the taxa analysed except the Aer. popoffii and Aer. bestiarum strains, which showed a close genetic relationship. Allelic frequencies of five loci (EST1, HEX, IDH, LDH1 and MDH) identified 94% of the strains. The index of association (IA) for the total sample was 2.38 and IA values calculated for the different populations were always significantly different from zero. These results suggest that the population structure of this Aeromonas sample is strongly clonal, confirm the taxonomic status of the analysed species in population genetics terms, and show the usefulness of MLEE for identifying Aeromonas species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aeromonas / classification*
  • Aeromonas / enzymology
  • Aeromonas / genetics*
  • Aeromonas hydrophila / classification
  • Aeromonas hydrophila / enzymology
  • Aeromonas hydrophila / genetics
  • Alleles
  • Bacterial Typing Techniques
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Enzymes / analysis*
  • Enzymes / chemistry
  • Enzymes / genetics*
  • Esterases / analysis
  • Esterases / chemistry
  • Esterases / genetics
  • Genes, Bacterial
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genotype
  • Hexokinase / analysis
  • Hexokinase / chemistry
  • Hexokinase / genetics
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / analysis
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / chemistry
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / analysis
  • Isoenzymes / chemistry
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / analysis
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / chemistry
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Malate Dehydrogenase / analysis
  • Malate Dehydrogenase / chemistry
  • Malate Dehydrogenase / genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymorphism, Genetic

Substances

  • Enzymes
  • Isoenzymes
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
  • lactate dehydrogenase 1
  • Malate Dehydrogenase
  • Isocitrate Dehydrogenase
  • Hexokinase
  • Esterases