Genotyping of the genus Proteus by rpoB sequence analysis

Abstract

Background. The genetic relationship among different species within the genus Proteus has still not been
clarified and previous studies by rRNA gene restriction patterns (ribotypes) suggested a high genetic
variability in the presently recognised nomenspecies.
Methods. The usefulness of rpoB sequencing for inter- and intraspecies discrimination in the genus Proteus
was evaluated on 11 type and clinical strains belonging to the four described species: P. penneri, P. vulgaris,
P. mirabilis, and P. myxofaciens.
Results. The rpoB sequencing proved able to characterise the different species, showing six well defined
rpoB sequence groups in the 1153 bp region analysed. P. myxofaciens and P. mirabilis could be clearly
differentiated from the types and clinical strains of the other species showing sequence divergences of 19.5-
23% and 6.6-7.6%, respectively. Two groups of P. vulgaris sequences could be described, one of them
including the new strain type, differing from each other by 3.3-3.6% of their nucleotides (nt) and for both of
them 6.5-6.8% nt differences from the stand-alone former P. vulgaris strain type were found. P. penneri
differed by only 2.3-3% from all P. vulgaris strains, however, differed from the former P. vulgaris strain type
by 5.5-5.8%.
Conclusions. Our results confirm previous ribotyping data regarding the validity of the presently recognised
nomenspecies within the genus Proteus, but provides further evidence for the existence of genetic
differences within the P. vulgaris species.