Molecular Genetic Typing of Legionella pneumophila Strains Isolated in Jejudo, Korea

ABSTRACT

Twenty two strains of Legionella species isolated from Jejudo, Korea were identified by comparing the rpoB (300 bp), dotA (360 bp), and mip (396 bp) gene sequence analysis. Furthermore, their genotypes were determined by sequence analysis of rpoB/dotA subgroup typing, pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns. Of the 22 isolates, 21 strains were identified as L. pneumophila and 1 strain was close to L. erythra (>95% similarity of rpoB and mip). Most of the L. pneumophila strains (90%) belonged to P-I of rpoB/dotA subgroup typing, one strain of each P-III and P-IV. L. pneumophila isolates were further grouped into 4 and 6 different PFGE (P1 to P4) and RAPD (R1 to R6) patterns, respectively. On the basis of these genotypes, which may be useful for future epidemiological studies, existence of diverse L. pneumophilla population in Jejudo, Korea were observed.