This requirement seriously hampers epidemiological investigations, particularly at international scales [21, 23].

Typing procedures based on DNA sequences overcome these limitations, Selleck PND-1186 since sequence data may easily be exchanged and stored in databases that are accessible via the internet. Accordingly, a scheme for multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of C. difficile was developed recently that is based on sequences from seven housekeeping gene fragments [31]. While MLST to date has been applied to a limited number of isolates, available data allowed a first glimpse at the largely clonal genetic population structure of C. difficile [23, 31, 32]. In clonal bacteria, novel genotypes in the course of evolution are generated primarily AZD0530 order through mutations, which in slowly evolving housekeeping genes are rare. Hence, it is this very clonality of C. difficile and the associated linkage disequilibrium that causes MLST to provide poor discriminatory power, which is exemplified by the fact that relevant epidemic strains are not resolved [31]. In addition, MLST remains too Tanespimycin expensive to be applied for routine typing aside from dedicated research

projects. More variable genomic regions may provide improved discrimination ability. In contrast to MLST, it may even suffice to sequence a single locus or very few genetic loci that are sufficiently variable, since – analysing a clonal population – phylogenetic inferences will rarely be confounded through homologous genetic recombination. Sequence-based typing schemes relying on one or several highly discriminatory markers have previously been established for a number of pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus (spa gene) [33], Campylobacter jejuni (flaA) [34, 35], Streptococcus pyogenes (emm) [36] and Neisseria meningitidis (porA, fetA) [37–39]. The surface layer protein

gene slpA has recently been proposed as a promising target for sequence-based typing of C. difficile [40]. The limited data available suggests extremely high sequence variation among isolates and, correspondingly, excellent discriminatory power [23, 40]. To date, however, slpA sequencing reportedly has been applied to a total of only 11 different ribotypes, and it is not clear if the method is universally applicable why [23, 40]. It is anticipated that the requirement for degenerate oligonucleotide primers may restrict the general utility of the current protocol [39]. The method has as yet not been successfully transferred to any other laboratory [23, 40]. This present report describes the development and application of a new assay for genotyping C. difficile that is based on sequence analysis of two stretches of repetitive DNA. Investigating a panel of 154 diverse C. difficile isolates, we demonstrate extensive sequence variation in these genomic regions, resulting in high discriminatory power, and excellent concordance with PCR ribotyping.