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Variation of the polymorphic region X of the protein A gene during persistent airway infection of cystic fibrosis patients reflects two independent mechanisms of genetic change in Staphylococcus aureus.

Kahl BC, Mellmann A, Deiwick S, Peters G, Harmsen D

Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Muenster, Domagkstr. 10, 48149 Muenster, Germany. kahl@uni-muenster.de

Variation of the polymorphic region of the protein A gene (spa) was observed during long-term persistence of Staphylococcus aureus in the airways of 10 cystic fibrosis patients and occurred at a rate of one genetic change every 70 months. Independent mutational events were observed eight times in 142 isolates: four deletions, two duplications of repeats, and two point mutations.

Published 6 January 2005 in J Clin Microbiol, 43(1): 502-5.
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