T. Enatsu et al., Phylogenetic analysis of Orientia tsutsugamushi strains based on the sequence homologies of 56-kDa type-specific antigen genes, FEMS MICROB, 180(2), 1999, pp. 163-169
Close and distant relationship among 31 strains of Orientia tsutsugamushi (
20, two, one and eight strains were isolated in Japan, Korea, China and sou
theast Asia, respectively) were clarified using phylogenetic analyses based
on homologies of 56-kDa type specific antigen genes. Isolates in Japan, Ko
rea and China were located in eight separate clusters in the phylogenetic t
ree, and each was designated as JG (Japanese Gilliam type), JP-1 and JP-2 (
Japanese Karp 1 and 2 types), Kato, Kawasaki, Kuroki, Shimokoshi and LX-1 t
ypes. All isolates originated in southeast Asia, including the prototype Gi
lliam and Karp strains isolated in Burma and New Guinea, respectively, were
distantly located in the phylogenetic tree from those isolates in Japan, K
orea and China, indicating that strains of O. tsutsugamushi distributed in
northeastern and southeastern Asia are different types. (C) 1999 Federation
of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
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