Published in:
09-05-2023 | Streptococci | Brief Report
Group B streptococci (GBS) strains evading molecular diagnostics showed novel chromosomal deletions encompassing the CAMP-factor (cfb) encoding gene
Published in: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases | Issue 7/2023
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A highly conserved fragment adjacent to the cfb gene encoding the CAMP factor is the target of PCR-based molecular diagnostic systems for the identification of S. agalactiae (group B streptococci (GBS)). Six PCR-negative, culture-positive GBS strains were whole genome sequenced to assess why they escaped molecular diagnostics. GBS strains did not constitute a clonal cluster and presented variably sized chromosomal deletions (from 7 to 33 kb) which always included the cfb gene, a finding never described before. GBS strains that escape molecular diagnostics are considered rare; however, they can cause false-negative results using molecular diagnostics alone, affecting medical decisions.