Basic Info

Serotype prediction based on their surface antigens, such as O, H, and K antigens.

More Details

The serotype represents the genetic markers displayed by proteins in blood plasma. Due to the genetic polymorphism of some serum proteins, phenotypic differences arise among individuals. Therefore, serotyping has become an important classification method, especially for many foodborne microorganisms such as Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. This method is also widely used in epidemiological investigations. By determining the serotype of bacteria, we can provide a solid basis for antimicrobial therapy. Specifically, through in-depth analysis of the characteristics of bacterial somatic cells, such as the O antigen, cell surface proteins, H antigen, and K antigen, we can accurately classify bacteria based on their serotypes.

What's New

Serotyping is the basis of public health surveillance of Salmonella. It remains a first-line subtyping method even as surveillance continues to be transformed by whole-genome sequencing. 

Salmonella serotypes are defined by two surface structures, O antigen and H antigen. More than 2,600 Salmonella serotypes have been described in the White-Kauffmann-Le Minor scheme, though a much smaller number are commonly reported. Molecular methods for serotype determination that are based on genes responsible for serotype antigens, including the rfb gene cluster, fliC, and fljB, provide continuity with the well-established scheme for phenotypic serotypes.

Additional Information

Related links:

https://lfz.corefacility.ca/sistr-app/

https://github.com/denglab/SeqSero2

Literature

Robertson J, Yoshida C, Kruczkiewicz P, et al. Comprehensive assessment of the quality of Salmonella whole genome sequence data available in public sequence databases using the Salmonella in silico Typing Resource (SISTR). Microb Genom. 2018;4(2):e000151. doi:10.1099/mgen.0.000151

Yoshida CE, Kruczkiewicz P, Laing CR, et al. The Salmonella In Silico Typing Resource (SISTR): An Open Web-Accessible Tool for Rapidly Typing and Subtyping Draft Salmonella Genome Assemblies. PLoS One. 2016;11(1):e0147101. Published 2016 Jan 22. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0147101

Zhang S, den Bakker HC, Li S, et al. SeqSero2: Rapid and Improved Salmonella Serotype Determination Using Whole-Genome Sequencing Data. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2019;85(23):e01746-19. Published 2019 Nov 14. doi:10.1128/AEM.01746-19

Zhang S, Yin Y, Jones MB, et al. Salmonella serotype determination utilizing high-throughput genome sequencing data. J Clin Microbiol. 2015;53(5):1685-1692. doi:10.1128/JCM.00323-15

Guibourdenche M, Roggentin P, Mikoleit M, et al. Supplement 2003-2007 (No. 47) to the White-Kauffmann-Le Minor scheme. Res Microbiol. 2010;161(1):26-29. doi:10.1016/j.resmic.2009.10.002

McQuiston JR, Waters RJ, Dinsmore BA, Mikoleit ML, Fields PI. Molecular determination of H antigens of Salmonella by use of a microsphere-based liquid array. J Clin Microbiol. 2011;49(2):565-573. doi:10.1128/JCM.01323-10

Fitzgerald C, Collins M, van Duyne S, Mikoleit M, Brown T, Fields P. Multiplex, bead-based suspension array for molecular determination of common Salmonella serogroups. J Clin Microbiol. 2007;45(10):3323-3334. doi:10.1128/JCM.00025-07