Rapid Typing of Bordetella pertussis Pertussis Toxin Gene Variants by LightCycler Real-Time PCR and Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Hybridization Probe Melting Curve Analysis

A LightCycler real-time PCR hybridization probe assay was developed for rapid typing of gene variants of the Bordetella pertussis virulence factor pertussis toxin. The assay correctly identified the ptxS1 alleles of all strains tested, comprising 57 Finnish clinical isolates and 2 vaccine strains. The method is simple, reliable, and suitable for large-scale screening of B. pertussis strains.