Saba Jalalifar - Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran
Bahram Nasr Esfahani - Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran
Seyed Asghar Havaie - Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran

Background and Aim:Streptococcus agalactiae is one of the uropathogens responsible for urinary tract infections (UTI) in children, pregnant women and elderly people with chronic underlying diseases. Surface protein antigens of Group B Streptococci (GBS) is important for understanding of the epidemiology of infection and designing vaccine components. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surface proteins of GBS isolates obtained from patients with UTIs referred to teaching hospitals of Isfahan, Iran.Methods:In this cross-sectional study, a total of 100 GBS strains were isolated from urine specimens of patients with UTIs referred to teaching hospitals of Isfahan, Iran. Bacterial isolates were identified by conventional microbiological methods; including Gram staining, catalase, oxidase, CAMP, and confirmed by genotyping method (the presence of the dlts gene). All GBS isolates were screened for the presence of five surface protein of alpha family , namely, Alpha-C, Rib, Epsilon, Alp2/3, Alp4 by Multiplex PCR. Positive control was confirmed by direct sequencing of the PCR products of positive GBS isolate.Results:One hundred isolates were identified as GBS. The distribution of surface protein antigen genes was as follows: rib (40%), alpha-c (22%), alp2/3 (18%) and epsilon (15%), although no alp4 gene was detected in the isolates. Five GBS isolates did not harbor any of the genes from the alpha family .Conclusion:Although the distribution of surface protein of GBS strains will be useful in epidemiological studies and design of vaccines but further genetic research on a larger number of GBS isolates is necessary for epidemiological investigation and vaccine development.

Surface protein, Multiplex PCR, Group B Streptococci, Urinary tract infection