Direct sequence evaluation of the major outer membrane protein gene variant regions of Chlamydia trachomatis subtypes D', I', and L2'.

The nucleotide sequences of variable segments (VS) 1, 2, and 4 for the major outer membrane protein gene (omp1) of Chlamydia trachomatis were determined for serologically defined subtypes D', I', and L2'. Asymmetric DNA amplification was used to produce single-stranded DNA for direct sequencing. Amino acid substitutions were detected in VS1, VS2, and VS4 for I', in VS2 for L2', and in VS4 for D'. DNA sequencing of omp1 variant regions may be an important method for evaluating the molecular epidemiology of Chlamydia spp.