Fingerprinting bacterial strains using repetitive DNA sequence amplification

摘要

Oligonucleotide primers and methods for identifying strains of bacteria by genomic fingerprinting are described. The methods are applicable to a variety of samples. The testing procedure includes amplifying the bacterial DNA in the sample to be tested by adding a pair of outwardly-directed primers to the sample. The primers are capable of hybridizing to repetitive DNA sequences in the bacterial DNA and extending outwardly from one hybridizable repetitive sequence to another hybridizable repetitive sequence. After amplification the extension products are separated by size and the specific strain of bacteria is determined by measuring the pattern of sized extension products. The procedure to identify strains of bacteria by fingerprinting has a variety of uses including: identifying bacteria in infections, agriculture and horticulture plots, bioremediation, food monitoring, production monitoring and quality assurance and quality control.