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Technical improvement to prevent DNA degradation of Leptospira spp. in pulsed field gel electrophoresis
Author(s) -
Ribeiro R.L.,
Machry L.,
Brazil J.M.V.,
Ramos T.M.V.,
Avelar K.E.S.,
Pereira M.M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2009.02641.x
Subject(s) - pulsed field gel electrophoresis , leptospira , gel electrophoresis , leptospirosis , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , dna , degradation (telecommunications) , electrophoresis , serotype , genetics , virology , genotype , gene , telecommunications , computer science
Leptospirosis is a public health problem. Infection with pathogenic Leptospira occurs by exposure to many environments and is traditionally associated with occupational risk activities. Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis was used to investigate the epidemiological relatedness among Leptospira isolates. However, analysis by PFGE yielded inconclusive data as a result of extensive DNA degradation. This degradation can be significantly reduced by the inclusion of thiourea in the electrophoresis buffer, improving the analysis of DNA banding patterns.