Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis as a Molecular Tool for Characterizing Genomes of Certain Food-Borne Bacterial Isolates - A Review

Abstract

The evolutionary transition from phenotypic to molecular analysis of infectious disease in bacterial epidemiology led to the search for suitable approaches to ascertain genomic relatedness or heterogeneity between bacterial clinical isolates. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) technique was developed for separating and analyzing long DNA fragments of several megabases in alternating electric field. Comparison of electrophoresis profiles of restriction enzyme-digested genomic DNA from bacterial isolates has proved to be a useful epidemiological tool for genetic discrimination of bacterial strains, detection of genetic relatedness, to locate the source of outbreak and to monitor the spread of the microorganisms in endemic zones. PFGE is considered as a gold standard method for typing of bacterial isolates because of the remarkable endurance of this technique as a typing method for the last 20 years in molecular epidemiology. In this current review the pros and cons of PFGE use in current molecular microbiological research are explored in the context of determination of genome organization of certain food-borne bacterial isolates causing infectious diseases in human beings.

In silico characteristics for re-emerging possibility of Vibrio cholerae genotypes in Iran

“…All technical staff were trained during workshops held by EMRO in Cairo from 2006 to 2009. It was decided to run some research projects using this technique in order to acquire experience [14], [20], [23], [24]. After that, the PFGE technique was validated and standardized for food-borne pathogens isolated in 2010.…”

“…This method was validated several years ago and has now been standardized for many enteric pathogens [18], [19]. Currently, the introduced PulseNet protocol has been accepted by many countries as a highly discriminating typing technique [20]. It is being applied as a critical tool for the monitoring and control of enteric pathogens worldwide [21].…”

Molecular Epidemiology and Surveillance Program in Iran: Present Status and Future Prospect

“…The value of any data-generating process ultimately resides in the degree to which the produced information to be meaningfully understood and analyzed whether simple or specialized. [1][2][3] This method is a powerful tool for genome characterization that has led to the construction of the physical map of bacterial chromosomes specifically food-borne pathogens. It has been used for over a decade in epidemiologic studies and has proved to be a robust typing method for investigations of food-borne outbreaks and hospital epidemiology.…”