Bacterial profiling of healthy bone marrow using polymerase chain reaction technique

Abstract

Background: The bone marrow of healthy individuals is conventionally considered sterile like other body fluids, but recently the scientists found genetic material from the bacteria inside their stem cells. The findings raise the possibility that other infectious agents may also reside in the bone marrow. Objectives: The study was planned to look for the presence of all type of bacteria by amplifying 16S rDNA sequences using eubacterial universal primers. Materials and Methods: A total of 18 bone marrow samples of apparently healthy individuals were collected from patients admitted having closed bone fractures. The DNA was isolated and was subjected to nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using Universal eubacterial 16S rDNA primers. The samples positive by universal PCR was further checked for the presence of Salmonella Typhi, Salmonella Paratyphi A, and/or Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) if any using a second nested PCR reaction. Results: A total of 16 (89%) samples could yield the desired amplicon through universal PCR. The secondary PCR of 16 samples, the desired amplicons were detected 3 (18.8%) for Mtb, 4 (25%) for S. Typhi, and 1 (6.2%) for S. Paratyphi A. Conclusions: Even in asymptomatic cases, other infectious agents such as Mtb, Salmonella spp., and many other microorganisms may be present as commensal.