RAPD-PCR as a Molecular Discriminative Technique for Human Pathogenic Bacteria - A Review

Abstract

The application of random amplified polymorphic DNA- polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) was found to be a simple, cheap and rapid tool to discriminate human pathogenic bacterial isolates especially at intraspecific level. This molecular biological technique relies on the use of random oligonucleotide primers that arbitrarily amplifies specific regions of the genome which gives rise to a unique genomic fingerprint of the strains under investigations. With continued development of novel molecular-based technologies for rapid, high-throughput detection of food borne pathogenic bacteria, the future of conventional microbiological methods such as viable cell enumeration, selective isolation of bacteria on commercial media, and immunoassays seems tenuous. Approaches that enhance recovery of sub lethally injured bacteria, differentiation among species, differentiation among bacteria of interest using biochemical profiling, enumeration using impedance technology, techniques to confirm the presence of target pathogens using immunological methods, and bioluminescence applications for hygiene monitoring are of utmost need in identifying and combating the human pathogenic isolates. The aim of this study is to esti­mate the efficiency of RAPD-PCR technique in assessing the genetic diversity of diseases causing bacterial isolates. The use of RAPD-PCR in evaluating the genomic variability among the pathogenic strains belonging to different genus are also been discussed in the present report.