Discriminatory Power of RAPD, PCR-RFLP and Southern Blot Analyses of ureCD or ureA Gene Probes on Helicobacter pylori Isolates

Abstract

The genetic diversity of 33 Nigerian Helicobacter pylori isolates were studied using RAPD, PCR-RFLP and Southern blot analysis of ureA or ureCD gene probes. RAPD was able to distinguish the following number of isolates using the primers 3880: 5′-AAGAGCCCGT-3’ (28), 3881:5′-AACGCGCAAC-3’ (33) and OPH8:5′-GAAACACCCC-3’ (25). Southern blot analysis using the ureCD probe was also able to distinguish the 12 isolates tested into ten different patterns. The PCR-RFLP technique distinguished all 33 isolates into six types. In conclusion, considering typeability, discriminatory power, and convenience, RAPD with the 3881 primer was considered the most useful technique. © 2002, Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung. All rights reserved.