title: Polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Mycobacterium leprae.
abstract: A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using heat-stable Taq polymerase is described for the specific detection of Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy. A set of primers was selected on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of a gene encoding the 36 kDa antigen of M. leprae. With this set of primers in the PCR, M. leprae could be detected specifically with a detection limit approximating one bacterium. This PCR appears to meet the criteria of specificity and sensitivity required for a useful tool in epidemiology and eventually for the control of leprosy.
authors.affiliation: N.H. Swellengrebel Laboratory of Tropical Hygiene, Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hartskeerl
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: de Wit
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Klatser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001135:Armadillos; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000235:genetics*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase