LSSP-PCR for characterization of strains of Entamoeba histolytica isolated in Brazil.
Strains of Entamoeba histolytica isolated in Brazil were characterized using the Low-Stringency Single Specific Primer PCR (LSSP-PCR), that detects single or multiple mutations in gene size DNA fragments. Using this technique, a 482-bp genomic DNA fragment from a structural gene in 8 strains and 2 clones of E. histolytica, isolated from symptomatic and asymptomatic patients in Brazil, including pathogenic and non-pathogenic zymodemes were studied. The results obtained indicate that LSSP-PCR is a valuable method for differentiating strains of E. histolytica. Moreover, the results are consistent with the concept that pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains of E. histolytica may represent distinct species or subspecies and are in accord with phenotypically characteristic isoenzyme patterns.
Gomes
M A
MA
Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Silva
E F
EF
Macedo
A M
AM
Vago
A R
AR
Melo
M N
MN
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000235:genetics*; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D016054:DNA, Protozoan