RAPD method useful for distinguishing Leishmania species: design of specific primers for L. braziliensis.
The technique of Random Amplification Polymorphic DNA allows fragments of the genome to be amplified by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) without previous knowledge of their sequences. The protozoa of the genus Leishmania present great genetic variability, making it difficult to characterize the different species. A method is developed with a single 10-mers long primer, which allows the species L. braziliensis, L. mexicana, L. infantum, L. tropica, L. chagasi, L. amazonensis and L. major to be differentiated. These products amplified by RAPD have also facilitated the design of some primers that amplify L. braziliensis DNA exclusively.
Martinez
E
E
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of La Laguna, Avda. Francisco Sánchez s/n, CP38271 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
Alonso
V
V
Quispe
A
A
Thomas
M C
MC
Alonso
R
R
Piñero
J E
JE
González
A C
AC
Ortega
A
A
Valladares
B
B
D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique / Q000379:methods*
D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan