title: Differentiation of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis.
abstract: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato is a multispecies complex of pathogenic spirochetes, causing Lyme borreliosis. Due to clinical, epidemiological, and taxonomical implications, there is a need for identification of isolated Borrelia strains. In the present study, we have optimized TGGE for B. burgdorferi sensu lato species differentiation and the results were compared with two reference methods, namely PFGE and restriction of 5S-23S intergenic space region PCR product. A differentiation of B. garinii, B. afzelii, and B. burgdorferi senso stricto species with TGGE was possible and intraspecies variation was detected. Results compared between TGGE, PFGE, and restriction of 5S-23S intergenic space region PCR product showed no difference in specificity of species identification.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. j.simenc@volja.net
authors.forename: Janez
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simenc
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruzić-Sabljić
authors.forename: Gorazd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Avgustin
mesh_terms: D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000379:methods*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial