title: Identification of Streptococcus parasanguinis DNA contamination in human buccal DNA samples.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of buccal swabs in clinical and scientific studies is a very popular method of collecting DNA, due to its non-invasive nature of collection. However, contamination of the DNA sample may interfere with analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here we report the finding of Streptococcus parasanguinis bacterial DNA contamination in human buccal DNA samples, which led to preferential amplification of bacterial sequence with PCR primers designed against human sequence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contamination of buccal-derived DNA with bacterial DNA can be significant, and may influence downstream genetic analysis. One needs to be aware of possible bacterial contamination when interpreting abnormal findings following PCR amplification of buccal swab DNA samples.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Genetic Diseases, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton 3168, VIC, Australia. stefan.white@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Istiak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mahfuz
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Stefan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D001483:Base Sequence; D001746:Bladder Exstrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D059018:DNA Contamination; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D051180:Desmoplakins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004842:Epispadias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C495294:DSP protein, human; D051180:Desmoplakins; D004247:DNA