title: Comparison of three phenotypic and deoxyribonucleic acid extraction methods for isolation and Identification of Nocardia spp.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aerobic Actinomycetes are a large group of soil-indwelling bacteria that are distributed in world-wide. These Gram-positive bacteria are most commonly associated with opportunistic infections in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent hosts.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, three phenotypic and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction methods for isolation and identification of Nocardia genus were compared. Samples were taken in five different locations of Isfahan's suburb from hospitals area, parks, agricultural lands, gardens, arid lands with different soil temperature and pH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, showed that slip-buried-method was better than two other phenotypic methods; 14 out of 70 soil samples (20%) were positive for Nocardia spp. DNA of positive samples were extracted with three techniques and DNA extraction by microwave technique was better than others. This technique was confirmed with observation of DNA bands on 1% agarose gel.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These bacteria are important in immune deficient patients such as cancer patients, transplant recipients, tuberculosis; acquired immunodeficiency syndrome etc., Their affluence is unsteady in different zones of the world. In this study, among the three phenotypic methods for the isolation of Nocardia slip-buried method was better than other methods. Among DNA extraction techniques, DNA extraction by microwave method would be selective method for DNA extraction of Nocardia spp. compared with others techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Medical School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Jamshid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faghri
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Medical School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Samane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bourbour
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Medical School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sharare
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moghim
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Infectious and Tropical Diseases center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meidani
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Medical School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hajiye Ghasemian
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Safaei
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Medical School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Nafise
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Medical School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Bahram Nasr
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Esfahani
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Medical School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hussein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fazeli
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Medical School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mansour
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sedighi
keywords: Deoxyribonucleic acid extraction techniques; Nocardia spp.; phenotypic methods; soil