title: Application of the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Fingerprinting to Analyze Genetic Variation in Community Associated-Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (CA-MRSA) Isolates in Iran.
abstract: The aim of this study was to apply RAPD technique to analyze the genetic variability among the Iranian CA-MRSA isolates.The RAPD amplification was implemented on 25 strains isolated from the anterior nares of 410 healthy children using four randomly selected oligonucleotide primers from the stocks available in our laboratory, including the primers 1254, GE6, OLP6 and OLP13 from our stock. The amplified PCR products were detected on a 1.5% agarose gel and subjected to further analysis to establish the band profiles and genetic relationships using the Gel Compar® program.The Iranian CA-MRSA isolates produced distinct RAPD patterns which varied based on the primer used, however, the primer 1254 revealed highly polymorphic patterns consisting 5 discernable RAPD types (RT), "RT1" (12, 48%), "RT2" (8, 32%), "RT3" (3, 12%), and "RT4 and RT5", (a single RAPD type each, 4%). Phylogenetic analysis based on RAPD profiles divided most of the CA-MRSA isolates into 2 distinct but related RAPD clusters, a small group and two single unrelated RAPD types.This study shows that the simple and cost-effective but rather difficult to optimize RAPD fingerprinting could be used to evaluate genetic and epidemiological relationships of CA-MRSA isolates on condition that the patterns are obtained from carefully optimized laboratory tests.
authors.affiliation: Nosocomial Infection Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. h_shojaei@idrc.mui.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mobasherizadeh
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shojaei
authors.forename: Seyed Asghar
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Havaei
authors.forename: Kamyar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mostafavizadeh
authors.forename: Fazollah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Davoodabadi
authors.forename: Farzin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khorvash
authors.forename: Behrooz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ataei
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daei-Naser