The Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol 37, Issue 1 8-14, Copyright © 1992 by Society for General Microbiology

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Plasmid profiles of "Campylobacter upsaliensis" isolated from blood cultures and stools of paediatric patients

F. M. Da Silva Tatley, A. J. Lastovica and L. M. Steyn
Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical School, University of Cape Town, Observatory, South Africa.

Seventy-three clinical isolates of "Campylobacter upsaliensis" were screened for the presence of plasmids. Plasmid bands were found in 68 (93%) isolates, from which 14 plasmid types were identified. Type 5 was found only in blood-culture isolates, whereas types 7-14 were found only in faecal isolates. Plasmid-free isolates and the other plasmid profiles were present in both faecal and blood isolates. The reproducibility of these profiles was largely dependent on the method of plasmid isolation. The chloroform-phenol lysis method was the most efficient and reliable method of preparing plasmid DNA for plasmid profile analysis. The success of this method may be largely attributable to two factors: (1) the efficacy of cell lysis was independent of either an alkaline agent or of heat; (2) the inactivation of nucleases by the utilisation of chloroform-phenol to lyse the cells. Furthermore, this method of plasmid DNA preparation is ideally suited for use on clinical isolates, especially when rapid plasmid profile analysis may be required.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Kotlowski, A. Martin, A. Ablordey, K. Chemlal, P.-A. Fonteyne, and F. Portaels One-tube cell lysis and DNA extraction procedure for PCR-based detection of Mycobacterium ulcerans in aquatic insects, molluscs and fish J. Med. Microbiol., September 1, 2004; 53(9): 927 - 933. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Bourke, V. L. Chan, and P. Sherman Campylobacter upsaliensis: Waiting in the Wings Clin. Microbiol. Rev., July 1, 1998; 11(3): 440 - 449. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]