Technique of Universal Molecular Identifications
This technique is based on so-called "phylogenetic markers". Examples for such markers are the 16S rRNA gene for bacteria or the 18S rRNA for fungi, respectively.
The DNA of all microorganisms present in the sample is amplified using universal primers. Amplification products are then separated according to their sequence. This "screening" step displays a gel picture, where every sample is represented by a lane, and every microorganisms by a band.
In a second step the DNA in each band can be sequenced. Finally these sequences are compared with sequence data of known microorganisms, thus identifying the next-homologous sequence and species.
AMODIA offers the following universal and group-specific systems:
- universal identification of bacteria by 16S rRNA
- universal identification of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB)
- identification within the group of methanogenic bacteria
- universal identification of yeast and fungi by 18S rRNA (combination)
- universal identification of eucaryotes using the ITS region
The universal molecular identification by AMODIA follows this scheme:
- direct extraction of DNA from the sample material
- universal amplification of microbial DNA
- sequence-specific separation with
- recognition of relevant species or
- quantification of detected species (optional)
- direct sequencing of selected bands
- identification according to database homologies
Two Examples:
