RAPID IDENTIFICATION BY MULTIPLEX PCR OF

RAPID IDENTIFICATION BY MULTIPLEX PCR OF BACTEROIDES STRAINS
ISOLATED FROM HUMAN FECAL MICROBIOTA
Freitas Daher, L.F.1 ; Diniz, C.G.3; Gomes, D.A.1; Vieira, L.Q.2; Nicoli, J.R. 1
1
Departamento de Microbiologia, and 2Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia,
Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo
Horizonte, MG, Brazil; 3Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e
Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora,
Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
Bacteroides are strictly anaerobic Gram negative rods which are the predominant
components of human gut microbiota. As amphibiotic microorganisms, they are
responsible for beneficial functions under eubiotic conditions, but are also involved
in several human diseases. Considering their ecological and clinical importance, a
rapid and convenient method to identify Bacteroides species would be of great
interest. P henotypic methods have been used to differentiate species within the
group. However, these methods are frequently unreliable since this group of
bacteria is prone to adaptive changes to environmental conditions, hence to
different growth media. Recently, molecular techniques have been used to study
species differentiation within the Bacteroides genus. The aim of this study was to
identify Bacteroides isolates in fecal samples from healthy adults and infants,
using a multiplex PCR technique After four sets of Multiplex PCR performed to
group the species, the results showed that B. fragilis was most frequently
recovered from infant feces (32% of the isolates) followed by B. distasonis (12%).
B. vulgatus was the species most frequently recovered from adult feces (23%). In
conclusion, Multiplex PCR is a simple, rapid and reliable method that allowed the
identification of Bacteroides in fecal samples. The present study reveals a tool that
may lead to a better understanding of gut microbiota composition. .
Key words: Bacteroides, multiplex PCR, human fecal microbiota.
Supported by: FAPEMIG and CNPq.