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A Simple One-Step PCR Walking Method and Its Application of Bacterial rRNA for Sequencing Identification

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Abstract

There are many PCR walking methods applied currently, and they all have examples of successful application in organisms which are more complex than bacteria. However, to a certain extent, it will be more convenient for researchers if the complicated operation and poor specificity for bacteria can be improved. Here, we introduced an improved one-step PCR walking method of bacteria. Using a specific primer of the known sequence together with a universal semirandom primer, the unknown sequence adjacent to a known sequence can be obtained easily by just one ordinary round PCR. The products can be gel purified and directly sequenced. Specific primers were designed according to the gene sequence of bacterial rRNA, and the variable and adjacent gene sequences were obtained by this method. The sequence analysis of the product showed that it can improve the resolution of bacterial identification to the species level.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Major Project of Chinese National Programs for Fundamental Research and Development (973 Program) (grant no. 2012CB723706).

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Correspondence to Hongfa Zhang.

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Zhang, H., You, C., Ren, J. et al. A Simple One-Step PCR Walking Method and Its Application of Bacterial rRNA for Sequencing Identification. Curr Microbiol 68, 486–494 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-013-0488-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-013-0488-1

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