Development of Molecular and Biochemical Markers for Selecting a Potential High Yielding Strain of Paddy Straw Mushroom (Volvariella volvacea)

Twelve ‘normal type’ strains of paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) varied in their mycelial growth characteristics, and the fast growing strains, OE-215, OE-209 and OE-212 exhibited higher activity of cellulases, but not of laccase and polyphenol oxidase. In protein profiles, out of twelve, two strains, OE-210 and OE-273 varied only at one protein band with respect to its intensity. The four strains, OE-272, OE-140, OE-209 and OE-55 with higher activity of endoglucanase, β-glucosidase, xylanase and laccase, were also recorded to have higher protein content in their mycelial cultures. The RAPID profiles obtained with 5 OPB series primers varied in different strains and the combined phylogenetic analysis of the RAPID profiles revealed 5 distinct phylogenetic clusters, where in the strains with common origin showed 85% to 95% similarity. The strain, OE-210, with a low intensity protein band in its protein profile also varied in mycelial growth rate on two different media, possessed highest activity of endoglucanase, β-glucosidase, laccase and polyphenol oxidase and also showed highest dissimilarity of 28% with other strains in phylogenetic analysis. The present study thus, reveals that strains with faster mycelial growth rate, forming aerial mycelia and chlamydospores, also exhibited higher activities of xylanase, exoglucanase, endoglucanase or β-glucosidase, while simply higher activity of an individual enzyme was not found sufficient to support the mycelial growth and mushroom yield. A relationship between origin of the strains and their phylogenetic belongingness was also recorded, as the strains from different origins formed different clusters in combined phylogenetic analysis.     

Evaluation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Volvariella volvacea</Emphasis> Strains for Yield and Diseases/Insect-Pests Resistance Using Composted Substrate of Paddy Straw and Cotton Mill Wastes

Out of the 3 parent strains and 4 single spore isolates of Volvariella volvacea evaluated, strain, OE-274 gave earliest yield in 11.25–11.50 days post-spawning in all 4 trials. The yield varied in different strains in different trials and it was highest in strain, OE-272 in trial 1, SSI, OE-55-08 in trial 2, and strain, OE-274 in trial 3 and 4. In overall average, highest yield was in strain, OE-272, closely followed by strain, OE-274. The number of fruiting bodies per q substrate also varied in different strains in different trials. Highest numbers were in strain, OE-272, SSIs, OE-55-08 and OE-12-22, and strain, OE-210 in trial 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Highest fruiting body wt was in strain, OE-274 in all 4 trials. The yield during different weeks of cropping varied in different strains but invariably it was highest in first week, which accounted for 60–70% of the total yield. The fruiting bodies of strain, OE-274 were of bigger size, brownish, toughest and with least tendency of veil opening, while that of strain, OE-272 and SSI, OE-55-08 were whitish to grayish-white, oblong, medium size, delicate and lesser tendency of veil opening. The strain, OE-274 and SSI, OE-55-08 exhibited higher resistance against the growth of competitor moulds and infestations of insect-pests, while strain, OE-272 exhibited highest susceptibility to insect-pests infestation.     

Comparison of Haemophilus parasuis reference strains and field isolates by using random amplified polymorphic DNA and protein profiles

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Haemophilus parasuis is the causative agent of Glasser's disease and is a pathogen of swine in high-health status herds. Reports on serotyping of field strains from outbreaks describe that approximately 30% of them are nontypeable and therefore cannot be traced. Molecular typing methods have been used as alternatives to serotyping. This study was done to compare random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles and whole cell protein (WCP) lysate profiles as methods for distinguishing H. parasuis reference strains and field isolates. RESULTS: The DNA and WCP lysate profiles of 15 reference strains and 31 field isolates of H. parasuis were analyzed using the Dice and neighbor joining algorithms. The results revealed unique and reproducible DNA and protein profiles among the reference strains and field isolates studied. Simpson's index of diversity showed significant discrimination between isolates when three 10mer primers were combined for the RAPD method and also when both the RAPD and WCP lysate typing methods were combined. CONCLUSIONS: The RAPD profiles seen among the reference strains and field isolates did not appear to change over time which may reflect a lack of DNA mutations in the genes of the samples. The recent field isolates had different WCP lysate profiles than the reference strains, possibly because the number of passages of the type strains may affect their protein expression.     

RAPD typing for distinguishing species and strains in the genus Listeria

The randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was employed in the development of a typing protocol for Listeria isolates, particularly Listeria monocytogenes strains. A single strain of L. monocytogenes was used and 200 random decamer primers were screened for their discriminatory abilities by visualizing the amplification products electrophoretically. Three candidate primers displaying potentially useful banding patterns were selected and tested against 52 L. monocytogenes strains, encompassing 11 serotypes, and 12 other strains representing five other Listeria spp. Thirty-four banding profiles were obtained with one particular primer. RAPD analysis allowed differentiation between Listeria spp. and was found to further subdivide strains of the same serotype. Where only one primer was used strains from different serotypes were occasionally found to produce identical banding profiles. RAPD analysis, which in our hands proved to be reproducible, shows much promise as a molecular alternative to traditional L. monocytogenes typing protocols.     

Use of RAPD technique in evolution studies of four species in the family Canidae

The RAPD-PCR technique was applied to identify genetic markers able to distinguish between four canid species: the arctic fox (Alopex lagopus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), Chinese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides procyonoides) and six breeds of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). A total of 29 ten-nucleotide arbitrary primers were screened for their potential use in the differentiation of these species. Ten primers amplified RAPD profiles that made it possible to distinguish between the investigated taxa. A number of species-specific bands was scored within RAPD profiles produced by these primers: 35.6% of all the polymorphic bands were unique to the Chinese raccoon dog, 29.6% were unique to the domestic dog, 21.2% were diagnostic for the red fox and 13.6% for the arctic fox. No breed-specific fragments were amplified from canine DNA; however, three primers produced bands characteristic for the dog, but not present in all of the investigated breeds. A Neighbor-Joining tree constructed on the basis of the analysis of RAPD profiles amplified by six primers revealed that the phylogenetic distance between the dog and the arctic fox is larger than the distance between the dog and the red fox. The phylogenetic branch of the Chinese raccoon dog was the most distinct on the dendrogram, suggesting that this species belongs to a different phylogenetic lineage. Obtained results make it possible to conclude that RAPD analysis can be a powerful tool for developing molecular markers useful in distinguishing between species of the family Canidae and for studying their phylogenetic relations.     

Identification and typing of food-borne Staphylococcus aureus by PCR-based techniques

The possibility of using PCR for rapid identification of food-borne Staphylococcus aureus isolates was evaluated as an alternative to the API-Staph system. A total of 158 strains, 15 S. aureus, 12 other staphylococcal species, and 131 isolates recovered from 164 food samples were studied. They were phenotypically characterized by API-Staph profiles and tested for PCR amplification with specific primers directed to thermonuclease (nuc) and enterotoxin (sea to see) genes. Disagreement between the PCR results and API-Staph identification was further assessed by the analysis of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles obtained with three universal primers (M13, T3, and T7) and 16S rDNA sequencing. Forty out of 131 isolates (31%) tested positive for PCR enterotoxin. Of these, 14 (11%) were positive for sea, 22 (17%) for sec, one (0.8%) for sed, and three (2.2%) for sea and sec. No amplification corresponding to seb nor see was obtained. Cluster analysis based on RAPD profiles revealed that most of the sec positive food isolates grouped together in three clusters. Cluster analysis combining the three RAPD fingerprints (M 13, T3, and T7), PCR-enterotoxin genotype and API-Staph profiles, grouped the nuc PCR positive isolates together with S. aureus reference strains and the nuc PCR negative isolates with reference strains of other staphylococcal species. The only nuc PCR positive food isolate that remained unclustered was a sed positive strain identified by 16S rDNA sequence as S. simulans. The high concordance between S. aureus and nuc PCR positive strains (99%) corroborates the specificity of the primers used and the suitability of nuc PCR for rapid identification of S. aureus in routine food analysis.     

Use of multiple primers in RAPD analysis of clonal organisms provides limited improvement in discrimination.

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using two or more primers has been reported to provide additional discriminatory ability over one primer used individually. This may be of particular application in epidemiological typing of clonal organisms, such as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157, where strain differentiation can be difficult. Using four arbitrary primers individually, and in all possible permutations, E. coli O157 isolates and other arbitrarily chosen E. coli strains were typed using RAPD analysis. For most nonclonal strains, the use of two primers resulted in increased differentiation between isolates; however, more than two primers did not increase further the discriminatory capacity. E. coli O157 isolates that produced virtually identical profiles using one primer did not show increased differentiation when using two or more primers, demonstrating that in some cases, where strains of an organism are highly related, there is limited advantage to using more than one primer in RAPD analysis.     

苎麻疫霉群体的RAPD分析*

利用从126个RAPD(RandomAmplifiedPolymorphicDNAs)随机引物中筛选到的可扩增出清晰条带、主带明显、稳定的8条引物,对采集自江苏、安徽和江西不同寄主的45个Phytophthoraboehmeriae菌株进行全基因组DNARAPD标记遗传多样性分析。选用引物共标出DNA指纹图带68条,其中多态性条带20条,多态性检测率为29.4%,表明该种内不同地区和寄主来源的菌株间变异较小。利用Popgene软件计算供试菌株间的遗传距离并绘制聚类树状图,供试菌株被划分为2个遗传聚类组。菌株间的遗传相似性与菌株的寄主来源有一定的相关性,来自江苏、江西和安徽棉花上的27个菌株被划分在同一遗传聚类组内,而分离自构树、枫杨和苎麻的18个菌株被划分在另一个遗传聚类组。结果还表明菌株间遗传相似性与其地区来源无直接相关性。     

苎麻疫霉群体的RAPD分析

利用从126个RAPD(RandomAmplifiedPolymorphicDNAs)随机引物中筛选到的可扩增出清晰条带、主带明显、稳定的8条引物,对采集自江苏、安徽和江西不同寄主的45个Phytophthoraboehmeriae菌株进行全基因组DNARAPD标记遗传多样性分析。选用引物共标出DNA指纹图带68条,其中多态性条带20条,多态性检测率为29.4%,表明该种内不同地区和寄主来源的菌株间变异较小。利用Popgene软件计算供试菌株间的遗传距离并绘制聚类树状图,供试菌株被划分为2个遗传聚类组。菌株间的遗传相似性与菌株的寄主来源有一定的相关性,来自江苏、江西和安徽棉花上的27个菌株被划分在同一遗传聚类组内,而分离自构树、枫杨和苎麻的18个菌株被划分在另一个遗传聚类组。结果还表明菌株间遗传相似性与其地区来源无直接相关性。     

香菇亲本菌株及其杂交后代的RAPD分析

运用随机扩增多态性DNA（RandomamplifiedpolymorphicDNA,RAPD）技术对源于两个香菇（Lentinulaedodes）双核菌株的孢子单核体、原生质体单核体及其杂交后代进行了基因组DNA多态性分析。用9个随机引物共扩增出116条DNA片段,其中82．5％具有多态性。综合分析9个随机引物的扩增谱带,可将所有供试亲本单核体清楚地分开,且早核体聚类分析的结果与其来源及遗传背景相吻合。此外,用两个双核亲本菌株的各4个不同交配型的孢子单核体两两支配所得的所有杂交组合,也均可与双核亲本菌株明确地区分开来。因此,在杂交育种中,RAPD分析可为亲本的选配及杂种的鉴定提供可靠依据。     

香菇亲本菌株及其杂交后代的RAPD分析*

运用随机扩增多态性DNA（RandomamplifiedpolymorphicDNA,RAPD）技术对源于两个香菇（Lentinulaedodes）双核菌株的孢子单核体、原生质体单核体及其杂交后代进行了基因组DNA多态性分析。用9个随机引物共扩增出116条DNA片段,其中82．5％具有多态性。综合分析9个随机引物的扩增谱带,可将所有供试亲本单核体清楚地分开,且早核体聚类分析的结果与其来源及遗传背景相吻合。此外,用两个双核亲本菌株的各4个不同交配型的孢子单核体两两支配所得的所有杂交组合,也均可与双核亲本菌株明确地区分开来。因此,在杂交育种中,RAPD分析可为亲本的选配及杂种的鉴定提供可靠依据。     

Random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis shows intraspecies differences among Xanthomonas albilineans strains

Five strains of Xanthomonas albilineans , causal agent of leaf scald disease in sugarcane from various geographical regions, were compared using random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to determine whether they could be differentiated at the DNA level. CsC1-purified genomic DNA from these strains were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using arbitrary 10-mer primers according to standard RAPD conditions and the amplification product profiles analysed by conventional agarose gel electrophoresis. Although most RAPD markers were common to all five strains, unique profiles for each strain were discernible using four 10-mer arbitrary primers individually. Reproducible DNA fingerprints indicate that RAPD analysis can be used to identify and differentiate the X. albilineans strains. This technique has the potential for use in monitoring the appearance of foreign strains of X. albilineans in various geographical regions and could be used for the construction of phylogenetic trees.     

Evaluation of phenotypic and PCR-based approaches for routine analysis of Bacillus cereus group foodborne isolates

Identification of Bacillus cereus sensu stricto is a challenge for the food industry since it is being increasingly reported as implicated in many foodborne outbreaks. So far no conclusive microbiological or biochemical traits have been described for their specific differentiation. Here a polyphasic approach aiming at identification of new isolates is presented. It was conducted on a total of 75 strains, 59 Bacillus cereus group (29 reference strains and 30 food and environmental isolates) and 16 other Bacillus species. It includes biochemical traits (API 50CH and API 20E) and genetic profiles: PCR amplification of the internal spacer region (ISR) between 23S and 16S rRNA genes (ISR-PCR), randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD-PCR) with three universal primers (M13, T3, and T7), and PCR amplification using specific primers directed to genes encoding hemolysin BL (hbl), cytotoxin K (cytK) and cereulide (ces). As expected, PCR-enterotoxin profiles revealed the toxigenic potential of strains within the B. cereus group irrespective of the species. Cluster analysis combining the three RAPD fingerprints (RAPD-M13, RAPD-T3 and RAPD-T7) allowed almost a complete separation of strains within the B. cereus group. As a result, the ISR-PCR profile is proposed for the rapid assignation of isolates to B. cereus group with the advantage over the API profile of being a specific and culture-independent technique. Following, differentiation at species level can be obtained by RAPD profiles analysis.     

Molecular Differentiation of Sexually Incompatible Strains of Agaricus bitorquis Using RAPD and AFLP Markers

Twenty RAPD primers amplified 216 DNA fragments in nine germplasm strains and two newly developed hybrids of Agaricus bitorquis, out of which 98.61% were polymorphic. Six AFLP primer-combinations generated a total of 271 AFLP fragments in nine germplasm strains and six newly developed hybrids, out of which 91.14% were polymorphic. Dendrograms based on UPGMA algorithm and SAHN clustering clearly showed two major phylogenetic groups with both the DNA markers in the germplasm and the hybrids clustered with their parental groups. Genetic similarity between the two groups was 6.52% with RAPD and 18.13% with AFLP markers. Ten most informative primers were identified for initial screening of uncharacterized germplasm using RAPD analysis. Further, AFLP revealed a great power of detection of genetic diversity and validated its usefulness for guiding breeding programmes. The findings are of immediate value to breeders to explore hybridization between genetically diverse parents within the sexually compatible groups. Present study is the first report on the exploitation of AFLP markers in button mushroom for molecular characterization and mushroom breeding.     

Use of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis for the identification of Giardia intestinalis subtypes and phylogenetic tree construction

A comparison of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to investigate genetic polymorphisms among 25 isolates of Giardia intestinalis and to assess the utility of RAPD for subtype detection and genealogical analysis. Using data obtained for six human and 19 animal-derived isolates in polymerase chain reactions using 13 different primers, phylogenetic trees were constructed and bootstrap values computed by the program FreeTree. Three major clades were distinguished, corresponding to previously defined genetic assemblages A, B, and E. The purported specificity of assemblage E genotypes for artiodactyl hosts was supported. Assemblages A and B showed wide host spectra, including human and animal hosts. No correlation was found between the genotype of analyzed isolates and the presence or absence of the double-stranded RNA Giardiavirus. The results indicate that RAPD data provide reliable genetic information that can be used for both "fingerprinting" and genealogical purposes.     

Differentiation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis> by random amplification of polymorphic DNA

The randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) patterns of whole-cell lysates from five Aspergillus niger isolates, including one reference strain, two isolated from deep freeze, and two environmental strains from soil and plant infections, were investigated. PCR-RAPD analysis of genomic DNA was performed using eight primers (Tube-A1, Tube-A6, Tube-A17, Tube-B8, Tube-B11, Tube-B15, Tube-C5, Tube-C6). The RAPD assay discriminated between all strains. Comparison of deep freeze isolates showed identical RAPD patterns in some of the reference and environmental isolates. The data indicates that the RAPD technique is useful for fingerprinting A. niger.     

Molecular characterization of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium species by a single primer RAPD technique

Charcoal root rot and wilt, are two economically important diseases of many crop plants in North and South America, Asia and Africa and some parts of Europe. Genetic variation in 43 isolates of Macrophomina phaseolina and 22 isolates of Fusarium species, collected from geographically distinct regions over a range of hosts, was studied using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Initially, 210 arbitrary nucleotide (10-mer) primers were tested for amplification of genomic DNA of one M. phaseolina isolate, 70 primers amplified the genomic DNA of M. phaseolina. One primer OPA-13 (5'-CAGCACCCAC-3') produced fingerprint profiles, which clearly distinguished between the different isolates of M. phaseolina. UPGMA analysis classified these isolates into five major groups. By primer OPA-13, 22 isolates of pathogenic and non-pathogenic Fusarium species of different formae-speciales and races, were also distinguished from M. phaseolina. This marker is useful for distinguishing between these two important plant pathogens irrespective of hosts, virulence spectrum and races. This is the first report of reliable diagnosis of two soilborne pathogens (root/collar rot and wilt causing pathogens) at the level of isolates, formae-speciales and races by a single primer RAPD procedure with uniform PCR conditions.     

Evaluation of RAPD-PCR and protein profile analysis to differentiate <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio harveyi</Emphasis> strains prevalent along the southwest coast of India

Sixty five isolates of Vibrio harveyi were subjected to random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR analysis and protein profiling to investigate the genetic variability among V. harveyi prevalent along the coast and also assess the discriminating ability of these two molecular methods. A total of 10 RAPD primers were assayed for their specificity in detecting V. harveyi, of which only two primers: PM3 and CRA25 were highly reproducible and found suitable for use in RAPD-PCR. The genetic diversity among V. harveyi isolates assessed by RAPD-PCR using PM3 primer yielded 35 different RAPD patterns which clustered the isolates into 15 groups at 72% similarity level. Similarly, RAPD-PCR with CRA25 clustered the 38 patterns into 10 groups at 74% similarity. The discriminatory index (D) value calculated for RAPD fingerprints generated with PM3 and CRA25 were 0.90 and 0.85, respectively. On the other hand, molecular typing of V. harveyi using whole cell proteins generated profiles that showed no major difference indicating the technique to be not useful in typing strains of this bacterium. However, a few of the isolates showed the presence of unique band of 28 kDa that needs to be further investigated to understand the role of the protein in disease process if any.     

Genomic fingerprinting of Bradyrhizobium japonicum isolates by RAPD and rep-PCR

Genetic diversity of indigenous Bradyrhizobium japonicum population in Croatia was studied by using different PCR-based fingerprinting methods. Characteristic DNA profiles for 20 B. japonicum field isolates and two reference strains were obtained using random primers (RAPD) and two sets of repetitive primers (REP- and ERIC-PCR). In comparison with the REP, the ERIC primer set generates fingerprints of lower complexity, but still several strain-specific bands were detected. Different B. japonicum isolates could be more efficiently distinguished by using combined results from REP- and ERIC-PCR. The most polymorphic bands were observed after amplification with four different RAPD primers. Both methods, RAPD and rep-PCR, resulted in identical grouping of the strains. Cluster analysis, irrespective of the fingerprinting method used, revealed that all the isolates could be divided into three major groups. Within the major groups, the degree of relative similarity between B. japonicum isolates was dependent upon the method used. Our results indicate that both RAPD and rep-PCR fingerprinting can effectively distinguish different B. japonicum strains. RAPD fingerprinting proved to be slightly more discriminatory than rep-PCR.     

Identification of Escherichia coli Recovered from Milk of Sows with Coliform Mastitis by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Using Standardized Reagents

A standardized-reagents commercial kit for random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was used for typing 58 Escherichia coli strains that were recovered from the milk of sows, having coliform mastitis, within a single swineherd in Sweden. Previously, the 58 E. coli strains were characterized serologically and profiled biochemically. They were also evaluated for their serum resistance and their ability to adhere to fibronectin and bovine fetal fibroblasts. The RAPD analysis was fast, easily performed, and required only a nanogram of DNA. The indistinguishable banding patterns obtained with repeated analyses of 2 isolates from each strain demonstrated that RAPD analysis using standardized beads is a technique that provides reproducible results for typing E. coli strains that cause mastitis in sows. The results of the RAPD analyses demonstrated that E. coli sow mastitis strains are highly variable in serotype, biochemical profiles, virulence factors, and RAPD type, and that all 58 strains can be differentiated by means of the RAPD technique. The strains grouped into 24 RAPD types by combining the results of 2 primers, and into 38 groups by combining the results of serotype and RAPD type. No relationship between serotypes, virulence factors and RAPD types was found.