DNA fingerprinting of Listeria monocytogenes using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) motifs-polymerase chain reaction/capillary electrophoresis.

The molecular technique, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) produces genomic DNA fingerprint that discriminate bacterial species and strains. This technique was applied to the characterization of Listeria monocytogenes, an important food-borne pathogen implicated in numerous cases of listeriosis. The ERIC-PCR resulted in distinct DNA fingerprinting patterns of all L. monocytogene serotypes and Listeria species. Analysis of the genomic DNA fingerprints was accomplished using capillary electrophoresis (CE), an alternative technique to the conventional agarose gel method. The optimization of CE conditions (electrokinetic injection, applied voltage) resulted in the resolution of amplified DNA fragments up to 1000 bp. Comparisons of electropherograms provided genomic fingerprint templates which could be further used for supplementary information. The ERIC-PCR method coupled to CE provides a rapid technique in differentiating bacterial spp., and may contribute relevant information in food-borne outbreak studies.