rpoB-PCR amplified gene and temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis: a rapid tool to analyse bacterial strains representative of cold-smoked salmon microflora.

AIM To evaluate rpoB gene as a biomarker of microbial biodiversity associated to cold-smoked salmon by a novel nested-polymerase chain reaction/temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR/TTGE) technique applied on pure cultures of reference strains. METHODS AND RESULTS DNA obtained from pure cultures of reference strains was used in a succession of a first PCR amplification of rpoB fragment with degenerated nonclamped primers and a nested-PCR with nondegenerated clamped primers. PCR products were then applied on a TTGE gel in order to analyse strains profile. High quantity of nested-PCR products were obtained for each tested strain and TTGE profiles showed a good separation between the different reference bacteria and an easy way to associate one band to one species. CONCLUSION The nested-PCR/TTGE technique used in this study is a promising way of investigating bacterial community structure of cold-smoked salmon or other food matrix. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Because of its single copy state leading to single band profiles in TTGE, rpoB constitute a good potential molecular marker for further development of cold-smoked salmon biodiversity analysis.