Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a useful genetic marker that can be used for species identification. The cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene is a suitable mtDNA candidate gene for use in phylogenetic analyses due to its sequence variability, which makes it appropriate for comparisons at the subspecies, species, and genus levels. This study was conducted to develop a rapid molecular method for species identi...

PURPOSE To investigate the predominant causative pathogens and epidemiologic features of fungal keratitis and establish a rapid, specific molecular method to detect fungal keratitis caused by Fusarium solani. METHODS A total of 174 patients with presumed fungal keratitis and 174 affected eyes were examined. Isolates from corneal specimens were identified according to morphologic and physiolog...

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are the most common and destructive plant-parasitic nematode group worldwide and adversely influence both crop quality and yield. In this study, a total of 51 root-knot nematode populations from turfgrasses were tested, of which 44 were from North Carolina, 6 from South Carolina and 1 from Virginia. Molecular characterisation was performed on these samples...

The 16S rRNA gene has previously been used to develop genus-specific PCR primers for identification of enterococci. In addition, the superoxide dismutase gene (sodA) has been identified as a potential target for species differentiation of enterococci. In this study, Enterococcus genus-specific primers developed by Deasy et al. (E1/E2) were incorporated with species-specific primers based upon t...

Thirty-seven isolates of Fusarium graminearum species complexobtained from wheat heads with Fusarium head blight symptoms were selected and used for phylogenetic studies. They were collected from different localities of Moghan plain (Ardebil province, Iran). Partial sequences of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF), putative reductase (RED) and UTP-ammonia ligase (URA) genes were amplifi...

To investigate structure-function relationships of erythropoietin (Epo), we have obtained cDNA sequences that encode the mature Epo protein of a variety of mammals. A first set of primers, corresponding to conserved nucleotide sequences between mouse and human DNAs, allowed us to amplify by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) intron I/ exon 2 fragments from genomic DNA of the hamster, cat, lion, do...

The utility of temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) as a means of analysing the gut contents of predators was evaluated. Generalist predators consume multiple prey species and a species-specific primer approach may not always be a practical means of analysing predator responses to prey diversity in complex and biodiverse ecosystems. General invertebrate primers were used to amplify t...