ARS | Publication request: PRIMERS SPECIFIC FOR DETECTION OF MYXOCOCCUS SPP BY POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 5, 2004
Publication Date: June 20, 2004
Citation: Pepper, A.F., Martin, K.J., Bull, C.T. 2004. Primers specific for detection of myxococcus spp by polymerase chain reaction. Phytopathology. 95:S83.

Technical Abstract: Myxobacteria are ubiquitous in the soil and rhizosphere, produce many diverse secondary metabolites, and prey on bacteria and fungi, including plant pathogens. Our research has recently shown that myxobacteria can mitigate soilborne plant diseases in situ. In order to understand the interactions between plant pathogens and myxobacteria in situ, culture-independent methods of detection and enumeration of myxobacteria are needed. To this end, we designed primers based on published myxobacterial 16S rDNA sequences and evaluated them for their specificity. Twenty-six primer sets were evaluated for specific amplification of DNA from myxobacteria using PCR. Of these, three primer sets produced amplicons from myxobacterial DNA but not from SNA of bacteria used as negative controls. Reactions for five additional primer sets are being optimized to obtain the same level of specificity. In addition to these eight, three additional primer sets may be useful in that they produce amplicons from some, but not all myxobacterial species.