Amplified Fragment-Length Polymorphism and Protein Profiling for Identification of Campylobacter lari Subgroups

Amplified fragment-length polymorphism analysis (AFLP) has been shown to be a suitable method for subtyping of bacteria belonging to the genus Campylobacter. Campylobacter lari is a phenotypically and genotypically diverse species that comprises the classical nalidixic acid-resistant thermophilic campylobacters and the biochemical C. lari variants, urease-positive, nalidixic acid-susceptible, and urease producing nalidixic acid-susceptible strains. AFLP profiling and whole-cell protein profile analysis are suitable methods for studying the taxonomic and epidemiological relationships among strains of the C. lari variants. Numerical analysis of AFLP profiles and of partial protein profiles allows the discrimination of distinct C. lari genogroups. No correlation of these genogroups with different sources of the strains has been identified until now.