Genetic fingerprint and diversity evaluation of halophilic Bacillus species by RAPD-PCR

ORCE, INGRID GEORGINA; MARTÍNEZ, FABIANA LILIAN; MONICA APARICIO; MARIA JULIA TORRES; RAJAL, VERÓNICA B; IRAZUSTA, VERÓNICA P.

ANAIS DA ACADEMIA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS.

ACAD BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS

Año: 2021 vol. 93

0001-3765

Random amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR) is a technique successfully used to generate characteristic fingerprints of different bacteria. Bacillus is a genus that includes heterogeneous species, thus a combination of different techniques is essential for their identification. Here we used RAPD-PCR methodology to distinguish among genetically similar strains and to evaluate the genetic diversity of Bacillus species from the Salar del Hombre Muerto, in the Northwest of Argentina. The RAPD-PCR used allowed obtaining different amplification profiles for each Bacillus species and strains. By comparing the fingerprint profiles, we could observe that some of the salt flats isolates showed similar profiles than identified strains. As expected, the bacilli group isolated revealed a wide heterogeneity. RAPD-PCR was found to be a quick and reliable technique to evaluate the diversity of Bacillus strain and was successfully applied to characterize the genetic diversity present in the Salar del Hombre Muerto.