Molecular identification

The classical methods of microbe identification are relatively laborious and tend to rely on being able to culture bacteria in the lab. Identification using molecular methods has greatly improved the speed and specificity of the identification process. In this method, nucleic acid sequences (DNA and RNA) from unknown species and known species (from a database) are compared to determine their similarities. There are two main types of molecular identification:

Genotypic methods

These methods involve extraction of genomic DNA from an unknown microbe species, which is further analysed with Southern blot, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP).

Protein-based methods

These methods include Western blot, Immuno-precipitation and Enzyme Linked Immuno-sorbant Assay (ELISA), which use antibodies to detect specific proteins that are unique to an organism.