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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Efficient Nucleic Acid Extraction and 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing for Bacterial Community Characterization
Published on: April 14, 2016
A PCR assay To discriminate human and ruminant feces on the basis of host differences in Bacteroides-Prevotella genes
1Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97330, USA.
Abstract:
Our purpose was to develop a rapid, inexpensive method of diagnosing the source of fecal pollution in water. In previous research, we identified Bacteroides-Prevotella ribosomal DNA (rDNA) PCR markers based on analysis. These markers length heterogeneity PCR and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism distinguish cow from human feces. Here, we recovered 16S rDNA clones from natural waters that were close phylogenetic relatives of the markers. From the sequence data, we designed specific PCR primers that discriminate human and ruminant sources of fecal contamination.

