Computerized evaluation procedure for comparing the electrophoretic protein patterns of bacterial strains

The advantages and drawbacks of different methods of evaluating electrophoretic (SDS-PAGE) protein patterns were studied by comparing Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae strains. The computerized evaluation procedure recommended by the authors renders it possible to determine objectively the degree of similarity of the protein composition of the different strains according to molecular mass. The degree of similarity obtained in four parallel analyses of a given strain was 988 +/- 0.55 on a scale on which 1000 equals complete identity. the method can be used without adjustment even in those cases where the two strains to be compared contain unequal amounts of electrophoresed proteins.