DETECTION OF GENOMIC POLYMORPHISM IN PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM USING AN ARBITRARILY PRIMED PCR ASSAY

Modifications of the arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction assa y (i.e. a low annealing temperature and a very slow increase in the te mperature during the elongation steps during the amplification cycles) allowed it to be used with the AT-rich Plasmodium falciparum DNA. The analysis of the products by polyacrylamide-urea gels, after silver st aining, resulted in high resolution and sensitivity. Eighteen single a nd six combined pairs of arbitrary primers were tested. Two produced p olymorphic patterns complex enough to differentiate between close Colo mbian isolates in a single assay. This method may be useful in studyin g the distribution and migration of strains in endemic areas, and for identifying intralaboratory cross-contamination of cultures.