Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer for restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the Campylobacter jejuni flagellin gene

The Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer (Agilent Technologies, Pale Alto, Calif.) util izes capillary electrophoresis on a microchip device (LabChip 7500; Caliper Technologies, Mountain View Calif.) that is capable of rapidly sizing smal l DNA fragments. To determine whether the system could replace conventional restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) typing by agarose gel elec trophoresis, we compared the analyzer with conventional flagellin RFLP for typing Campylobacter jejuni. Ninety-seven isolates representing 46 Fla type s were initially analyzed. Correct Fla types were detected in 59% of the is olates. The major problem with the system was in resolving samples containi ng multiple DNA fragments differing from 8 to 20 bp. Overall, the bioanalyz er has the potential to replace conventional RFLP analysis by gel electroph oresis, but improvements in the chip separation are needed.