Skip directly to search Skip directly to A to Z list Skip directly to navigation Skip directly to page options Skip directly to site content

Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE)

What is PFGE?

PFGE example with color Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is a laboratory technique used by scientists to produce a DNA fingerprint for a bacterial isolate. A bacterial isolate is a group of the same type of bacteria. PulseNet investigates bacterial isolates from sick people, contaminated food, and the places where food is produced.

Does PulseNet use other fingerprinting methods?

PFGE is the current “gold standard” fingerprinting method used within PulseNet. However, PulseNet is transitioning toward using whole genome sequencing (WGS). For a few organisms, PulseNet also uses multi-locus variable tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) to aid outbreak investigations.

How does PFGE work?

Microbiologists prepare bacterial isolates for pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis by covering the bacteria in a substance called agarose, which is similar to gelatin. Then they open the bacterial cells to release the DNA.

Click for larger image

PFGE Process: Larger View

Once the DNA is released, then the agarose and DNA suspension (also known as a plug) is treated as follows: The DNA, immobilized in the agarose, is cut with molecular scissors (restriction enzymes) at specific locations (restriction sites). Microbiologists select these restriction enzymes to generate a small number of DNA pieces that can be separated based on size. The treated plugs are then loaded onto an agarose gel, and the DNA pieces are separated based on size using an electric field. This produces a DNA fingerprint with a specific pattern. The figure shows an example of an agarose gel where each lane represents a DNA fingerprint or pattern. PFGE is different from conventional DNA electrophoresis because PFGE can separate very large fragments to generate a fingerprint by constantly changing the direction of the electric field.

Once a DNA fingerprint is created, the public health laboratory analyzes the fingerprint pattern using a software program known as BioNumerics*. After analysis, the laboratory uploads its pattern to the national database, where PulseNet Central’s database managers will investigate the pattern to see if it is causing an outbreak or it is part of an ongoing outbreak. If so, these database managers will work with the public health microbiologists and epidemiologists to further investigate the outbreak.

  • Graphic: PulseNet quickly finds outbreaks by connecting similar cases of foodborne illness—and linking these illnesses across states and countries

  • The scientist takes bacterial cells from an agar plate.

  • acu6-alt-590px

  • Photo: DNA Fingerprint

  • Photo: Agar Plate

  • The scientist loads the DNA gelatin plug into a gel, and places it in an electric field that separates DNA fragments according to their size.

  • The scientist loads the DNA gelatin plug into a gel, and places it in an electric field that separates DNA fragments according to their size.

  • Graphic: The gel is stained so that DNA can be seen under ultraviolet (UV) light. A digital camera takes a photograph of the gel and stores the picture in the computer.

  • PulseNet uses computer software to compare this DNA fingerprint picture with others. The computer software compares DNA fingerprints from many samples in the database.

  • Scientists at state or local public health departments enter patterns of the DNA fingerprints into an electronic database. These patterns are transmitted to CDC, where they are filed in the main PulseNet computer. If patterns from different labs match, the PulseNet team will alert all involved PulseNet Labs of a possible foodborne outbreak

  • Graphic: PulseNet quickly finds outbreaks by connecting similar cases of foodborne illness—and linking these illnesses across states and countries
  • The scientist takes bacterial cells from an agar plate.
  • acu6-alt-590px
  • Photo: DNA Fingerprint
  • Photo: Agar Plate
  • The scientist loads the DNA gelatin plug into a gel, and places it in an electric field that separates DNA fragments according to their size.
  • The scientist loads the DNA gelatin plug into a gel, and places it in an electric field that separates DNA fragments according to their size.
  • Graphic: The gel is stained so that DNA can be seen under ultraviolet (UV) light. A digital camera takes a photograph of the gel and stores the picture in the computer.
  • PulseNet uses computer software to compare this DNA fingerprint picture with others. The computer software compares DNA fingerprints from many samples in the database.
  • Scientists at state or local public health departments enter patterns of the DNA fingerprints into an electronic database. These patterns are transmitted to CDC, where they are filed in the main PulseNet computer. If patterns from different labs match, the PulseNet team will alert all involved PulseNet Labs of a possible foodborne outbreak

 

Advantages of PFGE

  • High concordance with epidemiological relatedness
  • Can be applied as a universal generic subtyping method for many different bacteria with only the choice of the restriction enzyme and electrophoresis conditions optimized for each species
  • Stable and reproducible DNA restriction patterns
  • More discriminating than methods such as ribotyping or multi-locus sequence typing for many bacteria

 Top of Page

Limitations of PFGE

  • Time consuming
  • Does not discriminate between ALL unrelated isolates
  • DNA restriction patterns can vary slightly between technicians
  • Cannot optimize separation in every part of the gel at the same time
  • Bands of same size may not come from the same part of the chromosome
  • Change in one restriction site can result in more than one band change
  • “Relatedness” should be used as a guide, not as a true phylogenetic measure
  • Some strains cannot be typed by PFGE
  • Does not differentiate isolates to the same degree that can be achieved by whole genome sequencing (WGS)

* Mention or depiction of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by CDC or HHS.

 Top of Page

PFGE Protocols

Related Links

Related Links

TOP