Diagnostic Bacteriology Protocols

Carrying on the high standards of the much respected first edition, Diagnostic Bacteriology Protocols, Second Edition, has been fully updated to include the novel identification, detection, and typing technologies that are transforming the field of diagnostic testing. The authors, working at the forefront of diagnostic test development, highlight these new technologies and describe current and future molecular diagnostic tests and related nucleic acid extraction methods. The protocols range from advanced molecular detection, quantification, and typing systems, to protocols for diagnostic protein identification, serological testing, and cell culture-based assays. The emphasis is on nucleic acid-based diagnostics and alternative biochemically and immunologically based formats that can provide significant potential for multiparameter testing and automation. Several protocols describe specific organisms that may be easily modified to detect other species of interest. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular Biology? series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principles behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Forward looking and highly practical, Diagnostic Bacteriology Protocols, Second Edition illuminates the cutting-edge technologies now available for bacterial pathogen detection and identification and demonstrates their power and ease of use in a wide variety of applications.