Emulsion Polymerase Chain Reaction Coupled with Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis for Microbial Diversity Studies.

Emulsion PCR-DGGE is a molecular biology technique used to amplify and analyze DNA fragments. This technique combines two processes, emulsion PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), to enhance the specificity and yield of the amplification process and to separate the amplified fragments based on their melting behavior. In the emulsion PCR step, a high-quality DNA template is mixed with the PCR reagents and droplet generator oil to create an oil-in-water emulsion. The emulsion is then subjected to thermal cycling to amplify the target DNA fragments. The amplified fragments are recovered from the droplets and purified to remove any impurities that may interfere with downstream applications. In the DGGE step, the purified amplicon is loaded onto a DGGE apparatus, where the DNA fragments are separated and visualized based on their melting behavior. This method allows for the concurrent amplification and separation of multiple DNA fragments, thereby enhancing the resolution and sensitivity of the analysis. It is widely used in environmental and medical microbiology research, as well as in other fields that require the identification and characterization of microorganisms, such as the study of microbial diversity in soil, water, and other natural environments, as well as in the human gut microbiome and other medical samples.