A variation of the amplified-fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique using three restriction endonucleases, and assessment of the enzyme combination BglII-MfeI for AFLP analysis of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica isolates

We have performed amplified-fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting on a collection of Salmonella enterica</it> subsp. enterica</it> serovar typhimurium</it> strains with a restriction endonuclease combination (Bgl</it>II and Mfe</it>I) that has previously been used successfully for typing Campylobacter jejuni</it> isolates with high resolution. Additionally, a variation of the AFLP assay in which two rare cutting restriction enzymes (Xba</it>I and Bsr</it>GI) in combination with the frequent cutter (Hin</it>P1I) was examined. The Bgl</it>II and Mfe</it>I enzyme combination offered low resolution for genotyping Salmonella typhimurium</it> isolates and is not recommended for this common serovar. The three-enzyme combination gave a higher discrimination, and is thus a new alternate way of performing AFLP fingerprinting of S. typhimurium</it>.