Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis for parasites and other pathogens

Methods Mol Biol. 2009:551:13-25. doi: 10.1007/978-1-60327-999-4_2.

Abstract

In this chapter, I expose the main properties and theoretical background of a somewhat out-of-fashion technique, multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE). I show that the remarkable properties of this marker-clear Mendelian inheritance, codominance, strong phylogenetic signal-are still valid, although of course more modern markers now are able to yield far more refined results. MLEE can still be used in many circumstances when a cheap and reliable marker is required. I summarize what have been the main contributions of MLEE to the study of parasites and other pathogens.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteria / enzymology
  • Bacteria / genetics
  • Electrophoresis / methods*
  • Fungi / enzymology
  • Fungi / genetics
  • Genetic Variation
  • Humans
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Isoenzymes / isolation & purification*
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Parasites / enzymology*
  • Parasites / genetics
  • Parasites / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Isoenzymes