Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis; PulseNet FS362 Lecture 47 12.2.

2011

PulseNet
PulseNet:
Responsible agency for investigating foodborne-related outbreaks Employs PFGE to type and store all outbreaks in recent history for comparison and epidemiological work Drives early ID of outbreak sources Standardizes all procedures for molecular fingerprinting Coordinated by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Collaborates with:
State and local health departments along with other federal agencies (FDA, USDA, FSIS, CDC)

http://www.cdc.gov/pulsenet/whatis.htm
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PulseNet- Take on PFGE

Positives
More discriminating than ribotyping Outside of RE choice, entire process in universal for all bacteria Proven to be very reproducible

Negatives
Time-consuming High level of skill and experience required Bands are not sequences Same bands are not necessarily same DNA sequence Relatedness are guides not necessarily phylogenic proof
3

Optimization
PulseNet driving improvement of PFGE
Standardization
Protocols Software Equipment Nomenclature of patterns

Improvement to PulseNet itself

Increase particpants Real-time subtyping and communication
Clinic to lab Lab to isolate differentiation Isolate to profile

Promote workshops for PFGE use Annual update symposia Participants required to be certified and trained

Food industry? International?

PulseNet International
International organization spawning from PulseNet in the United States Agencies related to Public and National Health Agencies in foreign countries Collaboration between nations and research groups to investigate global outbreaks

PFGE Gel Interpretation

PFGE Gel Interpretation