Representational difference analysis and real-time PCR for strain-specific quantification of Lactobacillus sobrius sp. nov.

Lactobacillus sobrius sp. nov., which was recently isolated from the intestine of weaning piglets, has potential probiotic properties. To follow the fate of L. sobrius strain 001T in dietary interventions, a novel and strain-specific quantitative detection procedure was developed. This procedure was based on the isolation of specific genomic fragments from the type strain by representational difference analysis and their detection by real-time PCR. The described strain-specific quantification approach may be used in studies aimed at tracking bacterial strains added to specific environments.