01402nas a2200289   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001200055653001500067653002300082653003200105653003000137653001200167653001000179653002500189653004200214653003000256100001900286700001200305700001600317245007300333856009000406300001200496490000800508520058200516022001401098       1989                            d  c1989 Sep10aAnimals10aArmadillos10aBlotting, Southern10aDNA-Directed DNA Polymerase10aElectrophoresis, Agar Gel10aleprosy10aLiver10aMycobacterium leprae10aNucleic Acid Amplification Techniques10apolymerase chain reaction1 aHartskeerl R A1 aWit M Y1 aKlatser P R00aPolymerase chain reaction for the detection of Mycobacterium leprae.  uhttp://mic.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-135-9-2357  a2357-640 v1353 a<p>A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using heat-stable Taq polymerase is described for the specific detection of Mycobacterium leprae, the causative agent of leprosy. A set of primers was selected on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of a gene encoding the 36 kDa antigen of M. leprae. With this set of primers in the PCR, M. leprae could be detected specifically with a detection limit approximating one bacterium. This PCR appears to meet the criteria of specificity and sensitivity required for a useful tool in epidemiology and eventually for the control of leprosy.</p>  a0022-1287