Lack of specificity for PCR assays targeting human Bacteroides 16S rRNA gene: cross‐amplification with fish feces

摘要: Methods focused on members of the genus Bacteroides have been increasingly utilized in microbial source-tracking studies for identifying and quantifying sources nonpoint fecal contamination. We present results using standard real-time PCR to show cross-amplification 16S rRNA gene molecular assays targeting human pollution with DNA from freshwater fish species. All except one presumptively human-specific amplified at least species, assay all species tested. Sequencing amplicons generated primers revealed no mismatches probe sequences, but nucleotide sequences clones samples differed markedly those feces, suggesting that fish-related bacteria may be different strains. Our strongly demonstrate potential call into question which these Bacteroides-specific markers are used quantify contamination waters where contribute inputs.