Evaluation of the genetic stability of Leptospira reference strains maintained under two conservation methods

Evaluation of the genetic stability of Leptospira reference strains maintained under two conservation methods

The methodologies to preserve reference strains of Leptospira spp. require conservation techniques that guarantee their viability, avoid contamination and maintain the original genetic characteristics of the strains. The diversity in the genetic reorganization processes of Leptospira spp. needs the development of molecular methodologies that allow monitoring the genetic stability of the strains under different conservation methods. In this sense, this study established the conservation degree of the 16S rRNA and ompL1 genes of 10 reference serovars from the collection of Leptospira spp. that belongs to the Sistema de Bancos de Germoplasma de la Nación para la Alimentación y la Agricultura. Additionally, this allowed to corroborate that the serovars had not undergone significant changes, since similarities higher than 99.69% for 16S rRNA and 99.02% for ompL1 were found in the paired alignments. Thus, genetic stability and purity of the Leptospira spp. reference strains maintained for about eight years in cryopreservation facilities in liquid nitrogen and at room temperature were confirmed.

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