Analyzing multiclonality of Staphylococcus aureus in clinical diagnostics using spa-based denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

We present a novel denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method which characterizes multiclonal communities of Staphylococcus aureus. The spa PCR-based DGGE method simultaneously separates strains that differ in only one base, thereby revealing multiclonal colonization and infections.