Digital PCR-based Competitive Index for High-throughput Analysis of Fitness in Salmonella

This technique enables accurate and precise quantification of microorganisms from a mixed population of highly similar strains using rapid and high throughput molecular-based techniques. Ultimately, in enabling comparisons of fitness to be made between strains. The ability to simultaneously assess many strains in a single pool substantially reduces well-to-well or organism-to-organism variability because all strains are exposed to precisely the same conditions.

The adaptability of this technique allows it to be used for nearly any genetically malleable organism and nearly any experimental design that requires accurate quantification of microbes. Begin this procedure with engineering of genetic markers onto bacterial chromosomes, as described in the text protocol. Create a pool of genomic DNA that contains every barcode except for one.