PulseNet Methods

The current gold-standard method for PulseNet is whole genome sequencing (WGS) to generate DNA fingerprints. PulseNet uses WGS to subtype E. coli (O157 and other Shiga toxin-producing E. coli), Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Cronobacter isolates. In the past, PulseNet used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multiple locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) for DNA fingerprinting.