RAPD-PCR has also been used to detect L. rhamnosus
GR-1, L. fermentum RC-14 and L. rhamnosus GG (a
commercially available intestinal probiotic) in the
human vagina in order to assess their probiotic persistence
at this site.39 Later, Schillinger et al.40 studied
group-specific PCR and RAPD-PCR analyses to identify
strains of the L. casei and L. acidophilus groups most
commonly used in probiotic yogurts. For identification
of lactobacilli to species or strain level, RAPD profiles
of the 20 Lactobacillus strains were compared with 11
reference strains of the L. acidophilus and L. casei group.
In a later study 149 Lactobacillus isolates were subjected
to RAPD with two random primers, OPL-05 and
ArgDei-F.41 The electrophoretic patterns generated were
suitable for strain discrimination. The investigators
reported a considerable degree of genomic diversity in
L. plantarum isolates.