One of the biggest challenges in mycobacterial research is extracting high-quality pure DNA ๐งฌ
Mycobacteria possess a thick, lipid-rich, mycolic acid cell wall that is highly resistant to lysis, making DNA extraction difficult and often leading to protein, salt, and polysaccharide contamination despite high DNA yield.
However, the harsh lysis methods required to break the tough mycobacterial cell wall can also damage and fragment the DNA itself.
#Mycobacteria #DNAExtraction