title: Genus- and species-specific identification of mycoplasmas by 16S rRNA amplification.
abstract: Systematic computer alignment of mycoplasmal 16S rRNA sequences allowed the identification of variable regions with both genus- and species-specific sequences. Species-specific sequences of Mycoplasma collis were elucidated by asymmetric amplification and dideoxynucleotide sequencing of variable regions, using primers complementary to conserved regions of 16S rRNA. Primers selected for Mycoplasma pneumoniae, M. hominis, M. fermentans, Ureaplasma urealyticum, M. pulmonis, M. arthritidis, M. neurolyticum, M. muris, and M. collis proved to be species specific in the polymerase chain reaction. The genus-specific primers reacted with all mycoplasmal species investigated as well as with members of the genera Ureaplasma, Spiroplasma, and Acholeplasma. No cross-reaction was observed with members of the closely related genera Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Bacillus, and Clostridium or with any other microorganism tested. On the basis of the high copy number of rRNA, a highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction assay was developed in which the nucleic acid content equivalent to a single organism could be detected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: van Kuppeveld
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: van der Logt
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Angulo
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: van Zoest
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Quint
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Niesters
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Galama
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Melchers
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005784:Gene Amplification; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S