Specific identification of Mycobacterium leprae by the polymerase chain reaction.
Oligonucleotide primers have been used to amplify DNA regions of the M. leprae genome by the polymerase chain reaction. A first set of primers, PLp1 and PLp2, identifies a specific 386 bp DNA fragment located in the gene coding for the 65 kDa antigen of M. leprae. A second pair of primers, targetted to the same gene, leads to the amplification of a 154 bp DNA piece conserved in mycobacteria. Primers PLp1 and PLp2 discriminate the pathogenic species from other mycobacteria, detect down to 40 bacilli, and constitute potentially useful tools for the identification of M. leprae in clinical specimens.
Service for Applied Genetics, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Nivelles, Belgium.
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Hackel
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Houard
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Portaels
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van Elsen
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Herzog
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Bollen
D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000235:genetics; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013045:Species Specificity
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial