Genotypic identification of mycobacteria by nucleic acid sequence determination: report of a 2-year experience in a clinical laboratory.
Clinical isolates of Mycobacterium spp. were identified by direct sequence determination of 16S rRNA gene fragments amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Identification was based on a hypervariable region within the 16S rRNA gene in which mycobacterial species are characterized by species-specific nucleotide sequences. A manually aligned data base including the signature sequences of 52 species of mycobacteria easily allowed rapid and correct identification. The results of this study demonstrate that polymerase chain reaction-mediated direct sequence determination can be used as a rapid and reliable method for the identification of mycobacteria in the clinical laboratory. In addition, the prompt recognition of previously undescribed species is now feasible.
Kirschner
P
P
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany.
Springer
B
B
Vogel
U
U
Meier
A
A
Wrede
A
A
Kiekenbeck
M
M
Bange
F C
FC
Böttger
E C
EC
D001483:Base Sequence; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000235:genetics*; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000737:chemistry*
D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S