Assessment of a chemiluminescent universal probe for taxonomical and epidemiological investigations of Aeromonas sp isolates.
OBJECTIVE
To assess a chemiluminescent universal probe for taxonomical and epidemiological investigations of Aeromonas sp isolates.


METHODS
Total DNA was extracted from 69 well characterised Aeromonas sp strains and digested with the restriction endonucleases Sma I or Pst I. Following electrophoresis, the resulting fragments were transferred to a nylon membrane where they were hybridised to a commercially available universal probe of 16S + 23S rRNA. The banding patterns (ribotypes) were made visible by enhanced chemiluminescence.


RESULTS
Both restriction endonucleases produced heterogeneous ribotypes so that no allocation could be made to any of the control genospecies tested. For A hydrophila and A caviae, however, groups of strains (mostly from the same patient) could be identified by indistinguishable banding patterns. A relatively high proportion (36%) of A sobria strains were non-typable.


CONCLUSIONS
Although this universal chemiluminescent probe is user friendly, it is unsuitable for taxonomical investigations of Aeromonas sp. It is useful in epidemiological studies of A hydrophila and A caviae, but is of less value for A sobria.
Carey
P E
PE
Department of Experimental and Clinical Microbiology, University of Sheffield Medical School.
Eley
A
A
Wilcox
M H
MH
D000328:Adult; D000333:Aeromonas / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000382:microbiology; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal