Distribution and abundance of Gram-positive bacteria in the environment: development of a group-specific probe.
We developed a 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probe (S-P-GPos-1200-a-A-13) for the Gram-positive bacteria, confirmed its specificity by database searches and hybridization studies, and investigated the effects of humic acids on membrane hybridizations with this probe. S-P-GPos-1200-a-A-13 was used to estimate the abundance of Gram-positive populations in the bovine rumen and Lake Michigan sediments. This probe should be useful for studies of the environmental distribution of Gram-positive bacteria and the detection of uncultured, phylogenetically Gram-positive bacteria with variable or negative Gram staining reactions, and could serve for Gram staining in some diagnostic settings.
MacGregor
B J
BJ
Civil Engineering Department, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.
Toze
S
S
Alm
E W
EW
Sharp
R
R
Ziemer
C J
CJ
Stahl
D A
DA
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006812:Humic Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012417:Rumen / Q000382:microbiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D006812:Humic Substances; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S