title: Mycolic acid analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography for identification of Mycobacterium species.
abstract: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the etiologic agent of tuberculosis and can be accurately detected by laboratories using commercial genetic tests. Nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) causing other mycobacterioses can be difficult to identify. The identification processes are confounded by an increasing diversity of newly characterized NTM species. The ubiquitous nature of NTM, combined with their potential to be opportunistic pathogens in immunocompromised as well as nonimmunodeficient patients, further complicates the problem of their identification. Since clinical case management varies depending on the etiologic agent, laboratories must identify the species in a timely manner. However, only a few identification methods can detect the species diversity within the Mycobacterium genus. Over the last decade, high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the mycolic acids has become an accepted method for identification of mycobacteria. In this review, we assess its development and usefulness as an identification technique for Mycobacterium species.
authors.affiliation: Division of AIDS, STD and TB Laboratory Research, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. wrb1@cdc.gov
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Guthertz
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D003201:Computers; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009171:Mycolic Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009171:Mycolic Acids