title: Characterization of a Mycobacterium intracellulare variant strain by molecular techniques.
abstract: This paper describes a Mycobacterium intracellulare variant strain causing an unusual infection. Several isolates obtained from an immunocompromised patient were identified as members of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) by the commercial AccuProbe system and biochemical standard identification. Further molecular approaches were undertaken for a more accurate characterization of the bacteria. Up to seven different genomic sequences were analyzed, ranging from conserved mycobacterial genes such as 16S ribosomal DNA to MAC-specific genes such as mig (macrophage-induced gene). The results obtained identify the isolates as a variant of M. intracellulare, an example of the internal variability described for members of the MAC, particularly within that species. The application of other molecular approaches is recommended for more accurate identification of bacteria described as MAC members.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Menendez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palenque
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nuñez
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rebollo
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001483:Base Sequence; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic