Development of a genus-specific PCR assay for the molecular detection, confirmation and identification of Fusobacterium spp.
A genus-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay is developed for the detection and identification of clinically relevant Fusobacterium species, including F. nucleatum and F. necrophorum. Two 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) primers, FUSO1 (forward primer: 5'-GAG AGA GCT TTG CGT CC-3' [17-mer]) and FUSO 2 (reverse primer: 5'-TGG GCG CTG AGG TTC GAC -3' [18-mer]) are designed to target conserved regions of the 16S rDNA gene for Fusobacterium spp. Subsequent proof-of-principle studies employing this assay detected Fusobacterium spp. in the faeces of eight (10%) out of 80 patients with suspected gastrointestinal infection. This assay may be used for the genus-specific detection of Fusobacterium spp. from clinical specimens and for subsequent species identification.
Nagano
Y
Y
Northern Ireland Public Health Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Belfast City Hospital, UK.
Watabe
M
M
Porter
K G
KG
Coulter
W A
WA
Millar
B C
BC
Elborn
J S
JS
Goldsmith
C E
CE
Rooney
P J
PJ
Loughrey
A
A
Moore
J E
JE
D001483:Base Sequence; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005673:Fusobacterium / Q000235:genetics*; D005675:Fusobacterium necrophorum / Q000235:genetics; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D021521:Ribotyping / Q000379:methods; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S