title: Application of rpoB sequence similarity analysis, REP-PCR and BOX-PCR for the differentiation of species within the genus Geobacillus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the applicability of rpoB gene, which encodes the beta subunit of RNA polymerase, to be used as an alternative to 16S rRNA for sequence similarity analysis in the thermophilic genus Geobacillus. Rapid and reproducible repetitive extragenic palindromic fingerprinting techniques (REP- and BOX-polymerase chain reaction) were also used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  rpoB DNA (458 bp) were amplified from 21 Geobacillus- and Bacillus type strains, producing different BOX- and REP-PCR profiles, in addition to 11 thermophilic isolates of Geobacillus and Bacillus species from a Santorini volcano habitat. The sequences and the phylogenetic tree of rpoB were compared with those obtained from 16S rRNA gene analysis. The results demonstrated between 90-100% (16S rRNA) and 74-100% (rpoB) similarity among examined bacteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BOX- and REP-PCR can be applied for molecular typing within Geobacillus genus. rpoB sequence similarity analysis permits a more accurate discrimination of the species within the Geobacillus genus than the more commonly used 16S rRNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained results suggested that rpoB sequence similarity analysis is a powerful tool for discrimination between species within the ecologically and industrially important strains of Geobacillus genus.
authors.affiliation: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Faculty of Biology, Department of Botany, Microbiology Group, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meintanis
authors.forename: K I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Chalkou
authors.forename: K Ar
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kormas
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lymperopoulou
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Katsifas
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Hatzinikolaou
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Karagouni
mesh_terms: D001406:Bacillaceae / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases; C105078:RNA polymerase beta subunit