The development of a 16S rRNA gene based PCR for the identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae and comparison with four other species specific PCR assays.
BACKGROUND
Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most frequently encountered pathogens in humans but its differentiation from closely related but less pathogenic streptococci remains a challenge.


METHODS
This report describes a newly-developed PCR assay (Spne-PCR), amplifying a 217 bp product of the 16S rRNA gene of S. pneumoniae, and its performance compared to other genotypic and phenotypic tests.


RESULTS
The new PCR assay designed in this study, proved to be specific at 57 degrees C for S. pneumoniae, not amplifying S. pseudopneumoniae or any other streptococcal strain or any strains from other upper airway pathogenic species. PCR assays (psaA, LytA, ply, spn9802-PCR) were previously described for the specific amplification of S. pneumoniae, but psaA-PCR was the only one found not to cross-react with S. pseudopneumoniae.


CONCLUSIONS
Spne-PCR, developed for this study, and psaA-PCR were the only two assays which did not mis-identify S. pseudopneumoniae as S. pneumoniae. Four other PCR assays and the AccuProbe assay were unable to distinguish between these species.
El Aila
Nabil Abdullah
NA
Laboratory Bacteriology Research, Department of Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
Emler
Stefan
S
Kaijalainen
Tarja
T
De Baere
Thierry
T
Saerens
Bart
B
Alkan
Elife
E
Deschaght
Pieter
P
Verhelst
Rita
R
Vaneechoutte
Mario
M
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S