Generic sample from uncultured bacterium
uncultured bacterium
The bacterial flora responsible for brain abscess was analyzed by comparing the culture technique to three techniques using 16S rDNA amplification: (i) direct sequencing (providing a single sequence), (ii) multiple sequencing following cloning (providing around 100 different sequences), and (iii) multiple sequencing via high throughput pyrosequencing using the 454 Life Science-Roche platform.  These approaches have been previously used to explore mixed dental, vaginal, pulmonary, and intestinal flora. The 20 case series indicates a tremendously expanding spectrum of bacterial species associated with brain abscess, including 27 species never before described in relation to this condition.