Genotypic identification of mycobacteria by nucleic acid sequence determination: report of a 2-year experience in a clinical laboratory

J Clin Microbiol. 1993 Nov;31(11):2882-9. doi: 10.1128/jcm.31.11.2882-2889.1993.

Abstract

Clinical isolates of Mycobacterium spp. were identified by direct sequence determination of 16S rRNA gene fragments amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Identification was based on a hypervariable region within the 16S rRNA gene in which mycobacterial species are characterized by species-specific nucleotide sequences. A manually aligned data base including the signature sequences of 52 species of mycobacteria easily allowed rapid and correct identification. The results of this study demonstrate that polymerase chain reaction-mediated direct sequence determination can be used as a rapid and reliable method for the identification of mycobacteria in the clinical laboratory. In addition, the prompt recognition of previously undescribed species is now feasible.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mycobacterium / genetics*
  • Mycobacterium Infections / diagnosis
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Bacterial / chemistry*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / chemistry*

Substances

  • RNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S