MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF SEVERAL CLINICALLYIMPORTANT BACTERIA INCLUDING ENTEROBACTERIA BYPARTIAL 16S RIBOSOMAL RNA GENE SEQUENCE COMPARISON

Abstract

BACKGROUND The correct identification of bacterial isolates is paramount for the correct diagnosis andtreatment of patients. The standard approach for bacterial identification relies on phenotypic tests, which are often time-consuming and unreliable when identifying atypical strains.We instead hypothesized a molecular approach; fast and reliable identification could beachieved by comparing a 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence with publicly availablesequences. METHODS In the present study, DNA from seventeen bacterial species was extracted and amplified byPCR, and then a partial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence was obtained and comparedwith sequences deposited in public DNA sequence databases; EMBL/GeneBank/DDBJ andRDP-II. RESULTS Bacterial species, belonging to several families; Coriobacteriaceae, Bacteroidaceae, Clostridiaceae, Staphylococcaceae, as well as three out of nine Enterobacteriaceae were specifically identified by partial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence to the species level. For sixother species of enteric bacteria specific identification of species failed, since the results ofgenotypic identification yielded several species. CONCLUSIONS We conclude identification of bacteria with partial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence isan efficient complement to phenotypic identification, except for enteric bacteria