THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY OF MYCOBACTINS AND MYCOLIC ACIDS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF CLINICAL MYCOBACTERIA

Forty seven strains of mycobacteria (35 strains isolated from clinical specimens and 12 reference strains) were analyzed for mycobactin and mycolate production by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Different grow th conditions had little or no effect on the production of individual mycobactins and the reproducibility of mycobactin Rf values. Mycolate profiles of isolated strains were compared with those of reference str ains. Clinical isolates belonging to the same species showed the same profiles. The combined evaluation of mycobacterial products by TLC all owed the identification of pathogenic and opportunist cultivable mycob acteria. On routine examination, the analysis of mycobactin and mycola te production constitutes an adequate procedure for the characterizati on and identification of myobacteria.