EFFICIENT DISCRIMINATION OF MYCOBACTERIUM-TUBERCULOSIS STRAINS BY 16S-23S SPACER REGION-BASED RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA ANALYSIS

Amplification of the region separating the genes coding for 16S and 23 S rRNA was performed with 15 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates and t he type strain, ATCC 27294. Reproducible amplification patterns were o btained. PCR products were then used as target DNA for random amplifie d polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. The discriminatory power was higher than when whole genomic DNA was used as a RAPD template. 16S-23S spac er region-based RAPD analysis aas a simple and efficient method of dif ferentiation. Consequently, it may be a useful tool for epidemiologic studies of tuberculosis.