EVALUATION OF DNA PROBES FOR SPECIFIC DETECTION OF VIBRIO-CHOLERAE-O139 BENGAL

Two DNA probes, 2R1 and 2R3, prepared from a region in the chromosome specific for the lipopolysaccharide O side chains of Vibrio cholerae O 139 (M. and Waldor and J. J. Mekalanos, Lancet 343:1366, 1994) were ex amined for their specificity and sensitivity. Both probes did not hybr idize with any strain of V. cholerae belonging to serogroups other tha n O139 and to any of the other species examined belonging to the famil y Vibrionaceae. Among the 126 strains of V. cholerae O139 examined, pr obe 2R1 hybridized with 125 strains while probe 2R3 hybridized with ai l 126 strains. Both probes were found to be highly specific and sensit ive and can be used for the specific identification of V. cholerae O13 9.