INTERGENIC 16S RIBOSOMAL-RNA GENE (RDNA)-23S RDNA SEQUENCE LENGTH POLYMORPHISMS IN MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY LEGIONELLACEAE

A method based on PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene (rDNA)-23S rD NA intergenic regions was developed for the identification of species within the family Legionellaceae. The sizes of the PCR products varied from 1,353 to 350 bp. Strains of Legionella pneumophila were characte rized as having products of approximately 900 and 530 bp, and L.birmin ghamensis had products of 1,390, 960, and 380 bp, Of the 38 species of legionellae examined, only 7 were indistinguishable (L. erythra from L. rubrilucens, L. anisa or L. cherrii from L. tucsonensis, and L. qua teirensis from L. shakespearei). Two environmental isolates were ident ified as L. pneumophila. Strain LLAP-3, which was a symbiont of amoeba e, could not be associated with any Legionella sp, studied.