GENOTYPIC IDENTIFICATION OF MYCOBACTERIA BY NUCLEIC-ACID SEQUENCE DETERMINATION - REPORT OF A 2-YEAR EXPERIENCE IN A CLINICAL LABORATORY

Clinical isolates of Mycobacterium spp. were identified by direct sequ ence determination of 16S rRNA gene fragments amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Identification was based on a hypervariable region wit hin the 16S rRNA gene in which mycobacterial species are characterized by species-specific nucleotide sequences. A manually aligned data bas e including the signature sequences of 52 species of mycobacteria easi ly allowed rapid and correct identification. The results of this study demonstrate that polymerase chain reaction-mediated direct sequence d etermination can be used as a rapid and reliable method for the identi fication of mycobacteria in the clinical laboratory. In addition, the prompt recognition of previously undescribed species is now feasible.