DIVERSITY OF THE 32-KILODALTON PROTEIN GENE MAY FORM A BASIS FOR SPECIES DETERMINATION OF POTENTIALLY PATHOGENIC MYCOBACTERIAL SPECIES

In this study, partial gene sequences of the mycobacterial 32-kDa prot ein gene were determined by PCR-based sequencing. A total of 50 strain s representing 18 potentially pathogenic mycobacterial species were st udied. In 10 cases, all three strains of the species studied were iden tical, and intraspecies variability was found in 6 cases. Thus, the 32 -kDa protein gene may be a good target for identification of mycobacte ria by PCR-based sequencing.