DEVELOPMENT OF 23S RDNA-OLIGONUCLEOTIDE PROBES FOR THE IDENTIFICATIONOF SALMONELLA SPECIES

Partial 23S rDNA sequences from Salmonella typhimurium ACM 3598 and Sa lmonella bongori ACM 3478 were determined, compared to published 23S r RNAs and two oligonucleotide probes developed. These probes were teste d against nucleic acids from several species of Salmonella, 63 strains of Salmonella and eleven additional members of the family Enterobacte riaceae by dot blot and colony hybridization. While one probe detected strains of S. choleraesuis, S. enteritidis, S. typhimurium and, with slightly less intensity, S. typhi, the second probes detected strains of S. bongori and additional strains of DNA homology group V only. Usi ng a rapid lysis method and application of the polymerase chain reacti on technology to amplify rRNA genes a mixture of both probes allowed t he detection of rDNA of pure cultures of Salmonella strains within 10 h in a non-radioactive hybridization assay, thus showing a great poten tial for a simple, reliable and rapid identification.