EVALUATION OF INTRASPECIES GENETIC-VARIATION WITHIN THE 16S RIBOSOMAL-RNA GENE OF MYCOPLASMA-HOMINIS AND DETECTION BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

Mycoplasma hominis is a heterogeneous species with DNA-DNA hybridizati on values ranging from 51 to 100%. We report here the sequencing of th e 16S rRNA gene of a strain (183) that greatly differs from the type s train (PG21) of this species. Comparison of 16S rDNA sequences from th ese two strains showed limited differences, indicating that the two st rains belong to the same rRNA species complex. Using these nucleotide sequence data, we established a rapid method for the detection of M. h ominis by using polymerase chain reaction. This method was shown to be sensitive and specific when tested with reference strains and clinica l isolates.