DETECTION OF THE OUTER-MEMBRANE LIPOPROTEIN-I AND ITS GENE IN FLUORESCENT AND NONFLUORESCENT PSEUDOMONADS - IMPLICATIONS FOR TAXONOMY AND DIAGNOSIS

The open reading frame of the OprI lipoprotein gene from Pseudomonas a eruginosa was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) starting fr om purified DNA or colony lysates. A fragment of the expected size (24 9 bp) was detected in all P. aeruginosa strains from various clinical and geographical origins. The gene could only be amplified in pseudomo nads of rRNA group I which are considered to be the authentic genus Ps eudomonas. Digestions with HaeIII, PvuII and SphI of the amplified fra gments demonstrated a sequence variation in the oprI gene. Colony, dot and Western blots with two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the l ipoprotein I confirmed our PCR results. These findings open interestin g perspectives for the molecular taxonomy of the genus Pseudomonas and the development of diagnostic tools.