A NEW APPROACH TO SEPARATE THE GENUS PHOTOBACTERIUM FROM VIBRIO WITH RFLP PATTERNS BY HHAI DIGESTION OF PCR-AMPLIFIED 16S RDNA

A new approach to separate members of the genus Photobacterium from th e genus Vibrio with RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) pa tterns by HhaI digestion of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA was developed in th e present study. It was clearly shown that these patterns of the genus Photobacterium were unique and distinguishable from Vibrio species. T his method is very simple and does not need other supporting procedure s, such as Southern transfer and probe hybridization. It can be applie d not only to luminous species, but also to non-luminous Photobacteriu m spp. This result promises a rapid tool to distinguish the genus Phot obacterium from Vibrio and should be useful in routine identification system.