Development of 16S rRNA-based probes for the Coriobacterium group and the Atopobium cluster and their application for enumeration of Coriobacteriaceae in human feces from volunteers of different age groups

Two 16S rRNA-targeted probes were developed: one for the Coriobacterium gro up and the other for the Atopobium cluster (which comprises most of the Cor iobacteriaceae species, including the Coriobacterium group). The new probes were based on sequences of three new Coriobacteriaceae strains isolated fr om human feces and clinical material and sequences from databases. Applicat ion of the probes to fecal samples showed that formula-fed infants had high er numbers of Coriobacterium group cells in their feces than breast-fed inf ants. In addition, based on the presented results, it is hypothesized that with the increasing age of a person, the diversity of Atopobium cluster spe cies present in the feces increases.