Molecular microbial analysis of Bifidobacterium isolates from different environments by the species-specific amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA)

One hundred and six isolates of the genus Bifidobacterium, isolated from di fferent environments (mainly gastrointestinal). were identified and classif ied taxonomically to species level by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction a nalysis. Two restriction endonucleases (Sau3AI and BamHI) were chosen for a ligning the 16S rRNA sequences of 16 bifidobacterial species retrieved from various databases. to obtain species-specific restriction patterns. A rapi d and accurate identification scheme was obtained by comparing the resultin g 16S rDNA digestion profiles of 16 Bifidobacterium type-strains and 90 str ains of various origins. All of the investigated strains were previously co nfirmed at the species level as belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium by f luorescence in-situ hybridisation and by polymerase chain reaction amplific ation with genus- and species-specific primers. The present work demonstrat es that species-specific detection of Bifidobacterium adolescentis. Bifidob acterium animalis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidoba cterium catenulatum, Bifidobacterium coryneforme, Bifidobacterium cuniculi, Bifidobacterium dentium, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium suis, Bifidobacterium magnum, Bifi dobacterium pseudolongum, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum and Bifidobacte rium pullorum present in different micro-ecological environments (e.g. gast rointestinal tract) can be accomplished in a reliable, rapid and accurate m anner. circumventing the recognised deficiencies of traditional identificat ion techniques. (C) 2001 Federation of European Microbiological societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.