16S rRNA-Targeted identification of cyanobacterial genera using oligonucleotide-probes immobilized on bacterial magnetic particles

16S rRNA-targeted identification of cyanobacterial genera, Anabaena, Microc ystis, Nostoc, Oscillatoria, Synechococcus was developed using bacterial ma gnetic particles (BMPs). 16S rRNA-targeted capture probes designed from the genus specific region of the 16S rRNA sequence were immobilized on BMPs. I dentification of cyanobacteria was per-formed by a sandwich hybridization u sing the capture probes-BMP conjugates and a digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled dete ctor probe complementary to the highly conserved 16S rRNA sequence for cyan obacteria. The luminescence intensity of the probe/target-BMP hybrids was m easured after reaction with alkaline phosphatase conjugated anti-DIG antibo dy. Five species of cyanobacteria from five different genera were successfu lly discriminated using this magnetic capture system.