THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF MYCOBACTERIUM

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to identify referenc e and field strains of mycobacteria. PCR was able to identify all the reference strains of the Mycobacterium genus and sub-divide them into no Tuberculosis-no Avium complex, Tuberculosis complex and, partially, Avium complex. The primers used for the last recognised only some str ains of the different types of M. avium and M. intracellulare. A numbe r of field strains were identified as belonging to the Mycobacterium g enus, but further research is required for a complete sub-division int o Tuberculosis complex and Avium complex. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Lt d.