Open AccessThe PCR amplification of non‐tuberculous mycobacterial 16S rRNA sequences from soil
Author(s) -
Mendum Tom A.,
Chilima Ben Z.,
Hirsch Penny R.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09060.x
Subject(s) - 16s ribosomal rna , biology , mycobacterium , microbiology and biotechnology , ribosomal rna , polymerase chain reaction , gene , soil microbiology , ribosomal dna , bacteria , genetics , phylogenetics
Non‐tuberculous mycobacteria are free living saprophytic organisms commonly found in soil and water. Some are major causes of opportunistic infection, particularly in immuno‐compromised patients, and may influence the efficacy of bacille Calmette‐Guérin vaccinations. Many of these organisms are not amenable to culture, so information about their distribution is limited. PCR primers designed to amplify part of the mycobacterial 16S rRNA gene were applied to DNA extracted from cultured organisms and soil. The PCR products from soil contained sequences with similarity to slow growing mycobacteria similar to Mycobacterium lentiflavum , and to fast growing mycobacteria such as the xenobiotic degraders PYR‐I and RJGII.