Open AccessUse of Specific rRNA Oligonucleotide Probes for Microscopic Detection of Mycobacterium avium Complex Organisms in Tissue
Author(s) -
Allison L. St. Amand,
Daniel N. Frank,
Mary Ann De Groote,
Norman R. Pace
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of clinical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.349
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1070-633X
pISSN - 0095-1137
DOI - 10.1128/jcm.43.4.1505-1514.2005
Subject(s) - fastidious organism , biology , mycobacterium , ribosomal rna , oligonucleotide , microbiology and biotechnology , oligomer restriction , molecular probe , in situ hybridization , sputum , gene , virology , bacteria , pathology , gene expression , genetics , medicine , tuberculosis
Members of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) are important environmental pathogens that are implicated in several chronic, idiopathic diseases. Diagnosis of MAC-based diseases is compromised by the need to cultivate these fastidious and slowly growing organisms in order to identify which mycobacterial species are present. Detection is particularly difficult when MAC is intracellular or embedded within mammalian tissues. We report on the development of culture-independent, in situ hybridization (ISH) assays for the detection of MAC in culture, sputum, and tissue. This assay includes a highly reliable technique for the permeabilization of mycobacterial cells within culture and tissues. We describe a set of rRNA-based oligonucleotide probes that specifically detect either M. intracellulare, the two M. avium subspecies associated with human disease, or all members of MAC. The results call into question the validity of ISH results derived by the use of other gene loci, such as IS900.