Identification of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria
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Multiplex Detection of Bacteria in Complex Clinical and Environmental Samples using Oligonucleotide-coupled Fluorescent Microspheres
Published on: October 23, 2011
1Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Abstract:
Selective culture media and phenotypic tests enable lactobacilli to be differentiated from morphologically similar bacteria. The accurate identification of Lactobacillus species can be accomplished by reference to 16S rRNA gene sequences. Species-specific, PCR primers that target the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region are available for a limited number of Lactobacillus species. Molecular methods for the comprehensive identification of Bifidobacterium species are not yet available. Only DNA-DNA reassociation provides a reliable means of species identification for this genus at present. Bifidobacteria can be differentiated from morphologically similar bacteria by the use of genus-specific, PCR primers or oligonucleotide probes.
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