Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 26, 2026

Identification of Fatty Acids in Bacillus cereus
Published on: December 5, 2016
Identification of three strains of Mycobacterium species isolated from clinical samples using fatty acid methyl ester
1Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Medical School, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
Abstract:
The cellular fatty acid profiles of 67 strains belonging to three different species of the genus Mycobacterium were determined by gas chromatography of the fatty acid methyl esters, using the MIDI Sherlock Microbial Identification System (MIS). The species M. tuberculosis, M. xenopi and M. avium complex were clearly distinguishable and could be identified based on the presence and concentrations of 12 fatty acids: 14:0, 15:0, 16:1 omega 7c, 16:1 omega 6c, 16:0, 17:0, 18:2 omega 6.9c, 18:1 omega 9c, 18:0, 10Me-18:0 tuberculostearic acid, alcohol and cyclopropane. Fatty acid analysis showed that there is great homogeneity within and heterogeneity between Mycobacterium species. Thus the MIS is an accurate, efficient and relatively rapid method for the identification of mycobacteria.
Related Concept Videos
Rapid Identification of Pathogens
Modern Molecular Taxonomy
Methods of Classification and Identification
Applications of Molecular Taxonomy

