Identification of atypical strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae by a specific DNA probe

A specific DNA probe containing a 0.65 Kb fragment coding for the aminoterminal region of the major pneumococcal autolysin (amidase) was constructed, deleting the region involved in the specific recognition of cell wall choline residues. The high specificity of this probe was demonstrated in tests with Streptococcus pneumoniae related species including Streptococcus oralis, which contains choline in its cell wall. The probe was used to characterize pneumococcal isolates showing atypical responses in conventional identification tests. The hybridization obtained with 27 atypical pneumococci and 11 of 17 isolates presumptively identified as viridans streptococci confirmed that the probe is suitable for diagnostic use.