Oligonucleotide probes complementary to variable regions of ribosomal RNA discriminate between Mycoplasma species

On the basis of information from computer-assisted sequence comparison of the Mycoplasma pneumoniae 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences with sequences from various other mycoplasmal and bacterial species, we constructed M. pneumoniae-specific oligonucleotide probes complementary to variable regions in the 16S rRNA molecule. Using a DNA/RNA dot blot hybridization procedure, it was possible to detect less than 1 X 10(3) mycoplasmas. This test is a most sensitive assay for species-specific detection of bacteria. It can easily be adapted for detection and identification of other bacterial species and may have wide medical and industrial application.