Evaluation of 16S rRNA sequencing and reevaluation of a short biochemical scheme for identification of clinically significant Bacteroides species.

ABSTRACT: Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene represents a highly accurate and versatile method for bacterial classification and identification, even when the species in question is notoriously difficult to identify by phenotypic means. In this study, we evaluated the utility of 16S rRNA gene sequencing as a means of identifying clinically important Bacteroides species. We sequenced 231 clinical isolates that had been identified by a short biochemical scheme. Based on the sequence analysis, 192 clinical isolates were assigned to an established species, with the other 39 clinical strains revealing five unique sequences that may represent five novel species. This is in contrast to identification obtained from a short biochemical scheme, by which only 73.5% (172 of 231) of isolates were correctly id

SUBMITTER: Song Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1081359 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature