PCR identification of Mycobacterium bovis BCG

• Published in: Journal of Clinical Microbiology 1997-03, Vol.35 (3), p.566-569
• Main Authors: TALBOT, E. A, WILLIAMS, D. L, FROTHINGHAM, R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bacteriological methods and techniques used in bacteriology; Bacteriological Techniques - statistics & numerical data; Bacteriology; Base Sequence; Biological and medical sciences; DNA Primers - genetics; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Deletion; Genes, Bacterial; Humans; Microbiology; Mycobacterium bovis; Mycobacterium bovis - classification; Mycobacterium bovis - genetics; Mycobacterium bovis - isolation & purification; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - classification; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - genetics; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - pathogenicity; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Polymerase Chain Reaction - statistics & numerical data; Sensitivity and Specificity; Species Specificity; Virulence - genetics
• ISSN: 0095-1137; 1098-660X
• DOI: 10.1128/jcm.35.3.566-569.1997

The attenuated bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine strain is derived from a virulent strain of Mycobacterium bovis. BCG is difficult to differentiate from other strains of M. bovis and other members of the M. tuberculosis complex by conventional methods. Recently, a genomic region designated RD1 was found to be present in all virulent M. bovis and M. tuberculosis strains tested but deleted from all BCG strains tested. With this information, a multiplex PCR method was developed to detect the RD1 deletion. A large collection of BCG and other M. tuberculosis complex strains from diverse host and geographic origins was tested. RD1 was deleted in 23 of 23 BCG strains. RD1 was present in 129 of 129 other M. tuberculosis complex strains. This multiplex PCR method can be used as a tool for the rapid and specific identification of BCG.