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Array-Based Identification of Species of the Genera Abiotrophia, Enterococcus, Granulicatella, and Streptococcus ^,

Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China,¹ School of Medical Technology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China,² Department of Clinical Chemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium,³ Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China⁴

Received 18 August 2006/ Returned for modification 25 September 2006/ Accepted 13 October 2006

Some species of enterococci and streptococci are difficult to differentiate by phenotypic traits. The feasibility of using an oligonucleotide array for identification of 11 viridans group streptococci was previously established. The aim of this study was to expand the array to identify species of Abiotrophia (1 species), Enterococcus (18 species), Granulicatella (3 species), and Streptococcus (31 species and 6 subspecies). The method consisted of PCR amplification of the ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer (ITS) regions, followed by hybridization of the digoxigenin-labeled PCR products to a panel of oligonucleotide probes (16- to 30-mers) immobilized on a nylon membrane. Probes could be divided into three categories: species specific, group specific, and supplemental probes. All probes were designed either from the ITS regions or from the 3' ends of the 16S rRNA genes. A collection of 312 target strains (162 reference strains and 150 clinical isolates) and 73 nontarget strains was identified by the array. Most clinical isolates were isolated from blood cultures or deep abscesses, and only those strains having excellent species identification with the Rapid ID 32 STREP system (bioMérieux Vitek, Taipei, Taiwan) were used for array testing. The test sensitivity and specificity of the array were 100% (312/312) and 98.6% (72/73), respectively. The whole procedure of array hybridization took about 8 h, starting from isolated colonies, and the hybridization patterns could be read by the naked eye. The oligonucleotide array is accurate for identification of the above microorganisms and could be used as a reliable alternative to phenotypic identification methods.

Published ahead of print on 25 October 2006.

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