RFLP analysis of Mycobacterium malmoense strains using ribosomal RNA gene probes: an addition tool to examine intraspecies variation

Abstract To examine the intraspecies variation of Mycobacterium malmoense, 29 clinical isolates, chemotyped by thin-layer chromatography of their surface glycolipids into five subgroups, were typed using RFLP analysis. Two 32P-labelled ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene fragments were used as probes for chromosomal DNA digested with BanI. By comparison of the fingerprint patterns, the strains could be divided into five ribotypes, two major and three minor ones. The chemotypes were not connected to any of the ribotypes. Combination of the results of the two techniques produced a considerable resolution. This method is a useful additional tool when studying the epidemiological behaviour of M. malmoense.