PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis of the 16s rRNA gene of Mycobacterium spp.

Two different regions of 16s rRNA gene were targeted in 43 strains of mycobacteria and amplified using the appropriate primers which yielded the two amplified products of 136bp and 255bp respectively, which were subjected to Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism analysis on the non-denaturing gel. The band pattern revealed no significant polymorphism was found on the region of 136bp. Only one major banding pattern was obtained which was followed by members of the Non tuberculous mycobacteria and the MTBC group. By using the 255bp region of the same gene, polymorphism was detected in the mycobacteria. This region failed to differentiate between the members of the M. tuberculosis complex TBC (M. tuberculosis, M. bovis and M. microti)) but among the members of the NTM, 5 specific banding patterns were generated which were helpful to analyze the polymorphism.