Use of Specific rRNA Oligonucleotide Probes for Microscopic Detection of Mycobacterium avium Complex Organisms in Tissue

• Published in: Journal of Clinical Microbiology Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 1505 - 1514
• Main Authors: St. Amand, Allison L, Frank, Daniel N, Groote, Mary Ann de, Pace, Norman R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01.04.2005
• Subjects: Animals; Bacterial Typing Techniques; Biological and medical sciences; Cattle; DNA Transposable Elements - genetics; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; In Situ Hybridization - methods; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Mycobacteriology and Aerobic Actinomycetes; Mycobacterium avium; Mycobacterium avium Complex - classification; Mycobacterium avium Complex - genetics; Mycobacterium avium Complex - isolation & purification; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection - diagnosis; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection - microbiology; Oligonucleotide Probes - genetics; Organ Specificity; RNA, Ribosomal - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 23S - genetics; Microbiology; Mycobacteriales; Ribosomal RNA; Mycobacteriaceae; Mycobacterium avium; Bacteria; Actinomycetes; Detection; Species complex
• ISSN: 0095-1137; 1098-660X
• DOI: 10.1128/JCM.43.4.1505-1514.2005

Members of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) are important environmental pathogens that are implicated in several chronic, idiopathic diseases. Diagnosis of MAC-based diseases is compromised by the need to cultivate these fastidious and slowly growing organisms in order to identify which mycobacterial species are present. Detection is particularly difficult when MAC is intracellular or embedded within mammalian tissues. We report on the development of culture-independent, in situ hybridization (ISH) assays for the detection of MAC in culture, sputum, and tissue. This assay includes a highly reliable technique for the permeabilization of mycobacterial cells within culture and tissues. We describe a set of rRNA-based oligonucleotide probes that specifically detect either M. intracellulare, the two M. avium subspecies associated with human disease, or all members of MAC. The results call into question the validity of ISH results derived by the use of other gene loci, such as IS900.