Selective detection of mycobacteria by nucleicacid probes derived from Mycobacterium kansasii

An oligonucleotide probe selected from the group consisting of an oligonucleotide probe consisting of the DNA sequence given herein as SEQ ID NO:22 (M. Kansasii fragment BC), an oligonucleotide probe consisting of the DNA sequence given herein as SEQ ID NO:23 (M. tuberculosis fragment BC), and an oligonucleotide probe consisting of the sequence given herein as SEQ ID NO:24 (M. avium fragment BC).

A strand displacement amplification oligonucleotide probe which selectively hybridizes to Mycobacteria nucleic acid, said oligonucleotide probe consisting of:

• (a) a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of DNA sequences given herein as SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:25 and the complementary DNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:25,
• (b) a restriction enzyme recognition site positioned 5' of the DNA sequence of (a), and
• (c) a flanking DNA sequence positioned 5' of the restriction enzyme recognition site of (b) which facilitates binding of a restriction enzyme specific for the restriction enzyme recognition site.

An oligonucleotide probe capable of selectively hybridizing to Mycobacteria kansasii nucleic acid, said oligonucleotide probe selected from the group consisting of:

• (a) an oligonucleotide probe selected from the group consisting of probes consisting of the DNA sequences given herein as SEQ ID NO:15 (MK14-D) and SEQ ID NO:13, and;
• (b) an oligonucleotide probe consisting of a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of the complementary DNA sequence to any of the foregoing oligonucleotide probes and arc capable of selectively hybridizing to Mycobacteria kansasii nucleic acid.

A kit for detecting Mycobacteria nucleic acid in a nucleic acid sample, comprising a hybridization solution together with an oligonucleotide probe selected from the group consisting of

• (i) an oligonucleotide probe selected from the group consisting of probes consisting of the DNA sequences given herein as SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, SEQ ID NO:14, SEQ ID NO:15, SEQ ID NO:16, SEQ ID NO:20, SEQ ID NO:21 and SEQ ID NO:25, and;
• (ii) an oligonucleotide probe consisting of a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of the complementary DNA sequence to any of the probes of (i) and which is capable of selectively hybridizing to Mycobacteria nucleic acid.