Nucleic acid probes for the detection for genital mycoplasmas

A method for detecting Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, or Mycoplasma genitalium in a sample comprising:

• a) contacting said sample with at least one nucleic acid composition consisting essentially of a nucleic acid probe selected from the group consisting of probes 2262, 2256, 2246, 2218, 2271, 2220, 2259, 2227, 2335, 2337, 2334, 2336, 2191, 2228 and 2260, under conditions that allow said nucleic acid probe to hybridize preferentially to rRNA or rDNA of said mycoplasma;
• b) imposing hybridization conditions on said sample to form a hybridization product with said rRNA or rDNA of said mycoplasma;
• c) detecting said hybridization product as an indication of the presence of said mycoplasma.

A kit for detecting the presence of one or more of the group of organisms consisting of Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma genitalium, comprising one or more nucleic acids having a nucleotide sequence which is fully complementary or homologous to a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:s 1-16 wherein said nucleic acids hybridize preferentially under identical conditions to rRNA or rDNA of said organisms over rRNA or rDNA of candida or other mycoplasmas in humans.

A composition consisting essentially of nucleic acids which are fully complementary to nucleotide sequences selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:s 1-16, wherein said nucleic acids hybridize to rRNA or rDNA of pathogenic bacteria selected from the group consisting of M.h., U.u. and M.g. and not to rRNA or rDNA of nonmycoplasma bacteria.

A nucleic acid probe selected from the group consisting of probes 2262, 2256, 2246, 2218, 2271, 2220, 2259, 2227, 2335, 2337, 2334, 2336, 2191, 2228 and 2260, wherein said probe hybridizes to rRNA or rDNA of pathogenic bacteria selected from the group consisting of Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma genitalium and not to rRNA or rDNA of nonmycoplasma bacteria.

A set of at least two nucleic acid compositions, wherein the nucleic acid of each composition has a different sequence and consists essentially of a nucleic acid which is fully complementary to a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:s 1-16, wherein said nucleic acids hybridize to rRNA or rDNA of pathogenic mycoplasma bacteria associated with the human urinary tract and genital areas over rRNA or rDNA of nonmycoplasma bacteria of humans.

A composition consisting essentially of a nucleic acid which is fully complementary to a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:s 1-16 and wherein said nucleic acid hybridizes preferentially under identical conditions to rRNA or rDNA of pathogenic bacteria selected from the group consisting of M.h., U.u. and M.g. over rRNA or rDNA of nonmycoplasma bacteria in humans.

A composition consisting essentially of a nucleic acid which is homologous to a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:s 1-16 and wherein said nucleic acid hybridizes to rRNA or rDNA of pathogenic bacteria selected from the group consisting of Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma genitalium and not to rRNA or rDNA of nonmycoplasma bacteria.

A composition consisting essentially of a nucleic acid probe selected from the group consisting of probe 2227 which hybridizes to a region of 16S rRNA or 16S rDNA of Mycoplasma genitalium and probes 2335, 2337, 2334 and 2336 which hybridize to a region of 23S rRNA or 23S rDNA of Mycoplasma genitalium.

A composition consisting essentially of a nucleic acid probe, selected from the group consisting of probes 2191, 2228 and 2260 which hybridize to a region of 16S rRNA or 16S rDNA of Mycoplasma hominis.