| abstract |
Nucleic acids, methods and diagnostic kits derived therefrom for detecting in a sample at least one microorganism belonging to the coagulase-negative Staphylococcus group are provided. The method comprises i) contacting the sample with at least one group-specific oligonucleotide selected to be sufficiently complementary to hybridize to at least one tuf nucleic acid specific to the group; ii) Allowing the oligonucleotide and the tuf nucleic acid to hybridize under conditions such that the oligonucleotide hybridizes to the tuf nucleic acid, wherein the oligonucleotide hybridizes only to microorganisms belonging to the coagulase-negative Staphylococcus group and does not detectably hybridize to tuf nucleic acids from non-target microorganisms; and iii) Testing for hybridization of the oligonucleotide to the tuf nucleic acid. DNA-based methods for further detecting and identifying S. saprophyticus, S. auricularis, S. capitis, S. cohnii, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. hominis, S. lugdunensis, S. sciuri and S. warneri are also provided. |