| abstract |
Identification of a microorganism, in particular a bacterium, present in a sample. Nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) of the microorganism present in the sample is subjected to PCR or a different nucleic acid amplification method, utilizing one or more sets of universal primers based on a gene of the microorganism to be identified which comprises both conserved and variable regions, in particular the 16S rRNA gene, the primers being chosen in conserved areas which enclose a variable region. The product of the amplification is brought into single-stranded form, if necessary, and subjected to electrophoresis by which single-stranted nucleic acids of equal lengths can be separated from each other on the basis of differences in nucleotide sequence. The electrophoresed nucleic acid is detected and its position compared with those of a set of reference nucleic acids of known microorganisms. Set of suitable aids for practicing the method. |