Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to classify seventeen isolates of Bifidobacterium from infant faeces using PCR-based and 16S rDNA partial sequences analysis methods. For the rapid classification of Bifidobacterium isolates, genus and species specific PCR primers were used. The sensitivity of the genus-specific primers were assessed by testing different genus of bacteria and all of the bifidobacteria tested produced one band with the size of approximately 1.35 kbp. Species-specific primers for Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum produced approximately 289 bp DNA band. Specificity of these primers was determined by testing with other species of bacteria, which did not result in any DNA band. Comparison between fermentative characteristic and analysis of homology of the 16S rDNA sequences of Bifidobacterium isolates from infant faeces with that of other bifidobacteria deposited in databases do not allow similar classification.
