Detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum by Polymerase Chain Reaction

Abstract

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure for detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum was developed. A set of oligonucreotides based on sequences within the 16S ribosomal RNA gene from U. urealyticum were used as extension primers for the PCR. A DNA fragment of 397 by was amplified by the PCR, when U.urealyticum DNA was template for the PCR. No amplified product was detected from other bacterial DNA including those of Mycoplasma genus. The amplified DNA fragment of 397by was detected on agarose gel electrophoresis, when DNA of≥10² cells of U. urealyticum per PCR was used as template for the PCR. Thus, the PCR procedure was shown to be a simple, rapid and specific method for detection of U. urealyticum and could be applied to detection of U. urealyticum from clinical specimens.