A putative transposase gene in the 16S–23S rRNA intergenic spacer region of Mycoplasma imitans

Abstract

Examination of the nucleotide sequences of the 16S–23S intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) region ofMycoplasma imitansandMycoplasma gallisepticumidentified a putative transposase gene located only in the ITS ofM. imitans, which can be used as a genetic marker to distinguish these two species. The relative size of the PCR products of the ITS region allowed a clear distinction to be made between strains ofM. imitansandM. gallisepticum, both of which could be readily discriminated from the type strains of all the other recognized avianMycoplasmaspecies. In addition, the putative transposase gene assigned in the ITS ofM. imitanswas shown to include a sequence homologous to that of the P75 gene ofM. gallisepticum. This is believed to be the first description of an insertion element in the rRNA operon region of a mycoplasma species.