DNA hybridization probe for the Pseudomonas fluorescens group

Abstract

Plasmid pHF360 was constructed from cloned rRNA genes (rDNA) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and used as hybridization probe for the Pseudomonas fluorescens group. The probe was tested by dot and in situ colony hybridizations to chromosomal DNAs from a wide variety of organisms. pHF360 DNA hybridized exclusively to chromosomal DNAs from bacteria representing the P. fluorescens group and separated them clearly from all other bacteria tested in the present study. Determination of the nucleotide sequence of the cloned DNA showed that it is a fragment from a 23S rRNA gene of P. aeruginosa. It was compared with the published 23S RNA sequence from Escherichia coli.