Elongation factor (EF-Tu) gene probe detects polymorphism in Mycoplasma strains

Polymorphism in mycoplasma strains was observed by Southern blot hybridization of the digested mycoplasma DNAs with the elongation factor (EF-Tu) gene tuf of Escherichia coli. The hybridization patterns revealed genotypic heterogeneity among Mycoplasma gallisepticum strains and a remarkable degree of homogeneity among Mucoplasma pneumoniae strains isolated from pneumonia patients. The distinction among M. gallisepticum strain clusters achieved by the tuf gene probe corresponded exactly with that obtained with the rRNA gene probe pMC5. The tuf gene probe may thus be added as another effective tool in the taxonomy of Mollicutes and in epidemiological surveys of mycoplasma infections.