Differentiation of Staphylococcus aureus strains based on 16S-23S ribosomal RNA intergenic space polymorphism

Discrimination of Staphylococcus aureus strains, isolated from camel abscesses and mastitic milk of camel, cattle and goats, on the basis of 16S-23S ribosomal RNA intergenic space polymorphism was carried out. Two sets of primers were used for amplification of DNA of intergenic space; the one having a highly conserved sequence in eubacterial 23S rRNA transcript, while the other having less conserved sequence of 16S rRNA, reported earlier by other workers. Of the two sets of primers used, amplification could be achieved with one set of primers. Of 60 strains of S. aureus tested, amplification could be achieved in only 18 strains. In these strains the most frequent bands of DNA were of 350, 500, 750 and 1500 base pairs. Polymorphism was noted in the number of the rRNA transcripts and size of the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic space, as evident by variable band pattern in different strains of S. aureus.