1. Use of 16S rRNA gene-targeted group-specific primers for real-time PCR analysis of predominant bacteria in human feces.
- Author
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Matsuki T, Watanabe K, Fujimoto J, Takada T, and Tanaka R
- Subjects
- Adult, Bacteria classification, Bacteria genetics, Bacteroides fragilis genetics, Bacteroides fragilis isolation & purification, Bifidobacterium growth & development, Bifidobacterium isolation & purification, Clostridium genetics, Clostridium isolation & purification, Genes, rRNA, Humans, Prevotella genetics, Prevotella isolation & purification, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S genetics, Species Specificity, Bacteria isolation & purification, DNA Primers, Feces microbiology, Polymerase Chain Reaction methods
- Abstract
16S rRNA gene-targeted group-specific primers were designed and validated for specific detection and quantification of the Clostridium leptum subgroup and the Atopobium cluster. To monitor the predominant bacteria in human feces by real-time PCR, we used these specific primers together with four sets of group-specific primers for the Clostridium coccoides group, the Bacteroides fragilis group, Bifidobacterium, and Prevotella developed in a previous study (T. Matsuki, K. Watanabe, J. Fujimoto, Y. Miyamoto, T. Takada, K. Matsumoto, H. Oyaizu, and R. Tanaka, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68:5445-5451, 2002). Examination of DNA extracted from the feces of 46 healthy adults showed that the C. coccoides group was present in the greatest numbers (log10 10.3 +/- 0.3 cells per g [wet weight] [average +/- standard deviation]), followed by the C. leptum subgroup (log10 9.9 +/- 0.7 cells per g [wet weight]), the B. fragilis group (log10 9.9 +/- 0.3 cells per g [wet weight]), Bifidobacterium (log10 9.4 +/- 0.7 cells per g [wet weight]), and the Atopobium cluster (log10 9.3 +/- 0.7 cells per g [wet weight]). These five bacterial groups were detected in all 46 volunteers. Prevotella was found in only 46% of the subjects at a level of log10 9.7 +/- 0.8 cells per g (wet weight). Examination of changes in the population and the composition of the intestinal flora for six healthy adults over an 8-month period revealed that the composition of the flora of each volunteer remained stable throughout the test period.
- Published
- 2004
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