Abstract

Molecular methods have shown great potential to detect and identify bacteria that are nonculturable. One of the methods is the MicroSeq ID Microbial Identification System which allows an easy identification and classification of unknown bacterial sequences by comparing them to a validated microbial library. The Microseq ID sequences library consist of bacterial libraries of 500bp 16S rDNA sequences. The present study aims to verify the commercially available Microseq ID System for detection of bacterial culture. DNA of bacteria from the bacterial culture collection were extracted and amplified as recommended in the protocols. All sequences analysis were performed on an ABI 3500 Genetic Anlayzer. A total of 10 bacterial strains from different bacterial species were subjected to 16S rDNA sequence analysis by the MicroSeq 500 assay. The MicroSeq 500 assay was able to distinguish between species then phenotypic identification for all the 10 bacterial strains tested. Our results indicated that MicroSeq ID system allowed a better curated database and thus allowed a better genus and species identification. The system will be able to help in identification of bacterial strains with ambiguous biochemical profiles than the conventional system. Hence, the MicroSeq ID System is an accurate and rapid method for identification of bacterial strains from unknown samples which will be extensively used in the laboratory for identification of unknown isolates from food and water samples.