High-performance liquid chromatography patterns of Mycobacterium gordonae mycolic acids.

An important class of fatty acids contained in the cell envelopes of Mycobacterium organisms is the group of high-molecular-weight, long-chain, alpha-branched, beta-hydroxylated mycolic acids. By using standard saponification techniques and derivatization of the acids to their p-bromophenacyl esters, it is possible to differentiate them by high-performance liquid chromatography. Mycolic acid chromatograms of 63 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium gordonae were compared with conventional biochemical methods for identification. The data show two distinct pattern types for this species, only one of which has been elaborated in the literature by using this protocol. Laboratory workers who intend to use this method as a clinical tool need to be aware that these two pattern types exist.