Identification and differentiation of Legionella pneumophila and Legionella spp. with real-time PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene and species identification by mip sequencing.

Fluorescent resonance energy transfer probes targeting the 16S rRNA gene were constructed for a sensitive and specific real-time PCR for identification and differentiation of Legionella pneumophila from other Legionella spp. For identification of non-L. pneumophila spp. by direct amplicon sequencing, two conventional PCR assays targeting the mip gene were established.