Simple genetic method to identify viridans group streptococci by colorimetric dot hybridization and fluorometric hybridization in microdilution wells.

Simple dot hybridization and fluorometric hybridization methods in microdilution wells were designed and established for rapid and routine genetic identification of viridans group streptococci. Reference DNA extracted from each strain of 24 reference Streptococcus species was fixed both on a nitrocellulose filter and in a microdilution well. A 1-ml portion of the bacterial suspension which matched the turbidity of McFarland no. 2 standard was prepared when a streptococcal strain was isolated. It was lysed with achromopeptidase, and the DNA was quickly labeled with photobiotin under a sunlamp for 15 min. Dot hybridization and fluorometric hybridization were then carried out between the labeled DNA of the unknown organism and 24 unlabeled reference DNAs. Hybridized fragments on a nitrocellulose filter were detected by using alkaline-phosphatase-conjugated streptavidin and analyzed with a color graphic analyzer. Hybridized fragments in microdilution wells were quantitatively detected by using an enzyme, streptavidin-conjugated beta-D-galactosidase, and a fluorogenic substrate, 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactoside. Strains belonging to each genetically distinct species could be identified by this dot blot hybridization test. However, some clinical strains cross-hybridized with two or more reference species, and then they were difficult to differentiate by dot blot hybridization. In such a case, fluorometric identification provided reliable results because the fluorometric method was more quantitative than dot blot identification. By these methods, it was possible to determine species assignment within the viridans group.