Evaluation of practical chromatographic procedures for identification of clinical isolates of mycobacteria

After experimental conditions were established, 366 strains of mycobacteria belonging to 23 different species were studied for fatty acids, secondary alcohols, and mycolic acid cleavage products by capillary gas-liquid chromatography. Additionally, the mycolic acid pattern was studied by thin-layer chromatography. Capillary gas-liquid chromatography allowed direct identification of the following Mycobacterium spp.: M. kansasii, M. marinum, M. szulgai, M. xenopi, M. malmoense, and M. gordonae. The patterns of mycolic acid methyl esters recorded for the test strains of M. chelonae and M. agri may be of value in the identification of these species. Moreover, the combined use of the two chromatographic techniques provided precise identification of the M. tuberculosis complex, M. simiae, M. fallax, M. triviale, and M. chelonae-like organisms. A minimal set of biochemical tests is usually required to obtain identification to the species level when chromatographic procedures alone are not sufficient. Under the reported experimental conditions, thin-layer chromatography and capillary gas-liquid chromatography are rapid and very useful techniques for the identification of mycobacteria.

[1]  L. Larsson.  Acidic methanolysis v. alkaline saponification in gas chromatographic characterization of mycobacteria: differentiation between Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare and Mycobacterium gastri. , 2009, Acta pathologica, microbiologica, et immunologica Scandinavica. Section B, Microbiology.

[2]  L. Larsson,et al.  Fatty and mycolic acids of Mycobacterium malmoense , 1988, Journal of clinical microbiology.

[3]  H. David,et al.  Mycolic acid analysis for clinical identification of Mycobacterium avium and related mycobacteria , 1986, Journal of clinical microbiology.

[4]  C. W. Moss,et al.  Analysis of mycolic acid cleavage products and cellular fatty acids of Mycobacterium species by capillary gas chromatography , 1986, Journal of clinical microbiology.

[5]  P. Valero-Guillén,et al.  Fatty acid composition and mycolic acid pattern of some chromogenic mycobacteria. , 1985, The Journal of applied bacteriology.

[6]  V. Levy-Frebault,et al.  Intérêt taxonomiquedes acides gras des mycobactéries: Proposition d'une méthode d'analyse , 1983 .

[7]  R. Good,et al.  Spectrum of disease due to rapidly growing mycobacteria. , 1983, Reviews of infectious diseases.

[8]  M. Tsukamura.  A review of the methods of identification and differentiation of mycobacteria. , 1981, Reviews of infectious diseases.

[9]  P. Jenkins.  Lipid analysis for the identification of mycobacteria: an appraisal. , 1981, Reviews of infectious diseases.

[10]  C. W. Moss,et al.  Gas-chromatographic analysis of mycolic acid cleavage products in mycobacteria , 1981, Journal of clinical microbiology.

[11]  F. Tureček,et al.  Identification of characteristic branched-chain fatty acids of Mycobacterium kansasii and gordonae by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry , 1980 .

[12]  D. Minnikin,et al.  Thin-layer chromatography of methanolysates of mycolic acid-containing bacteria , 1980 .

[13]  G. Roberts,et al.  Identification of Clinical Isolates of Mycobacteria with Gas-Liquid Chromatography Alone , 1979, Journal of clinical microbiology.

[14]  熊礼宽,et al.  Mycobacterium , 1977, Bacteriological reviews.

[15]  L. Larsson,et al.  Gas chromatographic characterization of mycobacteria: analysis of fatty acids and trifluoroacetylated whole-cell methanolysates , 1976, Journal of clinical microbiology.

[16]  H. Lechevalier,et al.  Lipid Composition in the Classification of Nocardiae and Mycobacteria , 1971, Journal of bacteriology.

[17]  D. Minnikin,et al.  Systematic analysis of complex mycobacterial lipids , 1985 .

[18]  B. Mayall.  RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF MYCOBACTERIA USING GAS LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY , 1985, Pathology.

[19]  M. Daffé,et al.  Acide mycolique epoxydique: un nouveau type d'acide mycolique , 1981 .

[20]  D. Minnikin,et al.  Lipid composition in the classification and identification of acid-fast bacteria. , 1980, Society for Applied Bacteriology symposium series.

[21]  A. L. Vestal.  Procedures for the isolation and identification of mycobacteria , 1975 .