A 16S rRNA Targeted Oligonucleotide Probe for the Differentiation of Staphylococcus haemolyticus from S. warneri and S. hominis

Sequencing and comparison of 16S rRNA genes of Staphylococcus haemolyticus, S. hominis and S. carnosus allowed the development of an oligonucleotide probe that is complementary to a region of S. haemolyticus 16S rRNA and allows the differentiation of this species from the other two. After hybridization with 27 staphylococcal reference strains and 63 clinical strains, we found this probe useful as an alternative to the ID 32 Staph gallery (bioMérieux) in the case of an identification problem between S. haemolyticus and S. hominis or S. warneri. The oligonucleotide probe was used for the characterization of two misidentified strains.